Introduction
What does the Bible say about welcoming and hospitality? It makes it a clear command, not an option for extroverted personalities: "Practice hospitality" (Romans 12:13), "without grumbling" (1 Peter 4:9), because Christ welcomed us first (Romans 15:7). From the Old Testament, where God commands love for the foreigner, to Jesus who identifies himself with the one we receive, the thread is continuous.
Here are 15 verses on welcoming and hospitality, quoted in full from the Louis Segond version, each with one or two sentences of context. They are grouped into four themes: hospitality as a command, welcoming as Christ welcomed us, welcoming the stranger, and hospitality as a mark of church servants. You can use them for personal meditation, a welcome team training session, or a sermon.
Hospitality as a Command
The New Testament does not present hospitality as a suggestion: it commands it, for all believers.
1. Romans 12:13
"Contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality."
In his description of authentic Christian living, Paul places hospitality on the same level as brotherly love and zeal. It is a command addressed to the entire church in Rome, not to a few specialists. Read Romans 12:13.
2. 1 Peter 4:9
"Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."
Peter writes to scattered and tested Christians. The specification "without grumbling" shows that welcoming costs something, and that God also looks at the attitude of the heart. Read 1 Peter 4:9.
3. Hebrews 13:2
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
The author alludes to Abraham, who received three visitors at Mamre without knowing who they were (Genesis 18). Welcoming sometimes opens the door to far more than we imagine. Read Hebrews 13:2.
4. Hebrews 13:16
"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."
A few verses later, the same chapter broadens hospitality to every form of generosity. Sharing what you have is presented as a sacrifice pleasing to God. Read Hebrews 13:16.
Welcoming as Christ Welcomed Us
The foundation of Christian hospitality is not politeness: it is the Gospel. We welcome because we have been welcomed. It is the same logic as for service, as shown by our 25 Bible verses on serving in the church.
5. Romans 15:7
"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God."
Here Paul concludes his call for unity among Christians of different backgrounds. The measure of our welcome is the welcome Christ gave us. Read Romans 15:7.
6. Matthew 25:35
"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."
In the scene of the Last Judgment, Jesus personally identifies with the hungry and the stranger. To take someone in is to receive him. Read Matthew 25:35.
7. Matthew 25:40
"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.'"
The continuation of the same passage gives the key: what is done for the least is done for Christ himself. No act of hospitality is lost in his eyes. Read Matthew 25:40.
8. Luke 14:13-14
"But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."
Invited to a Pharisee leader's house, Jesus overturns the social logic of invitation: welcome those who cannot give anything back. The reward comes from God, not from the guests. Read Luke 14:13-14.
Welcoming the Stranger
Long before the New Testament, God had already inscribed welcoming the stranger into the law of Israel, reminding his people of their own history. This mutual welcome also nourishes the communion of the body, as shown by our 20 verses on church unity.
9. Exodus 22:21
"You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt."
In the laws given at Sinai, the protection of the foreigner is grounded in Israel's memory: they too had known exile and vulnerability. Read Exodus 22:21.
10. Leviticus 19:34
"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."
This verse goes beyond simple protection: the stranger must be loved as yourself. The command is signed by God himself. Read Leviticus 19:34.
11. Deuteronomy 10:19
"Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt."
Moses reminds the people, before entering Canaan, that God himself loves the foreigner. Israel is called to imitate the heart of their God. Read Deuteronomy 10:19.
12. Isaiah 58:7
"Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
The prophet describes the fast that pleases God: it involves concrete actions, including bringing the homeless into your home. Read Isaiah 58:7.
Hospitality: A Mark of Church Servants
When Paul draws the portrait of church leaders, hospitality appears in the list. It therefore concerns first and foremost those who lead and serve the community. If you want to encourage those who serve, you can also meditate on our 20 verses to encourage volunteers.
13. 1 Timothy 3:2
"Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach."
Among the qualities required to lead the church, Paul cites hospitality alongside sobriety and the ability to teach. A leader opens his home. Read 1 Timothy 3:2.
14. Titus 1:8
"but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined."
In the instructions given to Titus for appointing elders in Crete, hospitality comes first in the list of positive qualities expected. Read Titus 1:8.
15. 3 John 1:8
"Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth."
John commends Gaius for receiving traveling brothers who serve the Gospel. Welcoming those who serve makes you a co-worker in their mission. Read 3 John 1:8.
Key Takeaways
- Hospitality is a command addressed to all believers, not a gift reserved for a few (Romans 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9).
- The foundation of Christian hospitality is the Gospel: we welcome as Christ welcomed us (Romans 15:7).
- Jesus identifies with the one we receive: welcoming the least of these is welcoming him (Matthew 25:35-40).
- From the Old Testament onward, God commands love for the stranger, reminding Israel of their own history (Exodus 22:21, Leviticus 19:34, Deuteronomy 10:19).
- Hospitality is a required quality for church leaders: it is cultivated, modeled, and passed on (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8).
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Bible say about hospitality?
The Bible presents hospitality as a command, not an option. Romans 12:13 calls us to practice hospitality, 1 Peter 4:9 specifies doing so without grumbling, and Hebrews 13:2 reminds us that some have entertained angels unawares. This command is rooted in the Old Testament, where God orders love for the stranger, and culminates with Jesus who declares: I was a stranger, and you welcomed me (Matthew 25:35).
Why is hospitality important in a church?
Because it reflects the Gospel itself: Romans 15:7 calls us to welcome one another as Christ has welcomed us, for the glory of God. It is also a required quality for church leaders (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:8): a criterion of spiritual maturity, not just a personality trait. A church that practices hospitality makes God's love visible to those who walk through its doors.
Who should we welcome according to the Bible?
Fellow believers first (Romans 12:13 speaks of the needs of the saints), but not only them. Jesus asks us to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; those who cannot repay (Luke 14:13-14). The Old Testament commands love for the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19, Leviticus 19:34), and Matthew 25:35-40 shows that welcoming the least of these is welcoming Christ himself.
to take notes and ask questions.