From the Pulpit...

In the second part of the epistle, John condemned the violation of hospitality toward faithful ministers of the Word. Diotrephes modeled the opposite of kindness and hospitality to God's servants, even denying John's apostolic authority over the local congregation, and as a result, denying the revelation of God that came through that authority. His pride endeavored to supplant the rule of Christ through John in the church. Diotrephes character was the very opposite of the gentle and loving Gaius who readily showed hospitality.

Our Scripture reading was found in Numbers 14:1-36.