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1 Peter 4:9

in 1 Peter 4

Show hospitality to one another without complaining.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

using hospitality one to another without murmuring:

KJV

Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

This verse in 1 Peter 4

Commentary

12 notes on this verse

A commentator

Cyril of Alexandria

CATENA · Written before 444.

Those who offer hospitality to others make themselves happy and content, not so much because they are giving of their own as because they are being helped by others. And this in two ways; first, because they enjoy the company of their guests, and second, because they earn a reward for their hospitality. But if you receive a brother, do not be distracted by too much serving, and do not attempt what is beyond your strength. Unnecessary effort is always tedious, and such exertions will only embarrass your guests.

This site's exposition

Use hospitality one to another without grudging

Use hospitality one to another without grudging names a concrete virtue the early church depended on, traveling believers and persecuted households needing a door opened without resentment behind the welcome. Grudging, goggusmos, is the same word for Israel's murmuring in the wilderness, a complaint kept alive under a smiling face. The single short command puts a practical edge on the fervent charity just commanded, love proven in an open door rather than only in feeling.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

CATENA · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

If you receive your neighbor as though he were Christ, you will not complain or feel embarrassed but rather rejoice in your service. But if you do not receive him as if he were Christ, you will not receive Christ either, because he said: "Whoever receives you, receives me." If you do not show hospitality in this way, you will have no reward. Abraham received passers-by and travelers just as they were. He did not leave them to his servants. On the contrary, he ordered his wife to bring flour, even though he had domestic help. But he and his wife wanted to earn the blessing, not only of hospitality but of service also. This is how we ought to show hospitality, by doing all the work ourselves, so that we may be sanctified.

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on 1 Peter · Written before 550.

proposed

The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be sober and watchful in prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. The end, that is, completion, consummation …

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Gregory the Dialogist

Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 23 · Written before 604.

proposed

Behold, the Lord was not recognized while He was speaking, and He deigned to be recognized while He was being fed. Therefore, dearest brothers, love hospitality, love the works of charity. For hence it is said through Paul: "Let brotherly love continue in you, and do not forget hospitality. For through this some have pleased, having received angels as guests." Hence Peter says: "Be hospitable to one another without murmuring." Hence Truth itself says: "I was a stranger, and you took me in." There is a story well regarded and handed down to us by the account of our elders. A certain father of a household served with great zeal for hospitality along with his whole house; and while he received strangers at his table daily, one day a certain stranger came among others and was led to the table. And while the father of the household, from his custom of humility, wished to pour water on his hands, he turned and took the pitcher, but suddenly did not find the one on whose hands he had wished to pour water. And while he marveled at this occurrence to himself, that same night the Lord said to him through a vision: On other days you received me in my members, but yesterday you received me in myself. Behold, coming to judgment, He will say: What you did for one of my least ones, you did for me. Behold, before the judgment, when He is received through His members, He also visits His hosts through Himself; and yet we are sluggish toward the grace of hospitality. Consider, brothers, how great is the virtue of hospitality. Receive Christ at your tables, that you may be worthy to be received by Him at the eternal banquet. Offer now hospitality to Christ the stranger, that He may not disregard you as strangers at the judgment, but may receive you as His own into the kingdom.

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 1 Peter · Written before 1107.

proposed

Having spoken of love, he adds what is closely connected with love — "hospitality," which he commands to perform without grumbling; and to those who abound in every gift, he commands to share with a brother in need. For example, one who has the word …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

The proper objects of Christian hospitality are one another. The nearness of their relation, and the necessity of their condition in those times of persecution and distress, obliged Christians to be hospitable one to another. Sometimes Christians were spoiled of all they had, and were driven away to distant countries for safety.
5 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

Use hospitality,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Some of the strongest and best arguments against all sorts of sin are taken from the sufferings of Christ. All sympathy and tenderness for Christ as a sufferer are lost of you do not put away sin.

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

Use hospitality one to another - On the duty of hospitality, see the Rom 12:13 note; Heb 13:2 note. Without grudging - Greek, “without murmurs;” that is, without complaining of the hardship of doing it; of the time, and expense, and trouble required in doing it. The idea of grudging, in the common sense of that word - that is, of doing it unwillingly, or regretting the expense, and considering it as ill-bestowed, or as not producing an equivalent of any kind - is not exactly the idea here.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

Heb 13:2.) Not the spurious hospitality which passes current in the world, but the entertaining of those needing it, especially those exiled for the faith, as the representatives of Christ, and all hospitality to whomsoever exercised from genuine Christian love. without grudging--Greek, "murmuring." "He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity," that is open-hearted sincerity; with cordiality.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

Use hospitality - Be ever ready to divide your bread with the hungry, and to succor the stranger. See on Heb 13:2 (note). Without grudging - Ανευ γογγυσμων· Without grumblings. Do nothing merely because it is commanded, but do it from love to God and man; then it will be without grumbling.

The words behind it

5 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Hebrews 13:16

    And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

    it leads to

    • Galatians 6:10

      Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Romans 12:13

      Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Hebrews 6:10

      For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • 2 Thessalonians 3:13

      But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.

    • Hebrews 13:1–2

      Continue in brotherly love.

  • Through

    Hebrews 13:2

    Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

    it leads to

    • 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 took Me in,

    • Genesis 18:1

      Then the LORD appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre in the heat of the day, while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent.

  • Through

    Philippians 2:14

    Do everything without complaining or arguing,

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 10:10

      And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.

Where this verse is studied

On this page

About 1 Peter

Peter's Denial, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Peter's Denial, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Cyril of Alexandria, CATENA; Gregory the Dialogist, Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 23; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, CATENA; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 Peter and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.