Scripture: Hebrews 13:2: Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
Introduction: That we are curious about angels is evidenced by the number of people who stopped me after this morning’s sermon with “angel” or “mysterious stranger” stories of their own. My neighbor told me that it must have been an angel that buffered her fall when she landed at the bottom of a flight of steps some time ago. She felt someone softly lowering her to the floor, which kept her from breaking her neck. Hebrews 13:2 indicates that angels are more active than we realize. The emphasis in this passage is on the miscellaneous duties we have as Christians. The main point in Hebrews 13 isn’t angels; it’s the duties enjoined on us as believers. The writer is instructing us to be hospitable toward strangers. But in telling us that, he adds a curious insight: Remember that in the Old Testament, some strangers turned out to be angels. This happened in:
1. Genesis 18 – The story of Abraham.
2. Genesis 19 – The story of Lot
3. Judges 13 – The story of Manoah and His wife.
Conclusion: Hebrews 13:2, built upon these Old Testament stories, indicates:
- That angels exist.
- That we never know when we might run into one.
- That we’re not always sure we can distinguish them from ordinary mortals.
- That we should therefore treat everyone hospitably and kindly.
PS – For more about angels, click here.