Hospitality reflects the love and generosity of Christ, extending warmth and welcome to others. Here are verses that celebrate the virtue of hospitality, urging us to open our hearts and homes to guests with joy and kindness.
Bible Verses About Welcoming Visitors
Hebrews 13:2 – Serving strangers with kindness
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
Romans 15:7 – Embracing one another in love
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
1 Peter 4:9 – Practicing hospitality cheerfully
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
Matthew 25:35 – Serving Christ through our guests
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”
Galatians 5:13 – Freedom to serve one another
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
1 Timothy 5:10 – Recognizing the value of hospitality
“And are well known for their good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, and washing the feet of the Lord’s people, and helping those in trouble, and devoting themselves to all kinds of good deeds.”
Luke 14:13 – Invite those in need to your table
“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.”
Acts 16:15 – Opening home to fellow believers
“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.”
3 John 1:8 – Welcoming those who serve the truth
“We therefore ought to support such people, so that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”
Matthew 10:40 – Receiving messengers of Christ
“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”
Proverbs 19:17 – Kindness towards the needy
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”
Colossians 3:23-24 – Working for the Lord in service
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”
Philippians 2:4 – Looking out for the interests of others
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
James 2:1 – Not showing favoritism in hospitality
“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.”
Romans 12:13 – Promoting community through hospitality
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Matthew 7:12 – Encouraging the golden rule in interactions
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
2 Corinthians 9:12 – Generosity yielding fruits
“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”
Luke 19:5 – Inviting guests into our homes
“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Encouraging fellowship
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Luke 10:7 – Accepting hospitality as we journey
“Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.”
2 John 1:10-11 – Discerning whom we welcome
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.”
Mark 9:37 – Welcoming children with open arms
“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Acts 28:7 – Finding favor through hospitality
“There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days.”
Exodus 22:21 – Treating foreigners with respect
“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
2 Corinthians 8:14 – Ensuring equality through sharing
“At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality.”
Proverbs 27:10 – Being there for true friends
“Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.”
Isaiah 58:7 – True fasting includes hospitality
“Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
Luke 12:36 – Being ready to open our doors
“It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve; will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.”
Matthew 6:33 – Prioritizing the Kingdom in our actions
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Romans 12:10 – Showing honor to one another
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Sleeping Too Much
What Does the Bible Say About Welcoming Visitors
When we explore the teachings of the Bible on welcoming visitors, we find an overarching theme of hospitality and care for strangers as fundamental aspects of our faith. The principle of welcoming others is woven into many narratives and commandments within the scriptures, emphasizing a warm and open attitude toward those who enter our lives, whether they are familiar faces or complete strangers.
In the Old Testament, we see the importance of hospitality illustrated vividly. For example, Abraham’s encounter with three visitors (Genesis) highlights his eagerness to provide them with shelter, food, and water. This generous act is celebrated as an example of righteous living. Similarly, the Law given to Moses commands us to treat foreigners well, reminding us that we were once strangers in a foreign land (Exodus, Leviticus).
The New Testament continues to highlight the value of welcoming others. Jesus Himself was often a guest in homes and taught His followers to extend hospitality. His parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke) challenges us to extend kindness and aid regardless of social or ethnic boundaries. Jesus also indicates in Matthew 25:35-40 that when we welcome strangers, we are, in essence, welcoming Him. This teaching clarifies that our acts of hospitality have profound spiritual significance.
The early Christian community took these teachings to heart, as described in the Acts of the Apostles and the letters of Paul. We read about believers sharing their homes and resources with new members of the faith, which reflects the communal and inclusive nature of early Christianity. Paul encourages us to practice hospitality (Romans 12:13) and to be gracious hosts, echoing the sentiment found in Hebrews, where entertaining strangers is equated with potentially hosting angels without our knowledge.
As followers of Christ, these teachings urge us to maintain an open and welcoming demeanor. In our diverse world, welcoming visitors can mean a simple act of kindness, an open door, or sharing our resources with those in need. It is a reminder that every act of hospitality acts as a bridge, connecting us with others and, ultimately, with God.