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The next duty suitable to Christ’s kingdom, is hospitality to Christian strangers.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; be neither ignorant nor unmindful: by which charge they are bound strongly and always not to have this out of mind, though it may be out of hand; and the negative confirms the positive duty, removing hinderances, and enjoining it strictly, that they have a love and desire to the duty, bearing affection to the person of a Christian brother though a stranger, unknown and brought by Providence to them, Mat_22:39 25:35; and to the work of being an host, of entertaining such Christians; xenov signifying an host as well as a stranger or guest. It is a love to be an hospitable person that is here required, Tit_1:8; (such was Gaius to Paul and the church, Rom_16:23); importing a kind, courteous reception of Christians into their houses, being harbourless, which Christ promiseth them, Luk_18:29 1Ti_5:10; a free and cheerful provision for their necessary refreshing, Gen_18:4-6; with a careful furtherance and assistance of them in the work of God, and helping them to persevere in the same, 3Jo_1:6-8.
For thereby some have entertained angels unawares; the advantage that accrues to such hosts of the Christian church and its members is great; for in the exercise of this duty, Abraham and Lot, being strangers, and waiting to entertain such, received angels into their tabernacle and house, Gen_18:2,3, and had sweet discoveries of God in the Messiah made to them; were delivered by them from judgment, as Lot, Gen_19:10,15-17. And now the general guard of angels goeth along with the saints, and are entertained in them, who never come without a blessing, they attending them in their way, defending them against evil spirits, and offensive ones and places where they are, though their ministry be little observed or acknowledged as it ought, Heb_1:14. Not only angels, but Christ himself accompanieth his pilgrim members, and is entertained, fed, comforted, and lodged in and with them, Mat_10:40-42 25:34-36; and for this will he reward them in both worlds.