Morris ClarkThe Bible’s message about how we treat the foreigner is not a minor theme—it is a consistent, thundering declaration of God’s heart. From the law of Moses to the teachings of Jesus, Scripture commands God’s people to remember their own history as strangers and to extend welcome, justice, and love to those who dwell in their land.
From the very first pages of Scripture, the people of God have been a people on the move. Abraham, the father of faith, was called to leave his country, his kindred, and his father’s house to journey to an unknown land. He dwelt in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, “looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). The patriarchs were strangers and sojourners, and this identity—this memory of displacement and dependence—was woven into the very fabric of Israel’s consciousness. They were a people formed by the experience of being outsiders, and this formation was meant to shape their character forever.
When God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, He did not simply grant them freedom; He gave them a memory. Over and over again, throughout the Law and the Prophets, the command rings out: “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:21). This refrain is more than a reminder of past suffering; it is a divine mandate for perpetual empathy. Because they knew the heart of the stranger—the loneliness, the vulnerability, the longing for welcome—they were commanded to extend to others what they themselves had so desperately needed. The ethical treatment of the foreigner was thus not an appendix to the covenant but one of its central pillars, a non-negotiable expression of what it meant to be the people of the Holy One.
The Scriptures reveal that God’s concern for the foreigner is not a minor theme or a passing interest. It is, in fact, a direct reflection of His own character. Deuteronomy 10:18 declares that God “executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.” The God of Israel is not a distant, detached deity, unconcerned with the affairs of nations and the plight of the displaced. He is a God who actively loves the stranger—who sees their need, provides for their hunger, and covers their nakedness. And because this is who God is, this is what His people must become. The command to “love the sojourner, therefore” (Deuteronomy 10:19) is rooted in the very being of God. To love the stranger is to imitate God; to neglect or oppress the stranger is to deny Him.
As we move from the Old Testament to the New, this theme does not diminish but intensifies. The Gospels present us with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who Himself became a stranger. Born in a stable because there was no room in the inn, His life began in displacement. As an infant, He became a refugee, fleeing to Egypt to escape the murderous rage of Herod. Throughout His ministry, He consistently crossed the boundaries that divided people—speaking with a Samaritan woman, healing the daughter of a Canaanite, marveling at the faith of a Roman centurion. In Jesus, the welcome of God becomes flesh and blood. He is the one who came to His own, and His own received Him not (John 1:11), yet to all who did receive Him—Jew and Gentile, slave and free, native and foreigner—He gave the right to become children of God.
Perhaps most powerfully, Jesus identifies Himself with the stranger in His great teaching on the final judgment. “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35). Here, the ethical command reaches its breathtaking climax. To welcome the stranger is not merely to obey a law or to imitate God; it is to encounter Jesus Himself. The foreigner at the gate, the immigrant in our city, the refugee seeking safety, the international student far from home—these are not merely social concerns or political issues. They are, in a mystery we cannot fully comprehend, the presence of Christ among us. How we treat them is how we treat Him.
The early Church understood this. The Greek word for hospitality is philoxenia—literally, “love of the stranger.” The apostles commanded believers to pursue this love actively, to show hospitality without grumbling, and to remember that in welcoming strangers, some had entertained angels unaware (Hebrews 13:2). The great theological truth of the Gospel—that in Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek, but all are one (Galatians 3:28)—demanded a corresponding practical reality: communities where people from every nation, tribe, and tongue could gather as one family around the Table of the Lord.
This collection of 40 Bible verses is offered as a resource for this holy calling. Each verse is accompanied by a brief reflection to aid meditation and a practical application to guide action. The verses are organized thematically, moving from the foundational commands of the Old Testament, through the prophetic call for justice, to the welcoming ministry of Jesus, and finally to the hospitality commands of the New Testament Church.
