How Scripture Commands Us to Treat Immigrants
Twelve powerful passages that reveal God’s heart for the foreigner and the outsider.
In today’s world, immigration remains one of the most emotionally charged and divisive issues. While nations debate policies, borders, and laws, Christians are called to a higher standard one rooted in the timeless wisdom of Scripture. The Bible does not shy away from this subject. Instead, it speaks repeatedly and clearly about how we are to treat immigrants, refugees, and strangers.
From the Old Testament through the New Testament, God consistently commands His people to show compassion and care for foreigners. The Bible reminds us that many of our ancestors were once foreigners, making this not just a political issue, but a deeply spiritual one.
Love the Foreigner as Yourself
In Leviticus 19:33-34, God commands, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” This is not a suggestion it is a direct command. Just as the Israelites were once strangers in Egypt, believers today are called to extend love and equality to foreigners living among them.
Provision for the Foreigner
God’s concern for the foreigner goes beyond just kind treatment; He also commands provision. In Leviticus 19:9-10, the Israelites are instructed not to harvest every last bit of their crops but to leave some for the poor and the foreigner. This principle of leaving the edges of the fields unharvested allowed those in need to gather food, ensuring no one was left destitute.
Today, over 108 million people worldwide are forcibly displaced due to conflict, persecution, or disaster, according to UNHCR data. These biblical instructions remain profoundly relevant as millions seek refuge and sustenance far from home.
God’s Heart for the Stranger
Deuteronomy 10:18-19 reveals the very heart of God “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt.” God’s character is one of justice and mercy. He not only loves the foreigner but expects His people to mirror that love.
Neglecting the Needy is a Grave Sin
The prophet Ezekiel exposes the root sin of Sodom in Ezekiel 16:49: “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.” Failing to care for the vulnerable including immigrants is portrayed as a serious offense.
Shockingly, a 2023 Pew Research study found that 68% of Christians in the U.S. feel conflicted about immigration policy, often torn between national interests and biblical mandates. Yet, Scripture leaves little ambiguity about our personal response to those in need.
Justice for the Foreigner
Malachi 3:5 warns that God will stand against those who oppress foreigners “I will be quick to testify against... those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive the foreigners among you of justice.” True justice includes fair treatment for all, regardless of national origin or legal status.
God Hears the Foreigner’s Prayer
In 1 Kings 8:41-44, King Solomon prays that God would hear the prayers of foreigners who come to His temple, demonstrating that God’s mercy extends beyond Israel. “Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you.” God desires that His name be known among all nations, showing that inclusion of foreigners serves His greater mission.
A Call to Radical Hospitality
Job’s personal testimony in Job 31:32 reflects a life of generous hospitality “No stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler.” This echoes God’s call for His people to live open-handed, welcoming the stranger as family.
The Words of Jesus on Welcoming the Stranger
In Matthew 25:35-36, Jesus equates welcoming the stranger with welcoming Himself “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 invited me in.” Our response to immigrants and refugees is not merely social; it is deeply spiritual and reflects our love for Christ.
We Are All Part of One Body
Paul reminds the church in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 that, through Christ, we are all unified: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free.” The divisions of nationality and ethnicity dissolve in the body of Christ. Each believer is part of one global family.
Love Your Neighbor
Galatians 5:14 simplifies the law into one powerful command “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Immigrants and refugees are not distant strangers; they are our neighbors.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
When Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” He responded with the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37. The Samaritan crossed cultural and national boundaries to care for someone in desperate need. Jesus concluded, “Go and do likewise.”
A Timeless Mandate
Throughout Scripture, God’s instruction remains consistent: care for the foreigner, protect the vulnerable, and love without condition. In a world grappling with complicated immigration issues, Christians are called to embody the compassion, mercy, and justice of our Savior.
According to the World Migration Report 2024, over 281 million people globally live outside their country of birth. These staggering numbers bring fresh urgency to the ancient commands of Scripture. The Church has the opportunity to stand as a witness of God’s heart, offering not just charity, but dignity, friendship, and family to those far from home.
As followers of Christ, may we reflect His love in both word and deed extending open arms to the foreigner as though welcoming Christ Himself.
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Reply
Ralph Renna • 14 hours ago
Illegal immigrants are just that: lawbreakers. Any Christian should treat LEGAL immigrants the ways of Christ. But undocumented people that have not gone through the legal process of immigration like our forefathers did must be deported and register and be vetted. God’s Word commands us to obey the ruling authorities and that means NOT aid and abet criminals which one becomes by breaking the laws. Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Romans 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Don’t preach to us about embracing lawlessness. Murder, human trafficking, drug smuggling setting people on fire, raping and robbing. The list goes on. Take your socialist BS elsewhere for God cannot condone lawlessness. We are paying the price now for the idiotic policies of the lawless deeds of Democrats.
Jeff McCain • 1 day ago
While there are principles in the Bible that we can look to for this issue unfolding in America, it is not appropriate to equate the nation of Israel with our nation. Israel was intended to be a theocracy and America is not. Also, Israel was warned about allowing outsiders to bring in practices and beliefs that would lead them away from obeying God; not every outsider or foreigner, was to be welcomed in Israel. Additionally, the Bible admonishes love toward others on an individual basis, but not something to be delegated to the government and not something that prevents the government from doing its proper duty toward citizens first.
