By George Sleiman

On a stormy night in 1880, a man and his wife entered a small hotel to spend the night. The receptionist welcomed them, but there were no available rooms. He couldn’t turn them away at that time, in such weather, so he offered them his room! The guests appreciated this hospitality and half-jokingly promised that if they ever built a hotel they would ask him to manage it.

Years later, the receptionist received a letter and a train ticket to New York—it was from the couple he had hosted. That man was William Waldorf Astor, who had just established the Astoria Hotel. Mr. Astor asked the receptionist, George C. Boldt, to be the general manager.

This story brings Hebrews 13:2 to mind. We are not to “neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unaware.” Abraham hosted angels unknowingly, and they announced he would be a father. Lot’s hospitality to strangers spared his life. The widow of Zarephath fed Elijah, and her sustenance never ran dry. The Shunammite woman’s hospitality to Elisha raised her son back to life! We read about Zacchaeus, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, the newlyweds in Cana, and Lydia, and how all reaped the blessing of hospitality.

However, some missed hospitality’s blessings. Ironically, this tended to be the most “religious”. We see that the greatest Guest of all—Jesus—was not properly welcomed at the home of Simon the Pharisee. Simon had invited Jesus for status, for an intellectual exchange, or perhaps even to test Him. He didn’t do the least to welcome Him.

But someone did!

A sinful woman! The house was not hers; she was despised and wasn’t supposed to be there. She stood behind Him, not feeling worthy to face Him. Yet from her, we learn how to host Jesus. We often speak about hospitality towards others, which is crucial, but have we thought about the Lord Himself? How are we hosting Him?

Jesus is not a guest in the sense that we have the upper hand. He is Lord. We do not control or manage His presence, nor do we extend hospitality to Him as if granting Him favor. Rather, we recognize the honor of His approach and respond in awe. Hospitality to Jesus is not about giving Him a place but acknowledging His place.

A Face of Pride and a Heart of Brokenness

“I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet…” Jesus told Simon, “…But she has washed My feet with her tears” (Luke 7:44). All that was required was water for the guest to wash his feet after a long journey. Simon ignored serving Jesus; he wanted service from Him.

But she…

She asked about Him! She followed Him! She entered without an invitation, risking her safety and bearing scornful eyes. She had no water to wash His feet, but she took them in her hands and wept bitterly. She shed tears of sorrow, fear, brokenness, and repentance—tears of love. She didn’t say a word. She didn’t look into His eyes. The Lord knew, and He accepted her care!

Simon had an external posture of hospitality but withheld the welcome. His was a proud reception: thoughtless, self-focused, and lacking grace. Hers was repentant worship: a heart poured out. This was the kind of posture that alone makes room for Christ. True hospitality to Him does not offer Him a place of honor in a pride-filled house but offers Him a humble heart.

Do I welcome Jesus into my life with genuine contrition and need, or with an air of religious performance? Do I invite Him to serve me on my terms, or do I acknowledge my state, welcoming Him from an empty and vulnerable position?

To host Jesus, we must remove the veil of status, self-righteousness, and control, and let our humility flow. That is a welcome He never refuses.

A Crown Withheld and a Crown Laid Down

Simon didn’t provide anything for Jesus’ feet to be wiped, “…But she has wiped them with the hair of her head” (Luke 7:44). All that was expected was a towel for drying—a necessary gesture. Simon didn’t bother.

But she…

She didn’t stop at cleaning Jesus’ feet with her tears—she wanted to do the work completely. She dried them. She didn’t stop at repentance, she laid down her glory, the one good thing she had: her hair. The feet are the least honorable part of the body, the head the most.

It may seem shameful to place one’s glory at someone’s feet, but here, she regained her honor, having lost it to sin. She was crowned with dignity when she laid her glory at His feet.

This is the second layer of true hospitality to Christ: submission of self-glory under divine lordship. Where Simon retained dignity, she relinquished it all. Truly hosting Christ involves not only brokenness but also surrender of what we once treasured—our identity, reputation, gifts, and pride.

Have I offered submission to His will? Is it my glory that I seek, or His? When Jesus enters my home, do I place my crown at His feet or ask Him to polish it for me?

To host Christ rightly, we must do what the elders in heaven do: cast our crowns before Him. This woman beat them to it. She understood that Jesus isn’t just a Savior; He must be King. And a King is not honored with words alone—He is honored when we bow before Him.

The Lips of Contempt and the Kisses of Worship

“You gave me no kiss…” Jesus told Simon, “…But from the moment I entered, she has not stopped kissing my feet” (Luke 7:45). A kiss was expected to greet a guest. This is simple. Simon the Pharisee didn’t do it. He showed Christ no warmth.

But she…

She kissed His feet—countless kisses. This woman poured out all her love on Jesus’ feet. She didn’t stop at weeping, cleaning, and drying His feet—she wanted to show Him all the love and adoration in her heart. She knew her sins were washed away. She knew a freedom she had never felt before.

This is the true essence of worship: it is not primarily about words, rituals, or music, but about overflowing love for Christ. Worship is not measured by how we sing or attend a service but by how deeply our hearts respond to the grace we’ve received. She kissed His feet, not His hands or His face. She adored even the part society deemed the lowest.

Do we still marvel at His grace? Has forgiveness made us adore? Do we approach and welcome Christ as a routine or with burning affection?

To host Christ well is to worship Him without shame or calculation. It’s to express our love, not to impress others. She wasn’t trying to look holy—she was just thankful. Her love wasn’t tidy; it was intense. She didn’t care who was watching. The religious man with pride in his heart stood in judgment. The sinful woman with worship in her heart knelt in adoration.

Oil Denied and Fragrance Overflowing

“You did not anoint My head with oil…” Jesus told Simon, “…But she has anointed My feet with perfume” (Luke 7:46). In that culture, olive oil was commonly poured on the head of a guest as a sign of honor. Simon overlooked doing this.

But she…

She broke a costly alabaster jar and poured perfume on His feet! She gave Christ not the least, but the most. Not the head, but the feet. Not olive oil, but perfume. This wasn’t ritual—it was reverence. What Simon refused to give out of custom, she gave freely out of love. She honored Jesus not with convenience, but with cost. This was her treasure, and she poured it out on the One she treasured most.

True hospitality to Christ means costly honor. Have I honored Him with what is precious to me? Have I poured out my best, not out of pressure but out of passion? Is my time, talent, and treasure broken open at His feet, or kept for personal plans?

Jesus remains the initiator. It is His grace that draws near. When we “host” Him, we are responding to the reality that He, the King of glory, would dwell with us. We are not crowning Him—He already wears the crown. We are laying down our own in joyful surrender.

The story of this woman’s brokenness, submission, worship, and giving tells us how we are to host Christ in our lives. We want to be practical doers of the word, but we must start at the correct point. Do we want to host others properly? Let us host Christ first! Do we want to show true love? Let us love Him first! What we do to Him will be reflected in what we do unto others.

George Sleiman is a teacher at the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also the head of the Finlay Graham Library and Research Center and the facilitator of the Micro-credentials Program at the seminary.