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Is hachnasas orchim (welcoming guests) a mitzvah (either of biblical or rabbinic origin)? If not why is it considered more important than greeting the divine presence (bereshis 18:3 Rashi)? Does it have technical mitzvah parameters - for example is it still 'welcoming guests' if it is a relative? if you don't own the home itself? for a non-jew? for a minor? etc.

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Please define mitzva. Do you mean one of the 613? A rabbinic enactment? – Double AA♦ Jan 10 at 18:58
@DoubleAA I edited it, by biblical I would include the prophets – user2110 Jan 10 at 20:36
That's a funny definition of biblical IMO. – Double AA♦ Jan 10 at 22:16
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Hachnasas or'chim is a kiyum of g'milus chasadim (Shabbos 127b). – Fred Jan 11 at 3:06
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@nikmasi The former is a subcategory of the latter, by which I mean it is one way of fulfilling g'milus chasadim. Perhaps there are differences between the subcategories, but the overarching mitzvah is g'milus chasadim. – Fred Jan 13 at 3:17
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