Practical Worship

“Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”
Hebrews 13:1-3

We have been speaking about worship being all of life, and in Hebrews 12:28 we were exhorted to worship God with reverence and awe. In Hebrews 13:1-3 we find practical ways in which we should live in honor and worship of God by showing love to others. We have already discussed brotherly love, which is addressed in verse 1. In this study we will consider showing love by giving hospitality to strangers and helping fellow believers who are in prison or suffering on account of their faith.

Showing Hospitality to Strangers

There are different Greek words used in this passage for love of others, especially for those who are brothers and sisters in the Lord. The first word is philadelphia, love of brothers, which we find in Hebrews 13:1, “Keep on loving each other as brothers.” A second word, philoxenia, love of strangers, is found in verse 2, “Do not forget to entertain strangers.” Philoxenia refers to showing hospitality to those who are believers but are strangers to us, such as people who may be traveling through our area from another region. The writer to the Hebrews is telling us we should receive such people as our guests and provide food and lodging for them because they are our brothers and sisters in Christ.

In ancient times, people traveled for many reasons. Most traveled primarily for business, while others traveled for the specific purpose of spreading the gospel. But travel was much more difficult in the days of the apostles than it is now. Inns were generally expensive, hard-to-find, filthy, and of questionable repute. Additionally, staying at ancient inns could be dangerous for Christians. When innkeepers recognized that their guests were Christians, they often reported them to the authorities. So Christians were encouraged to show hospitality to travelers, especially fellow believers, so that these “strangers” did not have to stay in inns.

Hospitality was a strong part of the Greek and Hebrew cultures. In fact, the Greek god Zeus was known as Zeus Xenios–the god of the stranger. The Greeks believe that any wayfaring man and stranger were under special protection of the king of the gods, Zeus. In Greek mythology we read how Zeus would often go about in disguise as a wayfarer, blessing any householder who showed him hospitality.

The Dangers of Showing Hospitality

Now, we must realize that problems can arise when Christians show hospitality to strangers. There is always the possibility that when Christians receive strangers as guests, the strangers will take advantage of the Christians. But this verse encourages us that even if we are defrauded by some unscrupulous guests, we must be willing to fulfill the mandate of scripture to practice hospitality.

The Didache, an early second-century Christian document, gives some guidelines which can help us avoid from being taken in by certain people. In the Didache we read, “Let every apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord. But he should stay only one day or at the most two days. If he wants to stay on the third day, he must be regarded as a false prophet,” unless, of course, he wants to work and make his living. “When he leaves, he should not ask for any money. And if he asks for money, that is a sure indication that he is a false prophet.” If we used this criteria for judging modern preachers, I think we would discover many false prophets. Many traveling preachers today are simply in this business for money.

I must confess that in my life I have been defrauded by many people, yet I continue to show hospitality to strangers. Why? The Scriptures tell me to do it, and I was brought up doing it. It is my practice.

Entertaining Angels Unawares

Hebrews 13:2 tells us, “For by so doing,” that is, by giving hospitality, “some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” The writer may have been reflecting on the story of Abraham which we find in Genesis 18. There we read, “The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, ‘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'” (Gen. 18:1-5).

Notice, we do not see the angels knocking at the door of Abraham’s tent. Here Abraham is taking the initiative, going to these strangers, and saying, “Please come and be refreshed. Be my guests.” Abraham is showing hospitality to these three men.

Who were these three men? Two were angels, but one was the Lord himself. And as a result of entertaining these three men, Abraham and his wife received a great blessing–their son Isaac.

We see the same type of thing in Genesis 19 when two angels went to Sodom. In Genesis 19:1-3 we read, “The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. ‘My lords,’ he said, ‘please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.’ ‘No,’ they answered, ‘we will spend the night in the square.’ But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.”

Here again we notice that Lot took the initiative to meet with these two men and show hospitality to them. As a result, Lot also received a blessing: he and his household were delivered from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

All Christians Must Practice Hospitality

When we study the Bible we notice that pastors and believers are especially exhorted to be hospitable. In fact, one of the qualifications of a minister is that he be hospitable, as we read in 1 Timothy 3:2, “Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable.”

I once asked one of our elders, “Did your former pastor ever invite you into his house?” “No, not at all,” he replied. This man had helped support that pastor for many years, but he, as well as many others, had never been invited to visit the pastor’s home. But a pastor’s house should be a place where people, especially members of the church, are welcome.

