Scrolling through social media, you might see a reel about welcoming migrants and a comment claiming, “The Bible says obey the law, so helping people who enter the country illegally is wrong. You should be ashamed.” Such a response misses both Scripture and reality.
In the hills outside Jerusalem, Jesus spoke to crowds worried about survival, not policy. In Matthew 25:31–46, He described the final judgment, separating people like sheep and goats based on their treatment of “the least of these.” Feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned—Jesus tied every act of mercy to Himself. Scholars note that in His time, welcoming strangers often meant offering refuge to people fleeing violence or oppression, risking social disapproval or resources. Hospitality represented life or death, and the failure to care constituted moral failure.
Even His own birth carried a refugee story. Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem with no room at the inn. Their flight to Egypt followed Herod’s threat. Jesus identified from the start with the displaced, the vulnerable, and the hunted.
Critics often assume helping migrants conflicts with the law. However, U.S. statutes and international agreements protect vulnerable people. The Refugee Act of 1980 created legal pathways for asylum seekers. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows individuals to request asylum, even without passing through an official port of entry. U.S. law also prohibits returning people to countries where authorities would threaten their lives or freedoms. Internationally, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the 1951 Refugee Convention, and the Convention on Migrant Workers establish protections for migrants’ dignity, safety, and family unity. Showing hospitality to vulnerable migrants aligns with these legal frameworks.
Stories bring these principles to life. A Texas church once hosted a family fleeing violence in Central America. Church members provided food, clothing, and guidance, helping the family navigate asylum procedures. Later, when authorities granted them legal protection, the pastor realized: their compassion had operated fully within the law. History echoes the same truth. During the Holocaust, European churches hid Jews, protecting lives even under harsh legal restrictions, demonstrating that moral law and human decency sometimes operate in tandem with—or even beyond—civil law.
This brings up an important reality: legality does not always reflect morality. Laws have historically permitted grave injustice. Slavery remained legal in the United States for centuries while violating human dignity and God’s command to love one another. Segregation enforced racial oppression under the law. The Holocaust executed genocide under a legal framework, showing how laws can sanction evil. Other examples include apartheid in South Africa, the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, and forced labor in the early 20th century. In each case, people suffered under legal systems that contradicted the moral imperative to protect the vulnerable.
Romans 13 instructs respect for governing authorities, while Matthew 25 calls for mercy and care. When laws protect migrants, compassion aligns with both Scripture and civil obedience. Even when laws fall short, God’s call to care for the vulnerable does not waver. Feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, and advocating for the oppressed fulfill both divine and moral law.
Every act of mercy toward someone in need, every warm meal or safe shelter, reflects God’s concern for the vulnerable. Obeying the law and caring for the least of these does not conflict; it flows naturally from a heart shaped by Scripture and informed by justice. From ancient Israel to modern refugee crises, hospitality remains a sacred duty. Ignoring the vulnerable carries consequences. Welcoming them opens doors not just to temporary safety, but to the living presence of God.
- Matthew 25:31–46
- Romans 13:1–7
- Hebrews 13:2
- Exodus 22:21
- Leviticus 19:34
- Refugee Act of 1980 (U.S.)
- Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
- 1951 Refugee Convention & 1967 Protocol
- Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Convention on Migrant Workers
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