How should we treat foreigners among us?

Definition and Scope

Foreigners, often called “sojourners” or “strangers” in Scripture, are individuals who reside outside their native land among a host population. In ancient Israel, these included people from surrounding nations who chose to live within Israel’s borders. The teachings of Scripture consistently address the spiritual, moral, and social dimensions of how believers should receive and care for them.

Old Testament Foundations

Several passages emphasize that it was God’s will for the covenant community to extend kindness and justice to foreigners. The term frequently translated “foreigner” or “sojourner” (Hebrew: גֵּר, ger) appears in contexts that admonish the Israelites not to mistreat them, reminding Israel of its own past as foreigners in Egypt.

1. Israel’s Identity as Former Foreigners

“You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 22:21)

This statement reminds believers that empathetic treatment of outsiders begins with remembering the nation’s humble origins.

2. Command to Love and Welcome

“When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must treat the foreigner living among you as you would treat a native-born, and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:33–34)

The Old Testament does not merely prohibit oppression; it instructs Israel to extend actual care and love. This is rooted in a wider moral framework that God is a defender of the vulnerable.

3. God’s Protection of Foreigners

“He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. So you also must love the foreigner, since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:18–19)

Israel’s duty to replicate God’s character is underscored by highlighting God’s own care for those who have no land, inheritance, or social standing.

Provisions and Protections

Scripture describes concrete measures that upheld the dignity of foreigners:

1. Access to Provision (Gleaning Laws)

Foreigners, along with widows and orphans, were permitted to collect gleanings in fields once the main harvest was gathered (Leviticus 23:22). This ensured that those without land still had access to food.

2. Equality under the Law

“You are to have the same standard of law for the foreign resident and the native; for I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 24:22, paraphrased from)

Foreigners were not to be treated by a lower legal standard. This principle of equality served to integrate them into societal life with fairness and justice.

3. Community Integration

In certain contexts (Numbers 15:14–16), foreigners who chose to worship Yahweh were welcomed to participate in specific religious observances. This further integrated them into the faith community and showed that gracious inclusion was part of God’s design.

New Testament Perspectives

Under the New Covenant, the calling to love and accept others supersedes ethnic or national boundaries:

1. Jesus’ Teachings on Embracing the Stranger

“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.” (Matthew 25:35)

This parable underscores the gravity of caring for “the least of these,” including strangers. Jesus equates caring for foreigners with caring for Him.

2. The Good Samaritan

In Luke 10:25–37, Jesus illustrates how genuine love extends to those considered outsiders, as exemplified by a Samaritan (regarded by many Israelites as a foreigner or half-pagan) who shows compassion where an Israelite priest and Levite do not.

3. Removal of Dividing Walls

“Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household.” (Ephesians 2:19)

The message of Christ unites believers from every background. Believers are now one household, removing the host-foreigner divide that existed under strict social boundaries.

Practical Application

1. Hospitality and Charity

Following the biblical model, hospitality should be extended to foreigners. This can mean providing refuge, counsel, and support to those who are away from their home culture, mirroring biblical gleaning laws by maximizing opportunities for practical assistance.

2. Respect and Legal Fairness

Faith communities can advocate fair legal processes that protect the rights and dignity of foreign residents. This echoes the Levitical principle of “one law for native and foreigner.”

3. Local Church Involvement

Many churches have ministries dedicated to language classes, job training, or community-building activities for displaced peoples. These efforts reflect the biblical roots of compassion and are a tangible demonstration of love for neighbors.

4. Evangelical Care and Witness

With sensitivity and respect, believers can share faith in Christ and provide hope. While offering practical help, proclaiming the gospel remains foundational, as the message of salvation is meant for all nations (Matthew 28:19–20).

A Broader Perspective

Archaeological evidence from ancient Israelite cities reveals structures that accommodated traveling merchants and visitors, underscoring the daily reality of foreigners in biblical society. Excavations in areas such as Lachish and Megiddo have revealed the presence of foreign pottery, trade goods, and cultural artifacts, reinforcing the Scripture’s depiction of foreigners integrated into commerce and community life.

Additionally, numerous manuscripts ranging from the Qumran texts to the earliest Christian writings display consistent injunctions to show hospitality to strangers, confirming that this requirement of compassion was not a marginal idea but central to the faith of the early community.

Summary

Scripture repeatedly calls believers to treat foreigners with compassion, love, and justice. From the laws given to Israel, which highlight God’s heart for the vulnerable, to the New Testament’s emphasis on unity in Christ, the consistent message is that those far from home should be welcomed and provided for.

Many biblical passages remind us that believers themselves have experienced spiritual estrangement until reconciled through Christ. This shared narrative of being “foreigners” in need of grace becomes the driving force for God’s people to extend that same grace and loving kindness to foreigners among us.