INTRODUCTION: This short epistle deals with one specific problem: the reception and aid of the brethren who will be passing through as they perform their deeds of ministry. In short, this epistle is about the importance of hospitality. It is a blessed act of love when performed and a wickedness when some refuse to do it. The lessons of hospitality are taught in the actions of three men.

1. THE TRUST OF GAIUS (3 John 1:5-8 [5] Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; [6] Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: [7] Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. [8] We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
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1. One to be Trusted with the Care of Others (3 John 1:5-6 [5] Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; [6] Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
   See All...a)
1. The faithfulness of his hospitality (3 John 1:5Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
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1. To the brethren
2. To strangers
2. The testimony of his charity (3 John 1:6Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
   See All...a; 1 Corinthians 8:1Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 [1] Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. [2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. [3] And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. [4] Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, [5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; [6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; [7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 16:14Let all your things be done with charity.
   See All...; Colossians 3:14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
   See All...; 1 Timothy 1:5Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
   See All...;  1 Peter 4:8And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
   See All...; 2 Peter 1:5-8 [5] And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; [6] And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; [7] And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. [8] For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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1. Borne by witnesses
2. Before the church
3. Note: this was a charity that could be seen, not a hidden feeling of the heart.
3. Note: the duty of hospitality for the Christian
1. A requirement of the pastor (Titus 1:8But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
   See All... – “a lover of hospitality”)
2. A requirement for the widow indeed (1 Timothy 5:10Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
   See All... – “Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.”)
3. A requirement for all believers
1. Romans 12:13Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
   See All... – “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”
2. 1 Peter 4:8-9 [8] And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. [9] Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
   See All... – “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging.”
2. One to be Sought Out for Help (3 John 1:6Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
   See All...b-8)
1. To encourage certain brethren on their journey (3 John 1:6Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
   See All...b-7)
1. After a godly sort (John 1:6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
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2. Because of their purpose (John 1:7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
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1. They go forth for His name’s sake
2. They take nothing of the Gentiles
1. The Gentiles are a reference to the lost
2. No charge is to be made for the gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:9For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 9:18What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
   See All... – “Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge.”)
3. God’s work is to be supported by God’s people (2 Corinthians 8:1-7 [1] Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; [2] How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. [3] For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; [4] Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. [5] And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. [6] Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. [7] Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
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2. To be fellowhelpers to the truth (3 John 1:8We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
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1. By receiving and helping the brethren
2. By becoming a part of the ministry of others (2 Corinthians 8:23Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
   See All... – “Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper”).
2. THE TREACHERY OF DIOTREPHES (3 John 1:9-11 [9] I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. [10] Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. [11] Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
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1. His Reception of the Brethren (3 John 1:9I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
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1. He heard of their needs
1. John had written to the church
2. It was not a matter of ignorance
3. Note: the four levels of sin in Psalm 19:12-13 [12] Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. [13] Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
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1. Ignorant sins (Psalm 19:12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
   See All...a – “Who can understand his errors?”)
2. Secret sins (Psalm 19:12Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
   See All...b; Psalm 90:8Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
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3. Presumptuous sins (Psalm 19:13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
   See All...a); these are sins that brazenly go against the clear teaching of the word and the clear will of God.
4. The great transgression (Psalm 19:13Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
   See All...b); this would be the sin that brings the full judgment of God, like the sin unto death (1 John 5:16If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
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2. He desired first place
1. This is the place that belongs exclusively to Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
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2. One of the great dangers of spiritual leadership (Matthew 20:20-21 [20] Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. [21] And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
   See All...; 1 Peter 5:1-3 [1] The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: [2] Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; [3] Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
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3. To minister we must become a servant (Romans 12:10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
   See All...; Philippians 2:1-5 [1] I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. [2] And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. [3] For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. [4] Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. [5] Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
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3. He received not the brethren
1. He was lifted up with pride (1 Timothy 3:6Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
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2. He refused to humble himself as a servant
3. He refused to minister to others (Ezekiel 34:1-4 [1] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? [3] Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. [4] The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
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2. His Remembrance by John (3 John 1:10Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
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1. His words
1. His prating; to prate is to talk much with foolish talk (Proverbs 10:8The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
   See All..., 10; Ecclesiastes 5:3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
   See All...; Ecclesiastes 10:14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
   See All...).
2. His malice; malice is ill will; it is the desire and the attempt to hurt someone else (Ephesians 4:31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
   See All...; 1 Peter 2:1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,
   See All...).
2. His works
1. He rejects the brethren
2. He rejects those who receive the brethren
1. He forbids those who would receive them
2. He casts out of the church those who do receive them
1. This is not proper church discipline
2. This is a willful casting out for purposes of personal power (Isaiah 66:5Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
   See All...; Luke 6:22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
   See All...; John 16:2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
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3. His Report by his Deeds (3 John 1:11Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
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1. We are known by what we follow
1. Whether we follow that which is evil (Exodus 23:2Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
   See All...; 2 Kings 13:1-2 [1] In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. [2] And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.
   See All...; 2 Peter 2:1-2 [1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
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2. Whether we follow that which is good (Psalm 38:20They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
   See All...; 1 Thessalonians 5:15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
   See All...; Ephesians 5:1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
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2. What we follow expresses our relationship to God
1. He that does good is of God (1 John 3:16-19 [16] Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. [17] But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? [18] My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. [19] And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
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2. He that does evil has not seen God (John 3:20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
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3. THE TASK OF DEMETRIUS (3 John 1:12-14 [12] Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true. [13] I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: [14] But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
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1. The Report of his Deeds (3 John 1:12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
   See All...a)
1. The evaluation of his report: good (Acts 22:12And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
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2. The sources of his good report
1. Of all men
1. Of the saints
2. Of the lost (1 Timothy 3:7Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
   See All...; Colossians 4:5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
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2. Of the truth itself (3 John 1:3For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
   See All...; 2 John 1:4I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
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2. The Remembrance of John (3 John 1:12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
   See All...b-13)
1. The record of John (3 John 1:12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
   See All...)
2. The truth of John’s record (3 John 1:12Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
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3. The quantity of John’s record (3 John 1:13I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
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1. Much more to say
2. Too much to write with pen and ink
3. The Reception of Gaius (3 John 1:14But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
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1. Anticipation
1. Of seeing him soon
2. Of speaking face to face
2. Final greetings
1. Peace to Gaius
2. Salutations from friends
3. Greet the friends by name

CONCLUSION: In a most interesting way, the two epistles of 2 John and 3 John parallel one another. They are about the same length. They were probably written at the same time. They are both one-issue epistles. They use some of the same terminology (frequent use of “truth;” mention of children walking in truth; mention at the end of the epistles of much more to say but not with pen and ink but face to face).

However, in another way, they are exact opposites in their message. In 2 John, John warns the elect lady against accepting those who teach falsely concerning the doctrine of Christ. “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed” (2 John 1:10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
See All...). In 3 John, John applauds Gaius for his hospitality to brethren and strangers (3 John 1:5-8 [5] Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; [6] Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: [7] Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. [8] We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
See All...) and condemns Diotrephes because he would not receive the brethren (3 John 1:9-10 [9] I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. [10] Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
See All...).

The two epistles taken together almost give a manual on hospitality. We are to show special hospitality to those who are going about serving the Lord. However, we are to draw the line when it comes to doctrinal issues dealing with the person and work of Jesus Christ. May the Lord teach us all to live the life of hospitality and yet know where to draw the line.