However, hospitality is not only the responsibility of pastors and elders. In 1 Timothy 5:9 we read, “No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband and is well-known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality. . . .”

Every believer should be hospitable. If it is good for the pastor, it is good for everyone. So throughout the New Testament we find that believers are commanded to practice hospitality. For example, in Hebrews 13:2 we read, “Do not forget to entertain strangers,” and in Romans 12:13 we read, “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Showing Hospitality Without Grumbling

We read about hospitality in 1 Peter 4:9, “Offer hospitality to one another. . . .” Here Peter tells us that hospitality is not only to be shown to strangers who have come to us from regions beyond us, but it is also to be shown to one another, meaning all our brothers and sisters in Christ. And then Peter adds an important qualification to how we should show hospitality: “without grumbling.”

Have you ever experienced the type of grumbling Peter is speaking about? I have. You get a call and learn that someone is coming to your house. All of a sudden you have to cook and clean and get everything ready for your guest. You may want to rest and enjoy some peace, but there is someone at the door, wanting to be entertained. Doesn’t that generate grumbling within your heart? But here Peter is saying, “Don’t do that. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

Then Peter tells us, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (v. 10). In other words, God has entrusted us with certain gifts so that we may minister to others. Have you ever wondered why some people have more money than others? It has a purpose–that they may serve God with it. Some people have more brilliance than others, or more skills in dealing with people. What should they do with these gifts? Serve God with them.

We all have received certain gifts from God, and through these we “administer God’s grace in its various forms.” In other words, the purpose of these gifts is to edify others, and that includes showing hospitality to them. Therefore, I challenge you: If your home is never open to a pastor or anyone else, please try to open it up and invite people, especially the people of God. Let the people of God come to pray, eat, and fellowship with you. Learn to have a deep relationship with the people. It is so important to practice hospitality, not only with strangers, but with one another, and we should do so without grumbling.

God’s Love Motivates Us

What motivates us to show unselfish, gracious hospitality to others? The love of God. We find an illustration of that in Acts 16. Paul had been preaching in Philippi and a woman named Lydia came to know the Lord. In Acts 16:15 we read, “When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us,” meaning Paul, Luke, Timothy, and others with them, “to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us.'”

No one had to teach Lydia to show hospitality to others. When a person comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God is shed abroad in his heart in abundance, and that love manifests itself in various ways. Lydia and the members of her household heard the gospel, believed and were baptized. Then, spontaneously, Lydia said to Paul and his companions, “Please, come and stay at my home,” and Luke says she persuaded them to stay. She opened her home to these “strangers” and we can safely assume that she was quite eager to meet every need of the apostle and his companions. The love of God motivated Lydia to show hospitality.

We see the same kind of thing in the ministry of Jesus Christ. In Luke 8:1-3 and other places we read that many women followed the Lord Jesus Christ and his disciples, ministering to their needs and providing for them “out of their own means,” as we read in verse 3.

The Commendation of Christ

As we practice hospitality, we do so because we are Christians, out of love for God and not expecting anything in return. But the Bible tells us that something will happen as we do obey this command. In Matthew 25:34-40 we read that a certain commendation will come to us from the Lord Jesus Christ himself:

“Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 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, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'”

Matthew 25:34-40

When I was in my second year in the university, I went to listen to a famous evangelist who had come to South India to preach. After the service I and a friend of mine from the university stayed overnight in the home of a pastor with whom we were familiar. When we got up early the next morning, we could smell the breakfast cooking. We were quite hungry and hoped against hope that the pastor would come and say, “Good morning! Come on in and have breakfast.” Did that happen? Absolutely not! Hungry and thirsty we finally went back to the university. Everyone else was eating in that pastor’s home. We could hear all the others having a great time, and yet absolutely no food was offered to us.

As Jesus Christ said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” There is a certain identification of the Lord with his church.

Aiding the Afflicted

In Hebrews 13:3 we find another way love of brothers is shown practically. There we read, “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Here we are exhorted to show love practically through ministering to fellow believers who are in prison or afflicted.

In ancient prisons, unlike modern prisons, there was no food, heat, clothing, or provisions of any kind made for the prisoners. A prisoner was totally dependent upon his friends and relatives for all his basic needs. The writer to the Hebrews was saying that we must remember such prisoners, especially believers who had been arrested and put in prison.

