Entertaining Angels

There’s an old adage that we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. This may be helpful when looking for that next novel to read, but it’s also an important principle to consider the next time we meet a stranger. Oftentimes it’s easy to judge strangers on the surface. We see a homeless person asking for money on the sidewalk, and we assume they will use anything we give to buy drugs or alcohol. Maybe we notice a parent in a department store with a fussy child, and we find ourselves judging their parenting. Or sometimes we observe that person outside the grocery store who appears stressed, disheveled, or lost, and we wonder to ourselves why they can’t just keep it together? Warranted or not these reactions are common and sadly inhibit our generosity. But how often do we ever pause and wonder if there could be more in these moments than what meets the eye, that there’s a divine reason our lives are intersecting at this very place and time? Could it be that if we step into their story and serve them where they’re at we may just be entertaining angels? Scripture suggests this may be the case.

The writer of Hebrews challenges us as believers in saying, “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” (13:2) This is not merely a figure of speech either. One only has to go back to Genesis 18 and 19 to read about how both Abraham and Lot independently of one another demonstrated generosity and hospitality to angels unaware. Jesus even took this idea one step further. In Matthew 25 he tells his listeners that when we care for the needy, we are caring for Jesus himself. Imagine that, we may actually brush shoulders with heavenly citizens as we go about our days! Knowing this should change the way we interact with those we encounter.

Often our attitudes dictate our actions. When we have negative attitudes towards strangers, actions that follow are neglect or withholding. However, if our attitudes towards these same people were that they are heavenly citizens, imagine how that would change our behavior toward them? Instead of assuming a homeless person would misuse what we give them we may see an opportunity to serve an individual in need. Instead of questioning someone’s parenting we may be led to treat them and their children to ice cream, thereby creating a positive memory out of a stressful situation. Rather than wondering what’s wrong with that person outside the grocery story we may stop and offer to buy them groceries instead.

Viewing strangers as possible angels opens up opportunities for encounters we cannot even imagine. As one commentary noted, “Let the stranger be ever in your mind. Let no one slip by your gates or go away knocking in vain. What will it avail to admit a thousand who bring you nothing but their needs, if you let one go who will bring you blessings far more than anything you can do for him?”¹ As we go about our lives let’s not be closed off to the needs of others, but rather let’s be willing to show hospitality, or give to the needy or converse with the marginalized. We never know, the next time we stop to show generosity to that person on the corner we may just be entertaining an angel without realizing it!

Reference:

Young, The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962), Vol. 21, Hebrews, p.415.