Our prayer is that this study will do more than inform the mind. May it penetrate the heart, transform the will, and move the hands and feet to action. May we, who were once strangers to the covenants of promise, who have been brought near by the blood of Christ, become a people known for our welcome. May our churches be houses of prayer for all nations. And may we see in every foreigner not a threat but a gift—an opportunity to love, to serve, and to encounter the living Christ.
For we ourselves are sojourners. Our true citizenship is in heaven. And the hospitality we show to others on earth is but a foreshadowing of the welcome that awaits us when, at the end of all things, the King will say to us: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).
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40 Inspiring Bible Verses About Foreigners In Your Land
Love the Foreigner as Yourself
The Torah lays the foundation for Israel’s treatment of foreigners, rooting the command in their own history of suffering and redemption. These verses establish the non-negotiable principle: God’s people must mirror His compassionate character.
1. Leviticus 19:33
“When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him.”
The command is direct and without qualification. God does not say “if” a foreigner resides with you, but “when.” The presence of the stranger among us is not an accident but a divine appointment. Our first impulse must never be suspicion or oppression, but the recognition that God has placed this person in our path.
Consider the immigrants, refugees, or international students in your community. Examine your heart and words: do you speak of them with respect or with contempt? Commit this week to learning one immigrant’s story, replacing fear with understanding.
2. Leviticus 19:34
“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”
Here is the biblical golden rule for cross-cultural relationships. To “love him as yourself” requires empathy—the active remembering of our own vulnerability. God anchors this command in identity: because you know what it feels like to be powerless, you must protect the powerless. Your history of deliverance becomes the foundation for your ethics.
Recall a time when you felt like an outsider—a new job, a different city, an unfamiliar culture. Let that memory soften your heart toward those experiencing that feeling today. Reach out to a newcomer in your church or neighborhood with a simple act of welcome.
3. Deuteronomy 10:18-19
“He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”
God’s character is the pattern for our conduct. He does not merely tolerate the sojourner; He actively loves him, providing food and clothing. The therefore is crucial: because God loves in this active, tangible way, we must do the same. Our love for the stranger is not optional—it is the imitation of God Himself.
Identify one practical need a foreign-born person in your community might have—language help, employment connections, friendship, or material assistance. Meet that need this month as a concrete expression of God’s love.
4. Deuteronomy 10:19 (KJV)
“Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.”
The King James Version’s use of “stranger” captures the vulnerability of one without family, land, or protection. The command is repeated because our hearts are prone to forget. We quickly move from gratitude for our own welcome to indifference toward others. Therefore stands as a divine interruption, forcing us to remember.
Write down three ways God has welcomed you—into His family, into a community, into a place of safety. Let this gratitude fuel specific prayers for refugees and displaced people around the world.
5. Exodus 22:21
“You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”
The dual verbs—wrong and oppress—cover both active harm and passive neglect. To wrong is to commit injustice; to oppress is to exploit vulnerability. God prohibits both. The memory of Egypt serves as a permanent check on the human tendency to abuse power once we obtain it.
Examine your workplace, church, and community. Are there policies or practices that unintentionally disadvantage immigrants or refugees? Advocate for fair treatment and equal access to resources and opportunities.
6. Exodus 23:9
“You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.”
“You know the heart”—this is empathy granted by experience. Israel’s collective memory of alienation becomes the wellspring of compassion. God appeals not to abstract principle but to lived reality. Because you have felt the loneliness of being an outsider, you cannot inflict that pain on another.
Join a local organization that serves immigrants or refugees. Volunteer your time not just to give help, but to build relationships and truly understand the “heart” of today’s sojourners.
7. Leviticus 24:22
“You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the LORD your God.”
Equal justice under law is a divine idea. God forbids dual standards—one system for insiders, another for outsiders. The foreigner deserves the same protection, the same recourse, the same dignity as the native-born. God’s identity as Lord over all people demands this impartiality.
Support organizations and policies that promote equal treatment under the law for all residents, regardless of national origin. Speak up when you witness discrimination or unequal application of justice.
