Does "strangers" here refer to spiritual or physical beings? Hebrews 13:2
2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:1 - 19
ESV - 1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
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Asked September 23 2021
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
"Strangers" means any human being whom we do not know. The writer of Hebrews is referring to accounts such as those of Abraham and Lot in Genesis 18-19, to whom angels appeared as humans whom they did not know, but to whom Abraham and Lot nevertheless showed hospitality, as the writer of Hebrews is also urging his Christian readers to do, in the same way that they would if they knew that their guests were actually angels.
Grant Abbott
Supporter
I believe the writer is exhorting Christians to show hospitality to human beings whom they do not know (ie strangers). Hospitality was a really important Christian value in biblical times because so many people travelled from place to place and depended on water, food and shelter from others (strangers) for their survival on the way. So why would God send an angel disguised as a stranger. Most often, God sends his angels to deliver his messages. That was the case when the angels appeared as strangers to Abraham. But God also sends angels to test our faith. To see if we are really willing to make sacrifices to follow the example of Jesus. In effect, the writer of Hebrews is saying, keep showing hospitality to strangers, because one of these times it could be an angel, and you don't want to fail the test.
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