– In the OT context, it was someone who did not belong to the Jewish people. The sign of belonging was circumcision:
Ex 12,43 : This is the rule concerning Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it; every slave […] circumcised shall eat of it.
– If a foreigner wanted to participate in the Jewish Passover, he had to be circumcised first:
Ex 12:48 : If a foreigner[…] wants to celebrate the Passover in honor of the Lord, he must first be circumcised.
Numbers 9:14 : If the foreigner who lives among you observes the Passover of the Lord, he will have to conform to the laws.
– Remembering that they had been foreigners in Egypt, the Jews should welcome foreigners well:
Leviticus 19:33-34 : If a foreigner comes to live with you in your land, you shall not oppress him.
Leviticus 23:22 : When you reap in your land, you shall not reap to the extreme […] Leave it for […] and the foreigner.
Lev 25:35 : If your brother becomes poor along with you […] support him, even if he is a foreigner.
Deut 10:19 : You also love the foreigner, because you were foreigners in Egypt.
Deut 24,14.17-18 : You shall not harm the […] needy, whether he be one of your brothers or a foreigner.
– But he should be subject to the Law and therefore observe the Sabbath:
Leviticus 17:15 : Every person, natural or foreign, who eats a dead or torn animal must wash his clothes.
Leviticus 24:16-17 : Whether he is a foreigner or a native, if he blasphemes against the holy name, he will be punished with death.
Ex 20:10 : But on the seventh day, which is a rest in honor of the Lord your God, you shall not do any work.
Deut 5:14 : But on the seventh day, which is the rest of the Lord your God, you shall not do any work.
– Jesus not only welcomed foreigners and gave them as an example, but he identified with them:
Jo 4,1-26 : A woman from Samaria came to draw water.
Mt 8,5-13 : Jesus entered Capernaum. A centurion came to him and made this supplication.
Mt 15:26 : Jesus answered him: “It is not good to throw the children’s bread to the dogs”.
Mk 7:27 : Let the children be satisfied first, because it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.
Mt 25,35-45 : Because I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a pilgrim and you welcomed me.
