The Bible speaks about foreigners with compassion and a call for fair treatment. It emphasizes loving the foreigner, providing for their needs, and treating them with the same respect and justice as one’s own people. This perspective is rooted in the Israelites’ own history as foreigners in Egypt.
Want to know what the Bible says about foreigners? It’s a message of compassion, equality, and remembering our own roots.
What Does the Bible Say About Foreigners?
The treatment of foreigners is a significant theme in the Bible, reflecting God’s concern for all people, regardless of their nationality or background.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were reminded of their history as foreigners in Egypt. This remembrance was meant to foster empathy and kindness towards foreigners living among them. Laws in Leviticus and Deuteronomy explicitly command the Israelites to love foreigners and treat them fairly. The principle was to offer the same rights and protections to foreigners as to one’s own people, a radical concept in ancient times.
This inclusive approach towards foreigners is reinforced in the stories of individuals like Ruth, a Moabite who was welcomed into the community of Israel and became part of the lineage of King David, and ultimately, of Jesus Christ.
In the New Testament, Jesus extends this theme of loving and accepting others. His teachings and parables, such as the Good Samaritan, emphasize the importance of showing mercy and kindness to all, regardless of their origin. The early Christian church, following Jesus’ teachings, was a community where cultural and national barriers were broken down in Christ.
The Bible’s message about foreigners aligns with its broader teachings on love, justice, and the inherent value of every individual. It calls for an attitude of hospitality, reminding believers that, in God’s view, everyone is equal and deserving of respect and kindness.
Bible Verses About Foreigners
- Leviticus 19:34: “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” This verse explicitly commands the fair and loving treatment of foreigners.
- Deuteronomy 10:18-19: “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.” God’s care for foreigners is highlighted, and the Israelites are reminded of their own history.
- Matthew 25:35: “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.” Jesus identifies Himself with the needy, including the stranger or foreigner.
- Hebrews 13:2: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” This verse encourages believers to be hospitable to all, reflecting the value of kindness to strangers.
- Exodus 22:21: “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” A reminder of the Israelites’ past to encourage empathy towards foreigners.
- Ruth 1:16: “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.’” The story of Ruth, a foreigner who was embraced by the Israelites.
- Ephesians 2:19: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.” Paul speaks of the unity in Christ that transcends national and ethnic boundaries.
- Luke 10:29-37: The Parable of the Good Samaritan, where Jesus uses the example of a Samaritan – a foreigner in the eyes of the Jews – as a model of neighborly love and compassion.
- Zechariah 7:10: “Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.” A call for justice and compassion towards vulnerable groups, including foreigners.
- Malachi 3:5: “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.” This verse warns against injustice towards foreigners, emphasizing God’s concern for their fair treatment.
These verses collectively illustrate the Bible’s perspective on foreigners, emphasizing kindness, justice, and equality. The scripture consistently advocates for a welcoming and compassionate approach to foreigners, reflecting God’s heart for all humanity. It reminds us that in God’s kingdom, there are no strangers or outsiders, only fellow children of God.