Merlissa Williamson • 1 day ago
I’m sorry that you have misunderstood the meaning of those passages you have quoted, especially Malachi 3:5 which doesn’t mention mention anything about the “Foreigner” as you have twisted God’s word to suit your agenda. When a foreigner is WELCOMED they are treated with hospitality. When the “Foreigner” forces his way into your home, steals from you, then he is not welcomed and is not conducting himself in a unified way. The ILLEGAL FOREIGNERS, have done the latter. In since you want to quote the OT read the 10 Commandments these people have broken all of these by forcing themselves upon others, they are definitely sinning like all of us do but they don’t repent of their sins they continue in them and wanting you to say it’s ok. This is called oppression by a foreigner and you have given into Stockholm Syndrome.
edward doran • 1 day ago
Sorry, but your liberal bias is fully showing in your interpretation of history and scripture. These were not illegal criminals the scriptures were describing. In addition, no other nation has done more for the poor and indigent worldwide than American and the Christian church. Please stop the guilt tripping...
Richard Rabe • 1 day ago
People who immigrate illegally have a huge burden of guilt that they are always suffering under, so making them obey the law they broke, by deporting them IS an act of kindness. People who do not pay the righteous consequences for breaking laws also learn that law breaking is something nobody cares about, and they often pass that misconception on to their friends and family in their places of origin, multiplying the probability of further law breaking. The books of Leviticus and Numbers mention how sojourners (foreigners) who break God’s laws are to be held equally accountable as the Children of Israel who break those same laws. For any country to remain a place where the societal rules, traditions, values and behavioral expectations are not recklessly overturned, that country MUST enforce its borders, immigration procedures, ports of entry, and requirements. Failure to do so is suicidal, literally, and it has no basis in race or creed. It’s based on behavior. Chastisement is not hate.
Sonja Larson • 1 day ago
Immigration legally is waaaaay different from ILLEGAL AND ILLEGALS CRIMINALS ! Read Deuteronomy and Leviticus…you’ll see the God was for the death penalty of crime and murder and rape. Have a conversation with a LEGAL immigrant who came here LEGALLY with all documents, looking over more documents, learning about OUR Holidays, Customs, AND the constitution! They ARE MAD that the ILLEGALS got the red carpet treatment. This article does NOT and should NOT even think about comparing ILLEGALS/CRIMINALS to the immigrants who came here LEGALLY!
Monica Felt • 1 day ago
This one sidedness makes me sad to read. The prior US administration expected tax-paying, law-abiding citizens to teach their children that breaking the law is OK in the name of humanity. That is shameful. My immigrant ancestors were subjected to harsh conditions BUT they followed every US law in place to come into the country LEGALLY over 100 years ago. May they Rest in Peace. One immigrant or foreigner is not necessarily equivalent to another who decides to break the law and not follow rules to come in to our already generous country legally. They are criminals to do so. And everyone who came in legally, abiding by the immigration rules and laws in place, is being given a slap in the face. My loved ones have pledged their lives to defend this free nation and are doing so right now! And fentanyl brought in by illegal immigrants has actually KILLED people I know. Praying hard you can understand many of ours’ differing viewpoint.
Jonathan Fletcher • 1 day ago
True, but there is a difference between immigration and invasion. The US generally loves immigrants if their desire is to be a part of our culture and bring us the best of theirs. It is a very different thing for mass quantities of military-age men to arrive intending to disrupt our way of life, implement a different religion and to merely take advantage of our generosity.
Virginia Powers • 1 day ago
Unless you understand the difference between how the foreigner and sojourner were treated in Israel, you will , as you have done, spiritualize what is meant to be a lived out experience.
Those who came into Israel and placed themselves under its jurisdiction, were accorded rights and responsibilities that foreigners were not.
God sets the boundaries of countries and peoples (Acts 17) and expects them to create laws and to govern if someone comes to this country illegally they have not placed themselves under its jurisdiction and are subject to deportation which is a civil matter, not criminal and thus habeas corpus does not attach.
There are consequences to breaking the laws of the land that you live in.
Carl Hasler • 1 day ago
I must correct you. Illegal entry into the US is indeed a criminal matter. I refer you to Title 8 USC § 1325. It can be handled as a civil matter but the statute does in fact provide for criminal penalties including imprisonment up to 6 months for a 1st offense & up to 2 years for a 2nd offense. That is the common misconception that merely entering illegally is a civil matter. It is, in fact, a criminal act as defined by the aforementioned statute.
Carl Hasler • 1 day ago
While I don't disagree with anything in this article, it leaves out a very important aspect of scripture. Romans 13 commands us to obey the civil authorities so long as they don't force us to violate our faith or Biblical commands. In a sermon entitled "When Government Rewards Evil and Punishes Good" by Pastor John MacArthur, he exposits that "The role of the government is to restrain evil; and when it functions to restrain evil, it is fulfilling its God-ordained purpose."
As individuals, should we come across anyone, regardless of their immigration status, we are to treat them with love. However, at the same time, a nation, any nation, has not only the right, but the responsibility, to regulate who comes into their country as a function of their divine purpose of restraining evil. That is something every Christian should support.
Merlissa Williamson • 1 day ago
Well you should look for yourself at the quoted passages especially the one the references Malachi 3:5 the author has twisted God’s word to suit the argument.
Carl Hasler • 1 day ago
You'll have to forgive me, I'm not sure what aspect of my post you're recommending I reconsider. If you're referring to my opening sentence where I state I don't disagree with anything in the article, my intent was to simply agree that we are to show love to all as individuals without going into a lengthy discourse on each verse (which we don't have space for here), nothing more. If that's not what you were referencing I'd be grateful for some clarification.
Dave Rarey • 1 day ago
Everything in this article is true and as Christians we should express love and concern for others regardless of whether they break the law, be it immigration or other laws.
It’s a separate point to believe in law and order and the enforcement of laws. These are not inconsistent. Illegal immigrants should be deported, that is the law and that is not inconsistent with how we as Christians should treat our fellow man…
Merlissa Williamson • 1 day ago
No the author has twisted Malachi 3:5, which doesn’t mention anything about Foreigners.
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