The Bible places great emphasis on hospitality and welcoming others, reflecting God’s love for all people. Welcoming someone can be an act of kindness, an expression of love, and even a way to honor God. Here are 30 Bible verses about welcoming, along with a brief commentary for each verse, illustrating the importance of embracing others with an open heart.
Bible Verses About Welcoming
1. Romans 15:7
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
Paul encourages believers to welcome one another as Christ did, showing how acceptance glorifies God and strengthens the church.
2. 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.”
Jesus emphasizes that welcoming others, especially the needy, is akin to welcoming Him, showing love through acts of kindness.
3. 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.”
The verse reminds us that welcoming strangers can have divine significance, as some encounters may be with angels unaware.
4. 1 Peter 4:9
“Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
Peter calls for genuine, cheerful hospitality, encouraging believers to welcome others willingly and with a good attitude.
5. Luke 14:12-14
“When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back.”
Jesus challenges social norms by urging hospitality toward those who cannot repay, promoting selfless love and kindness.
6. 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.”
God commands His people to extend hospitality to foreigners, reminding them of their own experiences as outsiders.
7. Matthew 10:40
“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”
Jesus links welcoming His followers with welcoming Him and God, showing the divine connection in acts of hospitality.
8. Genesis 18:1-5
“Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.”
Abraham’s eagerness to welcome strangers exemplifies the biblical value of hospitality and the blessings that can come from it.
9. Colossians 3:23-24
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
Welcoming others can be seen as serving God directly, encouraging us to do so wholeheartedly and with joy.
10. Acts 28:2
“The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.”
The hospitality shown by the islanders toward Paul and his companions illustrates the impact of kindness on strangers, regardless of background.
11. Proverbs 19:17
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
Welcoming those in need is equated with lending to God, highlighting how acts of kindness hold spiritual value.
12. Philemon 1:17
“So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.”
Paul encourages Philemon to welcome Onesimus with the same love and acceptance as he would Paul, reinforcing Christian brotherhood.
13. Isaiah 58:7
“Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them?”
God defines true worship as acts of kindness toward those in need, including welcoming and providing for the vulnerable.
14. James 2:15-16
“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing.”
The verse challenges empty words, calling for genuine hospitality through action, not just intention.
15. 3 John 1:8
“We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.”
Hospitality is shown as a way to support fellow workers in the faith, emphasizing the role of welcoming others in advancing the gospel.
16. Luke 10:38
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.”
Martha’s act of welcoming Jesus into her home reflects the heart of hospitality, offering a space for fellowship and service.
17. Deuteronomy 10:19
“And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.”
The call to love and welcome foreigners is rooted in empathy and remembering past experiences of being an outsider.
18. Job 31:32
“But no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler.”
Job’s life serves as an example of consistent hospitality, ensuring that no one was left without shelter or welcome.
19. Galatians 6:10
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”
Paul encourages believers to seize every chance to welcome and do good to others, prioritizing the Christian community.
20. Mark 9:37
“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Welcoming others, especially the vulnerable, is equivalent to welcoming Christ Himself, showing God’s presence in simple acts of kindness.
21. 2 Kings 4:8
“One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal.”
The Shunammite woman’s hospitality toward Elisha illustrates the mutual blessings of welcoming God’s servants, leading to divine rewards.
22. Titus 1:8
“Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.”
Hospitality is a required virtue for church leaders, reflecting its importance in the Christian life and community.
23. Matthew 18:5
“And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
Jesus emphasizes the value of welcoming the least in society, showing that kindness to the vulnerable reflects kindness to Him.
24. Acts 16:15
“When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.'”
Lydia’s invitation to Paul and his companions shows the natural outflow of hospitality following conversion and commitment to the faith.
25. Luke 19:6
“So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.”
Zacchaeus’ joyful welcome of Jesus into his home exemplifies openness to transformation and the blessings of receiving Christ.
26. Exodus 23:9
“Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.”
The verse calls for empathy in welcoming outsiders, drawing from shared experiences of being strangers.
27. Romans 12:13
“Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Paul’s exhortation includes welcoming others as an essential part of living out one’s faith, demonstrating love in practical ways.
28. 2 Corinthians 7:15
“And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling.”
The Corinthians’ welcoming attitude is commended, showing how hospitality can foster deeper relationships and mutual respect.
29. 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?'”
Boaz’s kindness to Ruth, a foreigner, illustrates the value of welcoming and providing for outsiders with generosity and compassion.
30. Philippians 2:29
“So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him.”
Paul urges the church to joyfully welcome and honor fellow believers, underscoring the importance of mutual respect and encouragement.
These verses highlight the importance of welcoming others with love, empathy, and generosity, demonstrating how hospitality is central to living out faith and honoring God.
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