Entertaining Angels

Hebrews 13:2, Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Entertain means hospitality and strangers means believers possibly undergoing persecution [v. 3] or helping traveling preachers or Christian workers.

It is not an admonition to help everybody- those who will not work or those in sin. Nor is it a call to help everybody hoping they will be an angel. The context of Heb. 13:1-6 is brotherly love.

Bible Believers Commentary says, “The readers are urged to show hospitality to strangers. This might refer primarily to believers who were fleeing from persecution and were hard-pressed to find food and lodging; to entertain them was to expose the host and hostess to danger. The verse may also be understood as a general encouragement to show hospitality to any believers who need it.

There is always the thrilling possibility that in doing this we may unwittingly entertain angels! This of course looks back to Abraham's experience with three men who were actually angelic beings (Gen. 18:1-15). Even if we never have real angels in our homes, we may have men and women whose very presence is a benediction and whose godly influence on our family may have results that reach on into eternity.