Trinity Church of Tri-Cities

September 7, 2008

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1,2

Hospitality I – What is Philoxenia?

Among the ancient Greeks proper hospitality was of supreme importance. The respect from host to guest, the respect from guest to host, and the parting gift from host to guest, are elements that exist in the Greek concept of hospitality even to this day. The host must be gracious to the guest and provide him with food and drink and a bath, if required. It was not polite to ask questions until the guest was fully comfortable. The guest must be courteous to his host and not be a burden. The parting gift is to show the host’s honor at receiving the guest.

In Homer’s Iliad we read that Alcinous, king of the Phraeacians, outlines this concept as he reaches out in friendship to Odysseus: “A stranger and a suppliant are held as a brother by the man who is even a little in possession of his wits.” Gift giving between guests and hosts is more than politeness or custom; it is the established law of the gods.

One commentator remarked, “The Trojan war described in the Iliad of Homer actually resulted from a violation of xenia. Paris was a guest of the Spartan king Menelaus but seriously transgressed the bounds of xenia by abducting his host’s wife, Helen. Therefore the Achaeans were required by duty to Zeus to avenge this transgression, which as a violation of xenia was an insult to Zeus’s authority, resulting in the war. Of course, underlying the whole story is an undercurrent of hysterical fear of xenoi.”

“Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” (Heb 13:1-2 NKJV)

My subject this morning is hospitality and today I want to deal with the “what” and “why” of hospitality, not first of all as the Greeks practiced it, but as the Bible instructs us. In the next sermon I want to deal with the “how” of hospitality.

First, I want to define the words we find here, both our English words and the Greek words. Second, we will go over some of the commands the Lord gives in the Bible about hospitality. Third, we will look at some examples of hospitality, and some examples of failures. And finally, some reasons for hospitality.

Beginning with verse one of Hebrews 13 we hear these words, “Let brotherly love continue.” That is a familiar command. The apostle John spends a good deal of his time in his first epistle commanding us to love our brothers and sister. St Paul used one word for brotherly love, and that word is philadelphia. It’s one word but made up from two words, philos meaning love, adelphia meaning brother. Philadelphia, brotherly love.

In the second verse St. Paul commands us, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” Again we have two words, entertain stranger, for which Paul used one word, philoxenia. Philoxenia means to love strangers. In Romans 12:13, St. Paul uses the same word when he says, “given to, or pursue, hospitality.” Hospitality, philoxenia.

The opposite of philoxenia is xenophobia, a fear of strangers. Xenos again means stranger and phobia is fear. You may be afraid of close and tight places, and that is claustrophobia. Fear of heights is alto phobia. Fear of being alone is autophobia.

Fear of strangers, xenophobia. In many societies strangers are looked upon with suspicion, with fear. Strangers are people who are different than we are, perhaps they dress strange, speak a different language, have a different color skin, and just don’t do things the way we do. Xenophobia. That fear can result in horrible atrocities, for it was xenophobia that drove the German death camps in World War II, and it is xenophobia that is so prevalent in South Africa right now, causing them to kill many foreigners.

We are commanded to have philoxenia, to love strangers. Hospitality. That English word is worthy to examine as well. It was first used in 1242 to describe a shelter for the needy. The word is related to hostel, host, and hotel. In 1418 the word hospital was used to describe a charitable institution to house and maintain the needy. Even the English word, entertain, originally meant how you made your guest feel completely comfortable in your home.

It would be fascinating to study how from the very beginnings of the New Testament church, the care of the poor, the sick, the needy, and the stranger, food, shelter, and, if needed, medical attention. Philoxenia.

That has changed of course, for the word hotel, which is closely related to hospitality has become, not an institution of charity, but a major means of making money. It is estimated that the hospitality industry is the largest employer in the world. It’s hard then to compete against Hilton and Olive Garden, but not impossible, for, if I may use the words of an old song, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.” Even the word philoxenia has been commercialized, for there are hundreds of hotels and restaurants, in Greece and in the United States that carry that word in their name. Hotels and restaurants are largely motivated by philarguria, the love of money. And only the saints of God can provide a hospitality that is given in love. Philoxenia. As St. John said to Gaius, “Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, for xenous, who have born witness of your love before the church.” Heb. 13:1,2: Love your brother, philadelphia. Love strangers, philoxenia. Be hospitable. Why? Because this is a command of our God. And God began in the Old Testament to instruct His people about strangers.

