A CAUTION REGARDING HOSPITALITY

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

2 John 1:10-11

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

As we read the Bible, we see where there’s an encouragement for people to show hospitality to others.

In the fourth chapter of Peter’s first letter, we find this exhortation:

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. v.9

In writing to the Romans, we find this command from the Word of God:

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 12:13

It’s clear that Christian believers are to care for one another, freely inviting brothers and sisters into their home for fellowship and care but as we see in today’s passage from our study of John’s second letter, the scriptures also provide a caution regarding this matter. Look again at those words here:

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. 2 John 1:10-11

False teachers were leading people away from the true Gospel and the teaching of Jesus. In doing so, they were openly and actively opposing Christ, servants of Satan who the scriptures refer to as antichrists.

And so the warning here is to be careful who you entertain in your home. It doesn’t say a Christian can’t greet one if these false teachers and enter into a conversation. After all, how else would you know if they were a legitimate Jesus follower or a counterfeit unless you began speaking with them about the true Gospel? What it does say is that if you do expose one of these antichrists, they should have no place sharing fellowship with you in your home for to do so would signal complicity and approval to others in the Christian community. Or as we read in our passage today, it would connect you to the “wicked work” they were carrying out.

As Christian believers, we’re expected to hold the line in regard to the inerrant, infallible Word of the God Most High. Since that Word was granted, Satan has found people willing to work on his behalf to deceive and mislead people, intermingling with believers and working to contradict the teachings of Jesus and God’s salvation plan carried out through Him.

Our passage today reminds true Christ disciples to be on the lookout and stand guard against false teachers, not providing hospitality to those who are partnered with the enemy. Now it’s up to us to be obedient to that call.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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