Each of the Synoptic Gospel writers included an account of Jesus’ response to the question regarding what the greatest commandment was. In each instance the writers record Jesus’ response as a reference back to the relational command of the Law: to love God with all ones heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to love ones neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-28). Luke, however, went on to define ‘neighbor’ in the parable of the Good Samaritan. The lesson taught was not who is my neighbor; but to whom should I be a neighbor (Luke 10:29-37). The answer being anyone in need!

Matthew is the only synoptic Gospel writer who includes Jesus’ parable about the ‘judgment of nations’.  This parable teaches that the treatment of others would be a basis for determining eternal reward or punishment:
 

Matthew 25:31-40

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:31-40, NIV).”

A possible means of identifying ‘the least of these brothers of mine’ in Matthew 25:40 comes from a comment Jesus makes in response to a question about His filial relationships in Matthew 12:50, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”  He points first to His disciples and acknowledges them as His brothers; then broadens this to ‘whoever’ does the will of the Father as being His brothers. This double statement implies that any of Jesus’ followers who go and proclaim the Gospel message are His brothers, sisters, and mothers. If this identification is accepted, Jesus is connecting the treatment of His followers, who are endeavoring to share the gospel message, to the treatment of Himself. Anyone who does not practice hospitality toward those who are Jesus’ witnesses, effectively rejecting them, is also rejecting the message they are bringing: Jesus Christ and the salvation He provides, thus fitting them for eternal destruction.

This interpretation of Matthew 25 is given further credence by an examination of Matthew’s account of Jesus’ instructions to His twelve disciples in Matthew 10:11-16, "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.” Here again, the criterion for judgment is the town’s hospitality toward the disciples; and by extension, their reception or rejection of the Gospel message and Jesus Christ. Lydia’s conversion in Acts 16:11-15 is an excellent example of this type of hospitality; she invited Paul and his traveling companions to stay in her home following her reception of the message of Jesus Christ. Later, as noted in verse 40 Paul and Silas went to Lydia’s house after they were released from prison and met with the “brothers” there.

Thus, in obedience to Jesus’ teaching we choose to open our home to servicemen and women, who are usually strangers in our area and away from family and friends; to feed them both physically and spiritually; to provide a family atmosphere for them as a means to earn the right to minister to them spiritually.

Hospitality played a large role in the advancement of the Gospel in the New Testament. There was a communal aspect to the early church when believers were still part of the Jewish temple community; in Acts 2:42-47 the scripture says they met in the temple and also in individual homes:
 

Acts 2:42-47

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.