Justice and Protection for the Stranger
God’s concern for the foreigner is inseparable from His passion for justice. These verses demonstrate that true worship includes defending the rights of the most vulnerable.
8. Deuteronomy 24:17
“You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge.”
The sojourner is grouped with the fatherless and the widow—those without earthly protectors. God positions Himself as their defender. To pervert their justice is not merely a legal error; it is an attack on God Himself. He watches closely how the powerless are treated in the courts.
Learn about the legal challenges faced by immigrants in your country. Consider supporting immigration legal services or organizations that provide affordable representation to those navigating complex systems.
9. Deuteronomy 27:19
“‘Cursed be anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.'”
The entire congregation voices agreement with this curse. Justice for the vulnerable is not a niche concern but a covenant priority. The communal “Amen” reminds us that we are our brother’s keeper—and that God’s judgment awaits those who exploit their power at the expense of the weak.
Discuss with your small group or family: how can we collectively ensure that our church is a place of justice and welcome for foreigners? Develop a concrete action plan together.
10. Jeremiah 7:5-7
“For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow… then I will let you dwell in this place.”
Jeremiah ties Israel’s continued presence in the land to their treatment of the vulnerable. Obedience to God’s heart for the sojourner is not optional for those who wish to dwell securely. The land itself is conditioned on justice. Injustice toward the stranger threatens the nation’s very stability.
Pray for your nation’s leaders, that they would enact just and compassionate policies toward immigrants and refugees. Recognize that a society’s treatment of foreigners reflects its spiritual health.
11. Zechariah 7:9-10
“Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor.”
The prophetic call combines truth and mercy. “True judgments” are not cold legalism but decisions infused with kindness. The sojourner, like the widow and poor, requires both justice and compassion. God’s people must never separate righteousness from mercy when dealing with the vulnerable.
When you encounter news stories or discussions about immigration, challenge yourself to respond with both truth (facts, laws, context) and mercy (compassion for human beings). Avoid dehumanizing language.
12. Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against… those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.”
God identifies Himself as a swift witness on behalf of the sojourner. Those who “thrust aside” the foreigner—pushing them to the margins, denying them dignity—will face God’s testimony against them. The lack of fear of God is revealed in the mistreatment of the stranger.
Examine your social media and conversations. Do you ever participate in rhetoric that “thrusts aside” immigrants or blames them for societal problems? Commit to speaking words that reflect the fear of God.
13. Ezekiel 22:29
“The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice.”
Ezekiel lists the sins that brought judgment on Jerusalem, and the mistreatment of the sojourner is prominent. The phrase “without justice” cuts deep—the sojourner had no one to advocate for them, no power to resist. Their vulnerability became their downfall, and it became the nation’s downfall too.
Identify ways that immigrants in your community might be vulnerable to exploitation—in housing, employment, or consumer transactions. Support organizations that educate newcomers about their rights.
14. Deuteronomy 1:16
“And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him.'”
Moses instructs judges to apply the same righteous standard to disputes involving aliens. The alien deserves a fair hearing, an impartial judge, and a just outcome. Leadership in God’s community requires impartiality that transcends ethnic or national favoritism.
If you hold any position of leadership or influence—in your church, workplace, or community—examine your decisions for unconscious bias. Do you favor those who are “like you” over those who are different?
15. Numbers 15:15-16
“For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the LORD.”
“Alike before the LORD”—this is the revolutionary biblical vision. In worship, in law, in community, there is no second-class citizenship in God’s kingdom. The stranger stands before God on the same ground as the native-born. Our worship spaces and structures must reflect this heavenly reality.
Evaluate your church’s worship services, small groups, and leadership. Do they reflect the diversity of God’s family? How can you actively work to ensure that all are “alike before the LORD” in your congregation?
God’s Heart for All Nations
16. 1 Kings 8:41-43 (Solomon’s Prayer)
“Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for your name’s sake… hear in heaven your dwelling place and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to you.”
