[2] Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2)
It’s amazing a brief Bible verse could inspire such rampant speculation among Christians generation after generation. Especially since this passage is disquieting to some believers.
I have to think that, at some point in life, almost all of us have discussed this passage. We’ve mused or speculated about experiences where we might, just might, have physically entertained angels.
“Physically entertained” is the point. It’s relatively easy to think of angels invisibly gathered around and about us on the earth. It’s wholly different to consider angels being physically present.
I realize it’s also possible that not every reader shares this wonder about such potentialities. In fact, there are Christians who are uneasy with such speculation. This unease can stem from believers preferring to know for certain God is intervening in time and space, such as in baptism.
That said, passages such as Hebrews 13:2 can still encourage us. It can be comforting to know that God didn’t just save us in baptism, then leave us to fend for ourselves until we enter eternity. God is personally concerned about us daily. Once in a while, just maybe, the divine intervention in daily life might include the physical presence of angels.
(A Second Look devotions are written for the congregations of the Ohio District LCMS.)
Kevin Wilson 360 