7. Two manifestations of "brotherly love," hospitality
and care for those in bonds.
Be not forgetful--implying it was a duty which they all
recognized, but which they might forget to act on
(Heb 13:3, 7, 16).
The enemies of Christianity themselves have noticed the practice of
this virtue among Christians [JULIAN,
Epistles, 49].
entertained angels unawares--Abraham and Lot did so
(Ge 18:2; 19:1).
To obviate the natural distrust felt of strangers, Paul says, an
unknown guest may be better than he looks: he may be unexpectedly found
to be as much a messenger of God for good, as the angels (whose
name means messenger) are; nay more, if a Christian, he
represents Christ Himself. There is a play on the same Greek
word, Be not forgetful and unaware; let not the
duty of hospitality to strangers escape you; for, by
entertaining strangers, it has escaped the entertainers that
they were entertaining angels. Not unconscious and forgetful of the
duty, they have unconsciously brought on themselves the blessing.
JFB.
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