Solomon’s dedication prayer explicitly includes the foreigner who seeks God. He asks God to hear the foreigner’s prayer “so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name.” The Temple was never meant to be an exclusive club but a beacon drawing all nations to the living God.
Pray for international students, immigrants, and refugees in your community who may be open to spiritual conversations. Ask God to draw them to Himself and to use you as a welcoming presence.
17. 2 Chronicles 6:32-33
“As for the foreigner who is not of your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name… when he comes and prays toward this temple, then may You hear from heaven.”
God’s reputation draws the nations. The foreigner comes because of God’s “great name” and “mighty hand.” When they come seeking, God promises to hear. Our welcome of the foreigner is not merely humanitarian; it is missional. Their presence among us is an opportunity for them to encounter God.
Invite someone from another country or culture to join you for a worship service or a church event. Make it your mission to ensure they feel welcomed and can understand what is happening.
18. Isaiah 56:6-7
“And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD… these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.”
God promises joy to foreigners who join themselves to Him. Far from being second-class participants, they will minister and worship alongside God’s people. “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples”—this vision explodes ethnic and national boundaries.
Celebrate the diversity in your church or community. Learn a worship song from another culture, or ask someone from another country to share how they came to faith. Let their joy enrich your own.
19. Isaiah 56:3
“Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, ‘The LORD will surely separate me from his people.'”
God directly addresses the fear of exclusion. The foreigner fears they will always be an outsider, always separate. God silences that fear with a promise of full inclusion. No one who genuinely seeks God need fear being cast out.
Reach out to someone who may feel like an outsider in your church community—perhaps an immigrant, an international student, or someone from a different cultural background. Reassure them through your friendship that they belong.
20. Isaiah 2:2-3
“Many peoples shall come, and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD… that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.'”
The nations do not come to Israel because of Israel’s military power or cultural superiority. They come because God’s teaching—His Torah—is compelling. When God’s people truly walk in His paths, the nations notice and are drawn to join them.
Live your faith authentically and visibly in your workplace and neighborhood. Your witness can draw others—including those from other nations and backgrounds—to ask questions about the God you serve.
21. Micah 4:1-2
“Many nations shall come, and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD… for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.'”
Micah echoes Isaiah’s vision of the nations streaming to God’s mountain. The attraction is God’s word—instruction that brings life, peace, and justice. The church today should be such a place: a mountain of welcome where the word of God goes forth and draws all people.
Support ministries that translate Scripture, train pastors, and equip believers in other nations. Also, welcome Christians from other countries who worship among you—they are part of the nations coming to God’s mountain.
22. Psalm 87:4-6
“Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—’This one was born there,’ they say.”
This astonishing psalm lists Israel’s traditional enemies—Egypt, Babylon, Philistia—and declares that they will be counted as citizens of Zion. God enrolls them in the registry of His people. The ultimate belonging is not ethnic but spiritual, granted by God Himself.
Identify any people groups or nationalities you may instinctively distrust or dislike. Ask God to give you His heart for them and to help you see them as potential fellow citizens in His kingdom.
23. Zephaniah 3:9
“For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.”
The curse of Babel—confusion and scattering—is reversed when God purifies human speech. People from every language will call on the Lord together, serving Him “with one accord.” Unity in worship, not uniformity of culture, is God’s glorious future for humanity.
If possible, visit a church where worship is conducted in another language. Experience the beauty of God’s people praising Him in different tongues, and anticipate the day when all languages unite in praise.
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Jesus Welcomes the Outsider
Our Lord’s earthly ministry consistently crossed boundaries of ethnicity, culture, and religion. In Christ, the welcome extended in the Old Testament finds its perfect embodiment.
24. Matthew 25:35
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Jesus identifies Himself with the stranger. To welcome the foreigner is to welcome Christ. This astonishing identification elevates every encounter with an outsider to a meeting with the Lord Himself. Our treatment of the stranger is, in reality, our treatment of Jesus.
