20 Encouraging Bible Verses about Hospitality

Hospitality comes in many forms. Some come naturally and some do not. Some require hard work, and others less. Hospitality pours out from a heart overflowing with Jesus’ love and compassion within us.

Hospitality is defined as the cordial and generous reception of or disposition toward guests. It varies in practice, culture, and design. Making others feel welcome and loved is an act of the heart however and wherever it occurs.

The act of hospitality is rooted in God’s Word and expressed within the DNA of His people.

Old Testament Jewish laws commanded hospitality:

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:33-34

“When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.” Deuteronomy 24:19

In the book of Ruth, Naomi’s need as a bereaved widow was met by the provision of these laws. As her daughter-in-law gleaned the fields of Boaz, not only did they have food, but God also provided Ruth with a husband. The line of King David, and ultimately Jesus Christ, came through the marriage of Ruth and Boaz. 

God’s marvelous blessings reach beyond our small obedient acts of hospitality. 

From the Garden of Eden, where God first provided a home and food for Adam and Eve, until the final pages of Scripture in the book of Revelation, we find hospitality displayed in the stories and events recorded.

Abraham’s hospitality in one of the early stories of the Bible toward three strangers, brought immeasurable mercy and favor:

“If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” Genesis 18:3-5 

Elisha’s journeys met extraordinary hospitality from a Shunammite woman who not only invited Elisha to share food and lodging, but even had a guestroom built for him:

“She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” 2 Kings 4:9-10 

David made a special provision for Jonathan’s lame son, Mephibosheth. Through David’s kindness, Mephibosheth lived securely in the palace for the remainder of his life: 

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” 2 Samuel 9:7

Job’s hospitality testified to the community of his generous heart and open hands to help another in need:

“…those of my household have never said, ‘Who has not been filled with Job’s meat?’—but no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler." Job 31:31-32 NIV

On the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey, he met Lydia, a dealer of purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to the gospel. Her reaction and gratitude led her to receive Paul and his fellow travelers into her home:

^“When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us.” Acts 16:15

The well-known account of Jesus’ visit to Mary and Martha comes from a pattern of their hospitable practices. The account’s honesty is a tender reminder of the importance of the heart of hospitality over and above the work of hospitality:

^“But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ 

’Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:40-42 

At the end of Paul’s third missionary journey, he stayed with Gaius whose care for individuals extended to an entire church:

^“Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.” Romans 16:23 

When an earthquake broke Paul and Silas’s prison chains, their jailor offered hospitality in the form of medical assistance:

^“At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.” Acts 17:33-34 

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In the original New Testament Greek, “love to strangers,” or “showing welcome to strangers, foreigners and outsiders,” defines hospitality. It was a way of life for the early church, and a requirement for leadership.   

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:2 

^“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” Romans 12:13 

^“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.” 1 Timothy 3:2

^“For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.” Titus 1:8

^“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” 1 Peter 4:9 

^“... and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.” 1 Timothy 5:10

The early church encourages us with their faith, their willingness to look beyond their own needs share what they had with others. While they faced persecution and distress, open hearts also opened doors for the gospel to spread.

Jesus was a humble traveler on earth, a stranger. He experienced hospitality. He ate with Pharisees, tax collectors, and sinners. Yet, as One without a place to lay His own head (Luke 9:58), He showed compassion for the physical necessities of others.

“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” Mark 8:2-3

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4

^“‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” Matthew 25:35-40

“Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.’ Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” Luke 7:44-48

^“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20

^“Remember that at that time, you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:12-13

^“And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Luke 22:15  

^“Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.” John 21:12-13

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