Definition and Context: The term "entertain" in a biblical context often refers to the act of receiving and showing hospitality to guests, as well as engaging in activities that provide amusement or enjoyment. In the ancient world, hospitality was a significant cultural and religious duty, and the Bible provides numerous examples and teachings related to this practice.

Biblical Examples:

1. Hospitality to Strangers: One of the most notable examples of entertaining in the Bible is the hospitality shown to strangers. Hebrews 13:2 advises, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." This verse alludes to the account of Abraham in Genesis 18, where he entertains three visitors, who are later revealed to be divine messengers.

2. The Early Church: The early Christian community placed a strong emphasis on hospitality. Acts 2:46 describes the believers as "breaking bread from house to house, they shared their food with gladness and sincerity of heart." This communal sharing and entertaining of one another was a hallmark of the early church's fellowship.

3. Jesus and Hospitality: Jesus Himself was often a guest in the homes of others, using these opportunities to teach and minister. In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary. While Martha is busy with the tasks of entertaining, Mary chooses to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His teaching, highlighting the importance of spiritual nourishment over mere busyness.

4. Parables and Teachings: Jesus used parables to illustrate the kingdom of God, often involving scenarios of feasting and hospitality. In the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24), Jesus teaches about the inclusivity of God's invitation, urging His followers to extend hospitality to those who cannot repay them.

Moral and Spiritual Implications:

· Generosity and Kindness: Entertaining in the biblical sense is closely tied to the virtues of generosity and kindness. Proverbs 11:25 states, "A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." This reflects the reciprocal nature of hospitality and the blessings that come from serving others.

· Discernment and Priorities: While hospitality is encouraged, the Bible also teaches discernment in how one entertains. The account of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) serves as a reminder to prioritize spiritual growth and attentiveness to God's word over the distractions of worldly concerns.

· Community and Fellowship: Entertaining is a means of building community and fostering fellowship among believers. Romans 12:13 exhorts Christians to "share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality." This command underscores the role of hospitality in strengthening the bonds within the body of Christ.

Warnings and Cautions:

· Worldly Entertainment: While the Bible encourages hospitality, it also warns against engaging in forms of entertainment that lead to sin or distract from one's spiritual walk. Ephesians 5:18-19 advises, "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs."

· Idolatry and Excess: The Bible cautions against making entertainment an idol or indulging in excess. Philippians 4:8 provides guidance on maintaining a pure focus: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things."

In summary, the biblical concept of entertaining encompasses both the practice of hospitality and the discernment of engaging in activities that honor God and edify others. Through hospitality, believers are called to reflect God's love and grace, fostering community and spiritual growth.Entertainments, "feasts," were sometimes connected with a public festival (Deuteronomy 16:11, 14), and accompanied by offerings (1 Samuel 9:13), in token of alliances (Genesis 26:30); sometimes in connection with domestic or social events, as at the weaning of children (Genesis 21:8), at weddings (Genesis 29:22; John 2:1), on birth-days (Matthew 14:6), at the time of sheep-shearing (2 Samuel 13:23), and of vintage (Judges 9:27), and at funerals (2 Samuel 3:35; Jeremiah 16:7).

The guests were invited by servants (Proverbs 9:3; Matthew 22:3), who assigned them their respective places (1 Samuel 9:22; Luke 14:8; Mark 12:39). Like portions were sent by the master to each guest (1 Samuel 1:4; 2 Samuel 6:19), except when special honour was intended, when the portion was increased (Genesis 43:34).

The Israelites were forbidden to attend heathenish sacrificial entertainments (Exodus 34:15), because these were in honour of false gods, and because at such feast they would be liable to partake of unclean flesh (1 Corinthians 10:28).

In the entertainments common in apostolic times among the Gentiles were frequent "revellings," against which Christians were warned (Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3). (see BANQUET.)

1. (v. t.) To be at the charges of; to take or keep in one's service; to maintain; to support; to harbor; to keep.

2. (v. t.) To give hospitable reception and maintenance to; to receive at one's board, or into one's house; to receive as a guest.

3. (v. t.) To engage the attention of agreeably; to amuse with that which makes the time pass pleasantly; to divert; as, to entertain friends with conversation, etc.

4. (v. t.) To give reception to; to receive, in general; to receive and take into consideration; to admit, treat, or make use of; as, to entertain a proposal.

5. (v. t.) To meet or encounter, as an enemy.

6. (v. t.) To keep, hold, or maintain in the mind with favor; to keep in the mind; to harbor; to cherish; as, to entertain sentiments.

7. (v. t.) To lead on; to bring along; to introduce.

8. (v. i.) To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he entertains generously.

9. (n.) Entertainment.

