The Bible is filled with commands to treat strangers with kindness and compassion. From Old Testament laws to Jesus’ teachings, hospitality and love for the outsider are central themes. What can Scripture teach us about how we should approach strangers in our lives today?
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What Does The Bible Say About Strangers
Leviticus 19:34
“The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of welcoming and showing love to strangers. It reminds us to treat foreigners with kindness and compassion, remembering that we once were strangers in a foreign land. God calls us to extend hospitality to those who are different from us.
We should not discriminate against strangers but instead embrace them as equals, showing them the same love and respect we would want for ourselves. This verse teaches us the value of inclusivity and the need to break down barriers to create a sense of belonging for all.
Hebrews 13:2
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
This verse encourages us to practice hospitality towards strangers, reminding us that in doing so, we may unknowingly entertain heavenly beings. It highlights the potential for divine encounters when we welcome and serve others, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances.
Showing hospitality to strangers allows us to reflect God’s love and grace, as it can have a profound impact not only on the stranger but also on our own lives. This verse serves as a reminder that every act of kindness towards strangers has the potential to bring about unexpected blessings.
Matthew 25:35
“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.”
In this verse, Jesus urges us to provide for the needs of others, including strangers. He equates acts of kindness towards strangers with actions directed towards Himself. It highlights the importance of reaching out to those who are vulnerable or in need.
By meeting the physical needs of strangers and showing them hospitality, we demonstrate Christ’s love. This verse serves as a reminder that when we care for strangers, we are ultimately serving and honoring God Himself.
Romans 12:13
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
This verse calls believers to be generous and hospitable, particularly towards those in need. It highlights the interconnectedness among believers and the importance of supporting one another, even when they are strangers.
As Christians, we are called to open our hearts and homes, welcoming and caring for those who are in need. This verse encourages us to be proactive in showing kindness, generosity, and hospitality to strangers, demonstrating the love of Christ to the world.
Jeremiah 22:3
“This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.”
In this verse, God commands His people to do what is just and right, specifically in protecting and advocating for the oppressed, including foreigners. He warns against causing harm or injustice to strangers, the fatherless, or widows.
This verse reminds us of our responsibility to defend the rights of those who are vulnerable and to treat strangers with fairness and compassion. It calls us to be a voice for the voiceless and to actively oppose any form of discrimination or mistreatment.
Luke 10:27
“He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
In this verse, Jesus sums up the greatest commandments as loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Our neighbors include strangers, and we are called to extend love and care towards them, treating them with the same kindness and respect we desire for ourselves.
This verse encourages us to have a holistic and selfless love that encompasses not only those we know but also those we encounter as strangers. It challenges us to break down barriers and extend Christ’s love to all, promoting unity and inclusion.
Deuteronomy 10:19
“And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”
God commands His people to love foreigners, reminding them of their own experiences as foreigners in Egypt. This verse emphasizes empathy and compassion towards strangers, challenging us to remember our own past vulnerabilities and extend grace to others.
By embracing and loving foreigners, we exhibit the character of God and display His heart of love and acceptance. This verse encourages us to view strangers with understanding and to actively seek ways to welcome and include them in our communities.
Galatians 3:28
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
This verse emphasizes the equality and unity found in Christ. It declares that in Him, there is no distinction based on nationality, social status, or gender. As believers, we are called to view and treat one another as equals, regardless of our differences.
This verse challenges us to break down barriers and embrace strangers as brothers and sisters in Christ, recognizing our shared identity as children of God. It calls us to foster a community where all are valued and included, eradicating discrimination and prejudice.
Proverbs 14:21
“Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.”
This verse warns against despising or disregarding our neighbors, which includes strangers. It highlights the sinfulness of treating others with contempt or indifference. Conversely, it praises those who show kindness and generosity to the poor and marginalized.
This verse calls us to examine our attitudes towards strangers and challenges us to cultivate a heart of compassion and generosity. It reminds us that our treatment of others reflects our relationship with God and that blessing comes from extending help to those in need.
Acts 10:34-35
“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.'”
In this verse, Peter acknowledges the impartiality of God, who does not show favoritism based on nationality. He affirms that God welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and live according to His will.
This verse challenges us to adopt God’s perspective and value all individuals as He does. It reminds us that God’s love extends beyond borders and that we, too, should embrace strangers as equal members of the global family of believers.
James 2:8-9
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”
James reminds us of the importance of loving our neighbors as ourselves, emphasizing that it is the royal law found in Scripture. He emphasizes that showing favoritism is sinful and goes against this law, making us guilty of breaking it.
This verse underscores the need for consistency in our actions and attitudes towards others, including strangers. It challenges us to examine our hearts and ensure that our treatment of others aligns with the love and integrity taught by Christ.
Matthew 7:12
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
This verse, often referred to as the Golden Rule, instructs us to treat others as we would like to be treated. It encapsulates the essence of the Law and the Prophets, which is to love God and love our neighbors.
When it comes to strangers, this verse prompts us to consider how we would want to be treated if we were in their position. It compels us to extend kindness, compassion, and hospitality, recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of every individual.
Luke 6:35
“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”
This verse challenges us to extend love and kindness even to those who may be considered enemies or strangers. It encourages us to go beyond our comfort zones and demonstrate radical generosity, mirroring the character of God.