First of all, since love does no harm, God’s commands were in the negative, they were to love strangers by not doing them any harm. Xenophobia, fear of strangers, was to have no place among the children of Israel. “You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Ex. 22:21 NKJV) “Also you shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the heart of a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Ex. 23:9 NKJV)

God also gave positive commands: Love the stranger, treat him as one of your own, love him like your own children, your own brothers and sisters. “The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were stranger in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” (Lev 19:34 NKJV)

Next week when we deal with how to show hospitality, what we should do to show our love for strangers, to practice philoxenia, which is a verb, we will find that God gave Israel many ways to show hospitality, to entertain strangers, to make them comfortable among them.

Now I want to look at some examples of philoxenia. First to see how the saints of old practiced hospitality, and then to see some glaring examples of those who were inhospitable, and the striking consequences of their inhospitality.

Our text, Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, to practice philoxenia, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” Unwittingly, without knowing it, simply by practicing hospitality, by loving strangers, some have, without realizing who they were, entertained angels.

Many commentators believe that this refers to the events described in Genesis 18. There we find Abraham sitting in the door of his tent. When he sees three men in the distance walking towards him, Abraham immediately got up and ran to meet them. He was anxious to provide hospitality. For as soon as he met them, he begged them to let him serve them. “Please stay here a while,” he said, “let me get some water for your feet, so you can wash them. Rest here a while. I will get some bread for you to eat.” he then asked Sarah to make some cakes, and then went out and took a tender calf, gave it to a young man to butcher.

Then he took bread, butter, milk, and the roast calf and brought it to them. And while they were sitting down comfortable eating this little feast Abraham had prepared, he stood by them. Standing by, as it were, to be ready to meet their every need. He was the waiter, the proprietor of this house of philoxenia, and it was his pleasure to meet their every need. When they had finished, Abraham walked with them to send them safely on their way. What Abraham had done, of course, was not only serve a couple of angels, but he had the joy and privilege of serving God Himself.

“Do not forget to entertain stranger, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” Lot, Abraham’s nephew was a worthy follower of his uncle in his philoxenia, for when the angels came to Sodom we read: “Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, “Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” And they said, “No, but we will spend the night in the open square.” But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.” (Gen. 19:1-3 NKJV)

Philoxenia. Love the stranger. Show him hospitality. Hospitality means philoxenia, loving the stranger. Old Job said this in his defense against the accusations of his three friends: “But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, for I have opened my doors to the traveler;” (Job 31:32 NKJV)

Look at the hospitality of the woman at Shunem, who persuaded Elisha to stop at her house and dine. She said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lamp stand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.” (2 Kings 4:9-10 NKJV). . .Hospitality

Now I want to show some examples of a terrible failure to show hospitality. First, we go back to Sodom. When the two angels entered Sodom Lot was the only one who approached them to offer hospitality. The other men of the city evidently just ignored them. But they were not content with just ignoring them. Listen: “Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.” (Gen. 19:4-5 NKJV) They wanted to sexually abuse them. When Lot protested, they said, “Who are you to tell us what to do. You are a stranger here yourself.”

Now remember, not that many months earlier the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah had fought with some other kings, and lost the battle. The winners took all the people of Sodom, along with Lot, and got away. Abraham heard of it, took 318 men from his house, pursued them, and recovered everything for the men of Sodom. And this is their gratitude. Well, we know the consequence; we know what happened to these inhospitable people, these xenophobes, these haters of strangers. Fire and brimstone came down from heaven and burned them all up.