4910. suneuocheomai -- to entertain together, pass. feast together
... suneuocheomai. 4911 . to entertain together, pass. ... Word Origin from sun and euocheo
(to entertain sumptuously, feast) Definition to entertain together, pass. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4910.htm - 6k

3580. xenodocheo -- to entertain strangers
... to entertain strangers. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: xenodocheo Phonetic
Spelling: (xen-od-okh-eh'-o) Short Definition: I entertain strangers Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3580.htm - 6k

4863. sunago -- to lead together, ie bring together, hence come ...
... to lead together, ie bring together, hence come together (pass.), entertain. Part
of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sunago Phonetic Spelling: (soon-ag'-o) Short ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4863.htm - 9k

3579. xenizo -- to receive as a guest, to surprise
... to receive as a guest, to surprise. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: xenizo
Phonetic Spelling: (xen-id'-zo) Short Definition: I entertain a stranger, I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3579.htm - 7k

588. apodechomai -- to accept gladly, welcome
... welcome. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apodechomai Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-od-ekh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I receive, welcome, entertain Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/588.htm - 7k

5264. hupodechomai -- to receive under one's roof, to receive as a ...
... hupodechomai Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-od-ekh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I receive
as a guest Definition: I receive as a guest, entertain hospitably, welcome. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5264.htm - 7k

5274. hupolambano -- to take or bear up, to receive, to assume
... Spelling: (hoop-ol-am-ban'-o) Short Definition: I take up, receive, answer, suppose,
welcome Definition: (a) I take up, (b) I welcome, entertain, (c) I answer ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5274.htm - 7k

5426. phroneo -- to have understanding, to think
... From phren; to exercise the mind, ie Entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by
implication, to be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5426.htm - 8k

324. anadechomai -- to undertake, receive
... receive, welcome. From ana and dechomai; to entertain (as a guest) -- receive. see
GREEK ana. see GREEK dechomai. (anadexamenos) -- 2 Occurrences. 323, 324. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/324.htm - 7k

5381. philoxenia -- love of strangers
... hospitality. From philoxenos; hospitableness -- entertain stranger, hospitality.
see GREEK philoxenos. (philoxenian) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5381.htm - 7k

How He Wrote to the Bishop of Arles to Entertain Them. [596 AD ]
... BOOK I CHAP. XXIV. How he wrote to the bishop of Arles to entertain them.
[596 AD]. THE same venerable pope also sent at the same ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xxiv how he wrote.htm

Of the Duties which we are to Perform after Receiving the Holy ...
... thou must perform from thine own soul are three:"First, Thou must be careful that
forasmuch as Christ now dwelleth in thee, therefore, to entertain him in a ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bayly/the practice of piety/iii of the duties which.htm

Of the Truth and Its Steps, and of God.
... they understand that there is but one Supreme God, nevertheless, ensnared by the
philosophers, and captivated by false arguments, entertain opinions concerning ...
/.../chap ii of the truth and.htm

How Shall the Soul Make Use of Christ, as the Life, which is under ...
... soul's case calleth for; they cannot "with joy draw waters out of the wells of
salvation," Isaiah 12:3; but keep at a distance, and entertain jealous thoughts ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xxiv how shall the.htm

The Object of Theology
... me, that it is a dangerous thing to adhere to one's own judgment with pertinacity
and to pay too much regard to the opinion which we entertain of ourselves ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/oration i the object of.htm

Letter ii. --To the City of Sebasteia .
... of our life which we must all look for: they say that the charges which are being
circulated against us are such as these; that we entertain opinions opposed ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/letter ii to the city of.htm

Of Moral Philosophy, and the Chief Good.
... All must entertain the same sentiments, and philosophy itself must give instructions
as it were with one mouth; because if any error shall be committed, life ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap vii of moral philosophy and.htm

To John, Bishop of Germanicia.
... Immediately on receipt of your holiness's former letter I replied. About the present
state of affairs, it is impossible to entertain any good hope. ...
/.../theodoret/the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/cxlvii to john bishop of.htm

On News
... And on the threshold stood,. To entertain the unknown good. It hovered there,. ...
'Twould almost leave its dwelling place,. To entertain the same. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/traherne/centuries of meditations/26 on news.htm

Letter ix. To Maximus the Philosopher.
... It is impossible for any one to entertain the idea of variableness of light in relation
to light, of truth in relation to truth, nor of the essence of the Only ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter ix to maximus the.htm

Entertain (8 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To engage the attention of agreeably; to amuse with that which makes the
time pass pleasantly; to divert; as, to entertain friends with conversation ...
/e/entertain.htm - 12k

Guest (24 Occurrences)
... pay. 2. (vt) To receive or entertain hospitably. 3. (vi) To be, or act the
part of, a guest. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GUEST. ...
/g/guest.htm - 15k

Entertained (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Entertain. Multi-Version Concordance
Entertained (5 Occurrences). Acts 28:7 Now in the neighborhood ...
/e/entertained.htm - 8k

Amuse (1 Occurrence)
... to bewilder. 2. (v.) To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir
with pleasing or mirthful emotions; to divert. 3. (v.) To ...
/a/amuse.htm - 7k

Enters (44 Occurrences)

/e/enters.htm - 19k

Keep (4573 Occurrences)
... manage; as, to keep store. 10. (vt) To supply with necessaries of life;
to entertain; as, to keep boarders. 11. (vt) To have in ...
/k/keep.htm - 9k

Unawares (14 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have
entertained angels unawares. (KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV). ...
/u/unawares.htm - 10k

Unrighteous (32 Occurrences)
... Acts 24:15 and having a hope directed towards God, which my accusers themselves
also entertain, that before long there will be a resurrection both of the ...
/u/unrighteous.htm - 16k

Larger (23 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 10:15 We do not exceed our due limits, and take credit for other men's
labours; but we entertain the hope that, as your faith grows, we shall ...
/l/larger.htm - 13k

Grudge (11 Occurrences)
... naTar; stenazo, goggusmos): "Grudge" (perhaps a mimetic word, compare Greek gru)
is "to grumble" or "murmur" at any person or thing, to entertain an envious or ...
/g/grudge.htm - 13k

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