It was very hard for the recipients of the letter of Hebrews to be hospitable since they are under persecution. They “would not know whether a guest would be a spy or a fellow believer being pursued” (MacArthur Study Bible). Yet this is God’s word for them: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (NIV). Hospitality is indeed highly valued in the Bible (Rom. 12:13). It is even one of the qualifications for eldership (1 Tim.3:2; Titus 1:8).
Hospitality to God’s servants will be richly rewarded by the Lord. If we shall generously give a cup of water to a minister of Christ, there is reward awaiting us (Matt. 10:42). Our Lord Jesus lays down this principle: “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me” (Matt. 10:40). Be hospitable to Christ’s ambassadors and you receive Christ himself.
But there is one form of hospitality that the Lord hates. In this type of hospitality, you will not be entertaining Christ or his angels but Satan and his demons.
Hospitality to God’s servants will be richly rewarded by the Lord. If we shall generously give a cup of water to a minister of Christ, there is reward awaiting us (Matt. 10:42). Our Lord Jesus lays down this principle: “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me” (Matt. 10:40). Be hospitable to Christ’s ambassadors and you receive Christ himself.
But there is one form of hospitality that the Lord hates. In this type of hospitality, you will not be entertaining Christ or his angels but Satan and his demons.
The Hospitality that God Hates
False teachers bring into your house “doctrine of demons” (1 Tim.4:1)—Yikes!!! That’s infinitely more horrifying than the last horror film blockbuster.
Seriously, this requires vigilance on our part. It is not always easy to identify them for Satan masquerades as an angel of light and so his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:14-15). Satan has mastered the art of deception, for he has been deceiving men from the beginning of history (Gen. 3), and he will do so until the end (Rev. 20:3, 10).
The Bible’s instruction is to deny any form of help or support to teachers who are spreading destructive doctrines (2 John 10). Anyone who practices hospitality to them becomes a partner to their spiritual crime (2 John 11).
To protect our family from thieves and murderers, we see to it that before going to bed, the gates are closed; doors and windows locked. Satan is the most heinous of all criminals. Do not let him step into your backyard. His only intention is to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10)
----------------------------------------------Seriously, this requires vigilance on our part. It is not always easy to identify them for Satan masquerades as an angel of light and so his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:14-15). Satan has mastered the art of deception, for he has been deceiving men from the beginning of history (Gen. 3), and he will do so until the end (Rev. 20:3, 10).
The Bible’s instruction is to deny any form of help or support to teachers who are spreading destructive doctrines (2 John 10). Anyone who practices hospitality to them becomes a partner to their spiritual crime (2 John 11).
To protect our family from thieves and murderers, we see to it that before going to bed, the gates are closed; doors and windows locked. Satan is the most heinous of all criminals. Do not let him step into your backyard. His only intention is to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10)
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