Caring for Those in Need
Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. 3 Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. (Hebrews 13:1-3)
To close the book of Hebrews, the author gives a final exhortation. In these 3 verses, the author focuses on how believers should care for those with special needs. Starting with verse 1, “let brotherly love continue.” The author was reminding the believers to love one another as family members love one another. Some have already displayed this type of selfless love in Hebrews 10:33-34, but the implication here is that some have also been neglecting this action. The author gives two specific groups that they should display this love to others.
First, to “show hospitality” to the missionaries who are going about doing the Lord’s work. We saw previously in 3 John that Gaius was faithfully serving the brothers and sisters who needed rest. As a reminder, during this time, those who traveled did not have many places to stay as we do now. Many had to rely on the hospitality of strangers, which, unfortunately, some were taken advantage of by thieves. The author urges the believers to care for these strangers that come to their home as if they were treating “angels as guests without knowing it.” An example of such hospitality to treating guests that were actually angels was Abraham in Genesis 18-19. As Lea writes, “it is better to treat needy guests as messengers from God than to risk offending them by an inhospitable act.”
Second, to “remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated as though you yourselves were suffering bodily.” Many were imprisoned and beaten for the sake of Christ. During this time, prisoners were not fed and clothed. Therefore, to survive in prison, the prisoners had to rely on the gift of loved ones and good-hearted strangers. The author challenged the believers to have empathy for the prisoners of the faith, spurring them to action to feed and clothe them, knowing that there is the possibility that there might be a day they may join them in prison as well. May we love others as Christ loves, putting it into action practically, caring for one another as family, showing hospitality to our guests as if we are serving the Lord, and helping those in the toughest of situations in any way we can.
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
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