The next time you encounter an immigrant, refugee, or foreigner, pause and silently pray: “Lord, I receive You in this person.” Then act accordingly—with the welcome you would offer to Christ Himself.
25. Matthew 25:38
“And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?”
The righteous are genuinely surprised. They did not realize they were serving Jesus when they welcomed the stranger. Their hospitality was not calculated to earn reward but flowed naturally from a transformed heart. True welcome of the foreigner is unconscious, spontaneous, and sincere.
Perform an act of welcome for someone from another country without expecting recognition or thanks. Let it be a secret service offered to Jesus alone.
26. Matthew 25:40
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
“The least of these” includes the stranger, the vulnerable, the powerless. Jesus so identifies with them that their treatment becomes His treatment. This is the final judgment criterion—not theological correctness alone, but practical love for the least.
Advocate for the “least of these” in your community. Write to elected officials, support refugee resettlement agencies, or volunteer with organizations that serve immigrants. In serving them, you serve the King.
27. Luke 7:6-9 (The Centurion)
“When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.'”
A Roman centurion—an officer of the occupying army, a Gentile—receives praise from Jesus that no Israelite receives. The outsider teaches the insiders about faith. Jesus consistently uses encounters with foreigners to expose the unbelief of His own people.
Be open to learning about faith from Christians of other cultures and nations. Their perspective, shaped by different experiences and challenges, may reveal dimensions of following Jesus you have never considered.
28. John 4:7-9 (The Samaritan Woman)
“A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)”
Jesus shatters centuries of ethnic and religious hostility by simply asking for a drink. He crosses the boundary that others maintained. In doing so, He offers living water to a woman who expected only rejection. Love always builds bridges where prejudice built walls.
Identify one cultural or ethnic group that your community tends to avoid or dismiss. Deliberately and respectfully initiate a conversation with someone from that group this week.
29. Matthew 15:22-28 (The Canaanite Woman)
“O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.”
A Canaanite woman—descendant of Israel’s ancient enemies—persists in seeking Jesus’ help. Initially met with silence and a seeming rebuke, her faith triumphs. Jesus honors her persistence and heals her daughter. The kingdom belongs to those who seek it, regardless of ancestry.
When you pray for people of other nations or faiths, persist. Do not assume that God is unwilling to reach them. Their faith may be greater than you imagine, and your prayers may be part of His answer.
30. Luke 10:30-37 (The Good Samaritan)
“Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Jesus redefines “neighbor” through the story of a hated Samaritan who shows mercy. The expert in the law wanted to limit the command to love; Jesus explodes all limits. The true neighbor is anyone in need, and the true follower is anyone who shows mercy.
Look for opportunities to be a “Good Samaritan” to someone from another country—perhaps a refugee in need of assistance, an immigrant facing a crisis, or an international student far from family.
31. Mark 11:17
“Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”
Jesus cleanses the Temple and quotes Isaiah’s vision of a house of prayer for all nations. The Court of the Gentiles—the only place foreigners could worship—had been filled with commerce. By obstructing Gentile worship, Israel had betrayed its mission to the nations.
Examine your church’s facilities, services, and culture. Is it truly accessible and welcoming to people from other nations and backgrounds? Remove any barriers that prevent them from seeking God.
The New Testament Call to Hospitality
The early church understood that the Gospel creates a new family where old divisions are abolished. These apostolic instructions guide our practice of hospitality today.
32. Hebrews 13:2
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
The Greek word for hospitality is philoxenia—love of strangers. This command echoes Abraham’s welcome of three visitors at Mamor, who were actually divine messengers. Every stranger could be a messenger of God, bringing blessing we cannot foresee.
Open your home or your table to someone you do not know well, particularly someone from another country. You may be hosting far more than you realize.
