Rom 12:13 | Burkitt | STEP | The next duty exhorted to, is that of charity and alms-giving to the poor members of Jesus Christ, especially when under persecution; showing hospitality towards them, and giving entertainment to them, when they seek it of us. Learn, 1. That charity to all persons, but especially to the persecuted members of Jesus Christ, is a necessary and important duty. Learn, 2. That hospitality is an eminent part of Christian charity; true hospitality, I mean, which is accompanied with prudence and sobriety. There is a wide difference between riotous house-keeping and true hospitality; the latter is always designed for the help of the poor, and particularly for the godly poor. There are great house-keepers who are not good house-keepers, because their house-keeping is for the great, rather than the good, not for the household of faith, especially not for the poor of that household. As to spirituals, God fills the hungry with good things, but sends the rich empty away; whereas, most men, as to corporals, fill the rich with their table. This is not according to the precept before us; Distributing to the necessities of the saints, and given to hospitality.

‏ Romans 12:13

The next duty exhorted to, is that of charity and alms-giving to the poor members of Jesus Christ, especially when under persecution; showing hospitality towards them, and giving entertainment to them, when they seek it of us.

Learn, 1. That charity to all persons, but especially to the persecuted members of Jesus Christ, is a necessary and important duty.

Learn, 2. That hospitality is an eminent part of Christian charity; true hospitality, I mean, which is accompanied with prudence and sobriety. There is a wide difference between riotous house-keeping and true hospitality; the latter is always designed for the help of the poor, and particularly for the godly poor. There are great house-keepers who are not good house-keepers, because their house-keeping is for the great, rather than the good, not for the household of faith, especially not for the poor of that household.

As to spirituals, God fills the hungry with good things, but sends the rich empty away; whereas, most men, as to corporals, fill the rich with their table. This is not according to the precept before us; Distributing to the necessities of the saints, and given to hospitality.