Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.
Verse 2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers. On the duty of hospitality, see a full explanation in . For thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Without knowing that they were angels. As Abraham (, seq.) and Lot did, .
2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, etc. This office of humanity has also nearly ceased to be properly observed among men; for the ancient hospitality, celebrated in histories, is unknown to us, and Inns now supply the place of accommodations for strangers.
The second duty here exhorted to is hospitality, especially towards strangers, which consisted in receiving them into their houses, and furnishing them with all needful accommodations. In those eastern countries inns were not so ready as with us, and Christians were generally poor, not able to bear their own charges in their travelling from place to place.