Another story. A Levite from the mountains of Ephraim traveled to Bethlehem to recover his concubine who had fled to her father. The girl’s father entertained the Levite lavishly, but finally the Levite determined to leave. As he traveled his servant suggested that they stay the night at Jerusalem, but no, said the Levite, this is a city of Canaan, these are Jebusites not of our people. Let’s go on to Gibeah. So they came to Gibeah, a city of Benjamin. It was evening, and they came to the open square of there they sat. Nobody paid any attention to them. Nobody thought, here are a couple of strangers, let’s invite them to our house.

But just then an old man came in from his work in the field. He was not a Benjamite, but from Ephraim. He asked them about themselves, and when they told him he said, “Peace be with you! However, let all your needs be my responsibility; only do not spend the night in the open square.” So he brought him into his house, and gave fodder to the donkeys. And they washed their feet, and ate and drank.” (Jud. 19:20-21 NKJV)

Philoxenia, loving the stranger. But again the men of the city, just like the men of Sodom were perverted, surrounded the house, beat on the door, and demanded to get at these strangers to sexually abuse them. Finally the Levite sent his concubine out to them, and they gang-raped her until morning when she fell on the doorstep dead. What was the consequence of these terrible acts that began with a failure to show hospitality, that began with xenophobia instead of philoxenia? The entire tribe of Benjamin was nearly annihilated; 25,000 dead and only 600 survivors.

Another example, not of failure to love strangers, but of failure to be hospitable to an outcast. The outcast was David, who was homeless, and wandering, fleeing the persecution of Saul. He sent some of his young men to the house of Nabal, “and David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. and thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: ‘Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have! Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel. Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.’ “ (1 Sam. 25:5-8 NKJV)

What was the response? “Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?” (1 Sam. 25:10-11 NKJV). . .Xenophobia.

Abigail, Nabal’s wife heard of it, and showed a love to this outcast that Nabal should have done. She practiced philoxenia. What was the result for Nabal? “So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. Then it came about, after about ten days, that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.” (1 Sam. 25:37-38 NKJV)

Finally one more example from the New Testament. Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to his house. But Simon was a Pharisee, one who thought himself better than others, and therefore did not love others as himself. Finally Jesus had to say to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ “ (Luke 7:44-48 NKJV) What is the implication here? Not only that the sins of this woman were forgiven, but also that the sins of Simon remained where they were, on him.

Now I want to set before you some of the “why” of hospitality, the reasons we should practice philoxenia. First is the fact that we were strangers ourselves and we should know how it feels to be a stranger in a land that is not ours. Listen to God speak to Israel: “The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” (Lev. 19:34 NKJV)

Listen to God speak to the New Testament Israel, gathered from the Gentiles. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” (Eph. 2:19 NKJV) No longer strangers and foreigners. Strangers, the word is xenoi. We were strangers, but through the blood of Christ we are not just welcome guests, but have been made members of a house, a home, the house of God. We were strangers, we should know the heart of a stranger; we therefore should love the stranger.

Second, we must love stranger because God loves them. “He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deut. 10:18-19 NKJV)

Third, in loving strangers we are loving Jesus Christ. In Matthew 25, that well known parable about the sheep and the goats, Jesus, as He welcomed the sheep into everlasting joy said, “I was a stranger and you took me in.” To the goats, He said, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels, for I was a stranger, and you did not take Me in.”

Pretty compelling reasons?

Fourth, these are qualifications given for those who would serve as elders. In both Timothy and Titus, St. Paul lists being hospitable as one of the characteristics elders must have. The word is philoxenos.

And finally, let us remember where we are, we are in the house of God, and Jesus Christ Himself is our host. He has ministered to all the needs of our heart, made us worthy through His blood and pains so that we can enter, not just as guests in the house of His Father, but as His own brothers and sisters, children of God, served by Jesus Christ Himself.

That brings us to this blessed table, doesn’t it? For Christ Himself is our host. That is why I, a minister of Christ, and that is why your elders, as servants of Christ, stand and serve while you sit. Christ is honoring you, His people, giving Himself to you. Let us then, departing from this house of feasting, leaving this house of God, where God Himself through His Son has washed us, fed us, made us supremely comfortable in His presence, go out as those whose delight and goal is to practice hospitality, philoxenia. Amen.