33. Romans 15:7
“Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
The standard for our welcome is Christ’s welcome of us. How did Christ receive you? With full acceptance, despite your faults, at great cost to Himself, for your eternal good. That is how we must receive others—especially those different from us.
Reflect deeply on how Christ welcomed you when you were far from Him. Let that reflection transform how you welcome the foreigner who seems far from you.
34. Galatians 3:28
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
In Christ, the most fundamental social divisions are overcome. Not erased, but transcended. Our unity in Christ is deeper than our ethnic, social, or gender differences. The church must be the place where this unity is visibly demonstrated.
Build friendships across ethnic and national lines within your church. Let the world see that in Christ, ancient hostilities give way to genuine family bonds.
35. Ephesians 2:12-13, 19
“Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise… But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near.”
Paul reminds Gentile believers that they were once “strangers” and “aliens” themselves. The blood of Christ has brought them near. This memory must shape their treatment of others. Having been welcomed, they must welcome. Having been brought near, they must bring others near.
Never forget your own spiritual history. You were once far off, but now you are brought near. Extend that same “bringing near” to the foreigners in your midst.
36. Romans 12:13
“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”
Hospitality is not passive—it must be actively “sought.” We look for opportunities, create occasions, open doors. Contributing to needs and showing hospitality are linked; genuine welcome often involves meeting practical needs.
Identify a practical need among immigrants or refugees in your community—translation assistance, job connections, transportation, furniture—and meet it as an act of hospitality.
37. 1 Peter 4:9
“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
Peter adds a needed warning: hospitality can be inconvenient, costly, and tiring. Grumbling reveals that our heart is not in it. God desires cheerful givers, not reluctant hosts. He will supply the grace needed to welcome without resentment.
If you find yourself resenting the effort required to welcome others, bring that honestly to God. Ask Him to change your heart and to give you His joy in serving the stranger.
38. 3 John 1:5-8
“Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are… Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”
Supporting traveling missionaries and believers—who were often strangers—is called “faithful.” By welcoming them, we become “fellow workers for the truth.” Our hospitality participates in their mission and advances the Gospel.
Consider supporting missionaries who serve among unreached people groups. Also, welcome visiting missionaries or international Christian workers into your home when they pass through your area.
39. Colossians 3:11
“Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
The list includes “barbarian” and “Scythian”—the ultimate outsiders to Greek culture. Paul declares that in the new humanity created by Christ, these categories lose their power to divide. Christ fills all believers, making them one.
Celebrate the diversity of the body of Christ. Learn about Christians in other parts of the world, particularly those from cultures you might consider “barbarian” or foreign. They are your brothers and sisters.
40. Acts 17:26
“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place.”
Paul declares to the Athenians that all nations share one ancestor and are overseen by one God. God Himself determines where and when nations live. The international student, the refugee, the immigrant in your city is there by divine appointment.
See the presence of foreigners in your land as God’s sovereign design. Ask Him: “Why have You brought this person to my community? What would You have me do?”
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Conclusion
As we have journeyed through these 40 scriptures, one truth stands undeniable: the God of the Bible is a God who welcomes the outsider, and He calls His people to do the same. From the law given at Sinai to the parables of Jesus, from the prayers of Solomon to the hospitality commands of the apostles, the message is consistent and clear.
The repeated refrain—”for you were strangers in Egypt”—is the key that unlocks every command. We love the sojourner because we were once sojourners. We welcome the foreigner because we have been welcomed into God’s family through Christ. We show hospitality because we have been hosted at the Table of the Lord.
In a world marked by displacement, fear, and division, the church has a prophetic opportunity. We can be communities where the stranger finds refuge, where the foreigner finds friendship, where every nation, tribe, and tongue gathers as one. This is not a political agenda but a Gospel imperative.
May these verses, reflections, and applications move us beyond mere study into costly, joyful, practical hospitality. May we see in every foreigner a neighbor to love, a brother or sister to welcome, and Christ Himself to serve.
Amen.
Morris Clark