What does it mean to remember them? It means we should think about our suffering brethren. We shouldn’t say to ourselves, “Well, praise God, I am not in prison, so why should I think about those who are? Wasn’t I able to avoid the people who came to arrest us?” No. We must think about them. PGM In the Bible when it says “remember” it means to remember someone in a way that you are doing something for their benefit. Biblical remembering is not some kind of detached reflection. We must remember others so that we can do something for their benefit and health.

We must also realize that when the writer told the Hebrew Christians to remember those who were in prison, he was not saying anything new to them. This was something they had practiced years before, as we read in Hebrews 10:32-34: “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,” meaning right after they had been saved, “when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.”

You see, these believers used to do these things, but in their later years they had entered into a time of doubt about their faith. There was a coldness settling into their love, both for God and for their brothers. They had fallen from their first love, and so the writer was exhorting them, “No, you have to continue to do what you did earlier. You must remember your fellow believers who are in prison and act in their behalf.”

The Bond of Love

How are we to remember? In verse 3 we find an interesting phrase: hōs sundedemenoi. It is the perfect passive participle of sundeō, which means “to bind with.” In other words, this word carries the idea that you must imagine in your mind that you are bound with these others in prison. You are not bound with them truly and literally, but you should imagine in your mind that you are physically bound with them. This is also called sympathy.

You must sympathize with them and suffer with them by imagining that you are chained with them, not at liberty to come and go as you please. You must feel their pain. You must think about being naked, hungry, and lonely, bereft of any church life, lying in bonds in a cold cell. And then you must think, “If I were in this condition, what would I need?” Then you must make a list: I would need food and clothing. I would need some society, some people from the church to come and visit me, and if possible to stay with me overnight, if the guard would permit it, so that we could have some sweet conversation about the things of Christ.

Remembering means that you write a list prompting by this imagining and feeling of pain, and then you do these things for those who are in prison. That is the meaning of remembering “as one bound with them.”

Suppose you are not in prison, but you are healthy and free to work and worship. Why do you think you are not suffering like those in prison? Well, just imagine what it would be like if everyone were in prison. No one could help the other. But, at any given time, in God’s sovereign ordination some are in prison, and in his own sovereign will, some are not in prison. Therefore, those who are not in prison are able to help those who are in prison, and that is the idea of the church and community. When one member suffers, everyone suffers. When one rejoices, everyone rejoices.

Likewise, every person in the church is not sick at the same time. Usually there are some sick but others who are not. What should those who are not sick do? They should suffer with those who are sick and find out in what ways they can assist those individuals who are in trouble. Do you understand that?

Brotherly Love in the Historical Church

In his commentary on the book of Hebrews, Professor William Barclay speaks about some of the things the early Christians did to help their fellow believers in prison. William Barclay was a liberal theologian, but he had great insights in certain biblical matters. Here he quotes Tertullian’s Apology: “If there happen to be any in the mines, or banished to the islands, or shut up in prisons for nothing but their fidelity to the cause of God’s Church, they,” that is, the people of the church who were not in prison, “become the nurslings of their confession.” Barclay continues, “Aristides the heathen orator said of the Christians: ‘If they hear that any one of their number is imprisoned or in distress for the sake of their Christ’s name, they all render aid in his necessity and, if he can be redeemed, they set him free.'” Barclay says this about Origen, also a great liberal theologian: “When Origen was young, it was said of him: ‘Not only was he at the side of the holy martyrs in their imprisonment and until their final condemnation but, when they were led to death, he boldly accompanied them into danger.” Visiting people in prison and following those who are led out to martyrdom is a dangerous thing. Why? You could be caught, arrested and killed. It is a dangerous thing to visit those who are in prison.

Then Barclay cites a fourth-century document called the Apostolic Constitution (a document which has nothing to do with the writing of the apostles): “If any Christian is condemned for Christ’s sake to the mines by the ungodly, do not overlook him but from the proceeds of your toil and sweat send him something to support himself and to reward the soldier of Christ.” Again, the Apostolic Constitution says, “All monies accruing from honest labour do ye appoint and apportion to the redeeming of the saints ransoming thereby slaves and captives and prisoners, people who are sore abused or condemned by tyrants” (William Barclay, The Letter to the Hebrews, from The Daily Study Bible, Rev. Ed., [Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1976] 192). In these ways the early church practiced brotherly love and hospitality and shared the sufferings of fellow believers who were in prison.