By loving our enemies and strangers, we display the transformative power of God’s love and grace. This verse reminds us that our actions should reflect God’s kindness, even when it may not be reciprocated or acknowledged.
1 John 4:11
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
John urges believers to love one another, drawing on the love that God has shown us. This verse emphasizes the reciprocal nature of love, for as we have been loved by God, we are called to love others.
When applied to strangers, this verse challenges us to extend love and acceptance to those we may not know or understand. It reminds us that our capacity to love is rooted in the love we have experienced from God.
Luke 14:13-14
“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Jesus encourages us to be inclusive in our hospitality, specifically inviting those who are disadvantaged or marginalized. He promises that in doing so, we will be blessed, even though the recipients may not be able to repay us.
This verse challenges us to broaden our understanding of hospitality and extend it to those who may not typically receive invitations. By embracing strangers and caring for the less fortunate, we reflect the heart of God and store up treasures in heaven.
Ezekiel 47:22
“You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you and who have children. You are to consider them as native-born Israelites; along with you, they are to be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.”
God instructs the Israelites to include foreigners residing among them in the distribution of inheritances, treating them as native-born Israelites. This verse demonstrates God’s desire for inclusivity and equality among His people.
It challenges us to ensure that strangers are not excluded or discriminated against, but rather embraced as part of the community. This verse serves as a reminder of our responsibility to advocate for justice and equality, extending the same rights and privileges to strangers as to ourselves.
Ruth 2:10
“At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, ‘Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?'”
In this verse, Ruth expresses her astonishment that someone would show her favor as a foreigner. Her words highlight the tendency to overlook or exclude strangers, making her appreciation for Boaz’s kindness all the more significant.
This verse challenges us to examine our own behavior and attitudes towards strangers. It reminds us of the impact a simple act of kindness and acceptance can have, reminding others of their worth and value despite their foreignness.
Exodus 22:21
“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”
God commands the Israelites not to mistreat or oppress foreigners, reminding them of their own past as foreigners in Egypt. This verse emphasizes empathy and compassion, as well as the importance of not repeating the injustices they suffered.
It serves as a warning against discrimination, prejudice, and mistreatment of strangers. This verse challenges us to view foreigners with empathy and extend dignity and kindness, recognizing that we, too, have experienced a sense of foreignness and vulnerability at some point.
Matthew 10:40
“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”
Jesus assures His disciples that when others welcome them, they are essentially welcoming Him and the Father who sent Him. This verse emphasizes the interconnectedness between believers and the divine significance of hospitality towards strangers.
By welcoming strangers, we extend the love of God and open doors for His presence and blessings to enter. This verse highlights the sacredness of every interaction and reminds us of the profound impact our hospitality can have on the lives of others.
Psalm 68:5
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”
This verse portrays God as a compassionate Father to the fatherless and a defender of widows. It underscores His care for the vulnerable and marginalized, including strangers who may find themselves in similar circumstances.
By emulating God’s character, we are called to extend love, support, and protection to those who may lack familial or societal support. This verse reminds us of the compassionate nature of God and urges us to reflect His love through our interactions with strangers.
1 Peter 4:9
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
Peter encourages believers to offer hospitality to one another willingly and without complaining. This verse highlights the importance of sincerity and a positive attitude when extending hospitality, ensuring that it is done out of genuine love and not out of obligation.
When applied to strangers, this verse challenges us to go beyond mere superficial acts of hospitality and truly embrace and serve them with joy and gratitude. It reminds us that our hospitality should be marked by love, humility, and a genuine desire to make others feel welcome and valued.
Zechariah 7:10
“Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.”
This verse contains a command to refrain from oppressing the widow, fatherless, foreigner, or poor. It admonishes against engaging in evil or ill intentions towards one another.
By specifically mentioning foreigners, this verse highlights the vulnerability and potential marginalization they may face. It calls us to be mindful of our actions and attitudes towards strangers, promoting justice, kindness, and compassion instead of oppression or harm.
Deuteronomy 24:17
“Do not deprive the foreigner or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge.”
In this verse, God instructs the Israelites to ensure that foreigners, fatherless, and widows are not denied justice or mistreated. It underscores the necessity of providing equal protection and care for those who are vulnerable or lack support systems.
This verse challenges us to advocate for justice and fairness, particularly for strangers who may face difficulties navigating unfamiliar systems. It emphasizes the importance of treating others with respect, dignity, and a commitment to upholding their rights.
Psalm 146:9
“The LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.”
This verse affirms that God actively watches over and cares for foreigners, the fatherless, and widows. It reassures the marginalized and emphasizes God’s commitment to their well-being.
When applied to our treatment of strangers, this verse encourages us to align our actions with God’s heart. It reminds us that as God’s representatives on earth, we are called to stand alongside the marginalized, providing them with support, comfort, and care.
Isaiah 56:7
“these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
God declares that His house of prayer will be a place of worship and acceptance for people of all nations. This verse speaks of inclusion and the invitation for foreigners to partake in the worship and spiritual exercises of God’s people.
It challenges us to cultivate environments within our communities of faith that are welcoming and affirming to strangers. This verse highlights the unity found in worshipping God together and the transformation that can occur when diverse individuals join in seeking and praising Him.