Table hospitality

Jesus and table hospitality

A characteristic of Jesus was that he encouraged open and inclusive table hospitality. Jesus accepted that mealtimes provided an opportunity to initiate and maintain human relationships. The meal practice of Jesus had socio-political significance. The way in which he used inclusive table hospitality became a vehicle of cultural protest because it challenged the beliefs and politics of purity and holiness in Judaic culture. In this culture, rules governed not only what might be eaten and how it might be prepared but also who might be invited to the table. Pharisees and others would not eat with someone who was considered impure. ‘Decent’ people would not share a meal with outcasts. Table hospitality was an embodiment of a social vision of purity, social status and social distinction and discrimination. Jesus challenged these cultural codes through his actions at mealtimes.

The table hospitality of Jesus included women, the poor, the maimed, and the marginalised as well as disciples and followers attracted to his vision. His was a non-discriminating table for a non-discriminating society.

Social customs

At the time of Jesus, eating together was the primary way of marking any significant event, both social and religious. There were prescribed rituals for preparing for eating. The host had to extend gracious hospitality to his guests: the feet of the guests were washed, kisses were exchanged and the head was anointed with perfumed oil in some cases. The extent to which these rituals were observed might be an indication of the esteem in which the host held his guests (Luke 7: 44-47, also John 13:3-17).

The observant Jew was selective about what was eaten and who was present. Dining together created a bond among the diners; therefore, the selecting of guests was significant. Jesus (e.g. Matthew 11:18-19), and his disciples (e.g. Acts 11:3), were criticised for not being sufficiently selective about those with whom they chose to eat.

The ten meal stories in Luke’s Gospel indicate the full significance of meals in the ministry of Jesus. Characteristics of Jesus’ table-fellowship include the treatment of sinners and other outsiders, the treatment and place of women, the special place of the poor, love of neighbour, and love of enemy. They reveal his attitude to the social norms of his time, both in his observance of these and in his departure from them.