Brotherly Love in the New Testament Church

Let us examine some examples from the Bible of showing brotherly love. We already mentioned how Lydia invited Paul and Timothy into her house in Philippi. The Macedonian church was known for its generosity to Paul, and in Philippians 2 we read that the Macedonian church, and specifically the Philippian church, sent a person named Epaphroditus with a gift to Paul while he was in prison. Epaphroditus had become ill while visiting Paul and in Philippians 2:25-30 we read,

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed, he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.”

That is what visiting a prisoner means, and in this case, the prisoner was Paul himself.

At the end of his life Paul wrote again about help he received while in prison. In 2 Timothy 1:16 we read, “May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.” You see, it is a dangerous thing to visit a prisoner, but Onesiphorus risked his life to refresh Paul in prison. Paul says, “On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.” It is risky business to identify with those who are in prison for Christ’s sake, but that is what we are called to do.

The Sacrifice of Sharing

In Hebrews 13:16 we read, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Because all of life is worship, showing brotherly love, showing hospitality, and visiting people in prison is worship. Not only that, all men and women redeemed by Christ are priests, as we read in 1 Peter 2 and other places. This is known as the priesthood of all believers. We are all priests who have some sacrifices to offer to God, and here we read about one sacrifice: “Do not forget to do good and to share with others.” Whenever we share with others, especially God’s people, we are literally offering a sacrifice to God which he accepts.

Paul referred to this idea of the sacrifice of sharing when he spoke of the gift that Epaphroditus brought from the church of Philippi to him in prison. In Philippians 4:18 he wrote, “I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” Whenever we share, it is a great opportunity to function as priests of God.

Recently my wife was sick for several days, so I bought some food from a restaurant, ate a little and gave the rest to a brother in our church. Someone else brought us some food, and in the evening when another brother came, I told him, “Hey, why don’t you take this food home?” I receive great joy from doing these things. Why? Because when I do these things, I am functioning as a priest, offering certain sacrifices to God. And not only that, there is great joy in knowing that God himself is pleased with such sacrifices.

“Whatever You Do For the Least of These”

What does Jesus Christ say about our visiting of prisoners and showing hospitality? Look again at Matthew 25, the latter part of verse 36, where the King, Jesus Christ, says, “I was in prison and you came to visit me.” And in verse 39 the question is put to the King by the believers, “When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” What is the answer? “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me'” (v. 40).

How wonderful this amazing identification of the Lord with his church is! Whatever we do for a little brother, a little sister, a sick brother, a sick sister, a person who is imprisoned, a weak person, a poor person–whenever we meet that person’s need–we are doing it to the Lord. Whenever we show love to others, we are functioning as priests, offering spiritual sacrifices, and God is pleased with them. That is what the writer to the Hebrews is telling us in this passage.

Brothers, Let Us Love One Another

What is God exhorting us to do in this passage? “Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”

Yes, many of us are not sick. We are not fired from our jobs. We have money. We are able, mentally and physically. Our marriages are working. We have no problems–at the moment. But there are people in our midst whose marriages are not working, who don’t have jobs, who are sick and some who may even die soon.

Praise be to God, not everyone is sick, unemployed or in marital difficulty. So those who are healthy must understand: It is the will of God that we assist those who are suffering. God will be pleased with that, and will say on that day, “You visited me, you fed me, you clothed me, you came and provided me with society. You prayed with me. You were there.

How, then, can we help our brothers? Let me give some practical steps:

1. We can visit those who are suffering.
2. We can help by giving direct aid, which means sharing of our material possessions. I guarantee that will give you great joy also. As I said, I was brought up in practicing these things. I saw my parents doing them, and I have been practicing them all these years as well. In Proverbs 30:15 we read about a leech and two daughters. What is the cry of the leeches? “Give me! Give me!” But in Luke 6 Jesus taught us, “Give and it shall be given to you.”
3. We can pray. In Acts 12 we read that Peter was arrested and thrown into jail. Acts 12:5 tells us the church prayed earnestly for him. That is real, earnest prayer–praying as though you were in prison, as though you were sick, as though your marriage were in trouble, as though you just heard that you have terminal cancer. Oh, you feel pain, and all of a sudden your prayer becomes passionate and earnest. Through such prayer we can help our brothers and sisters.

May God help us to demonstrate in various ways the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts, especially in behalf of the household of faith. May we show his love, not only in word, but also in deed. Amen.