Ver. 1. And the Lord appeared unto him.] 1. Ut proeludium incarnationis. 2. Ex philanthropia;” his delight” is “in the habitable part of” God’s “earth”. (Proverbs 8:31) And he sat in the tent-door.] He dwelt in a tent (let us be content, though we dwell not to our minds), yet kept a good house. A very hearty householder he was. In the heat of the day.] The usual time of rest and repast, when travellers wax faint and hungry.
Ver. 2. And he lift up his eyes and looked.] As “pursuing hospitality” (that is the apostle’s expression, Romans 12:13), and waiting an opportunity of doing good. Charity is no churl. “The liberal man deviseth liberal things”; (Isaiah 32:8) “he considereth the poor and needy”. (Psalms 41:1) Praeoccupat vocem petituri, as Augustine expounds it, he stays not till he is asked a good turn; he ministereth to the uses, not only “to the necessities of the saints,” as the apostle’s word is, (Romans 12:13) and as Bishop Hooper’s and Dr Taylor’s practice was. The one had his board of beggars sent for, and served every day with whole and wholesome meats, ere himself sat down to dinner. And the other went once a fortnight at the least, to the almshouse, and other poor men that had, many children, and were sick, to see what they lacked, and to supply them. And bowed himself toward the ground.] Piety is no enemy to courtesy; it doth not remove but rectify it, that it be not only complimental and ridiculous. Potest Augur Augurem videre et non ridere? So it may be said of our common cringers. Aug. in Psalm ciii. ταις χρειαις Usibus, non necessitatibus. Nequis existimet prius non succurrendum proximo quam ad necessitatem sit redactus. Act. and Mon., fol. 1369, 1388. Cicero.
Ver. 3. My Lord.] He directs his speech to one of them, in whom appeared to be most majesty; and whom he afterwards knew to be the Lord by an excellency.
Ver. 4. And wash your feet.] Fouled with going barefoot; as in these parts men used to do, because of the great heat.
Ver. 5. For therefore are ye come to your servant.] He meaneth not, that they therefore came to him to taste of his cheer; but that God, by his providence, had so ordered that he should see them passing, and invite them to his house. How glad was this good man of an occasion to show kindness, acknowledging God’s good providence! And how improvident are we for ourselves, that will not offer a sacrifice, when God sets up an altar before us! So do as thou hast said.] The angels needed not his courtesy, yet kindly accept of it. Good offers or offices, even from inferiors, are not to be rejected, but regarded, yea, rewarded.
Ver. 6. Make ready quickly.] Habent aulae suum cito, cito, saith one. So had Abraham’s house here. He, she, the boy, and all hasted, and had their various offices. The very expression itself here used, is concise and quick; much like that of the prophet in the case of returning to God, “If ye will inquire, inquire; return, come”. (Isaiah 21:12) “ Praecipita tempus; mors atra impendet agenti.”— Silius. Three measures of fine meal.] Three pecks for three man’s dinners; and the best of the best too; fine meal, the fat calf, butter and milk, God’s plenty of all, and hearty welcome; the goodman himself standing by, and bidding them “Come”: which shows his humanity, and his humility also. “ Dat bene, dat multum, qui dat cum munere vultum.”
Ver. 7. And gave it unto a young man.] Here was a well-ordered family; every one knew his office, and did it. In every society, say the politicians, as in a well-tuned harp, the several strings must concur to make up a harmony.
Ver. 8. And they did eat.] The angels, as they assumed human shapes, so they did truly eat, according to the present dispensation of the shape so assumed.
Ver. 9. Behold, in the tent.] David compares a good woman to the vines upon the walls of the house, because she cleaveth to her house. Others to a snail, that carrieth her house on her back. St Paul reckons it for a virtue in a woman to “keep at home”; (Titus 2:5) and Solomon for a sign of a lewd housewife, that “her feet abide not in her house”. (Proverbs 7:11) Among the Grecians, the bride was carried through the streets in a chariot, the axle spokes was burnt, to signify that she must keep home.
Ver. 10. According to the time af life.] That is, when this time shall return again; this time twelve month. [See Trapp on “Ge 18:14”] Sarah heard it in the tent-door.] She was listening out of womanish curiosity. Yet some think, the angel asked for her on purpose, that she hearing her name mentioned might listen.
Ver. 11. Now Abraham and Sarah were old.] So, when we were altogether “without strength,” according to the time of life, “Christ died for the ungodly”. (Romans 5:6)
Ver. 12. Sarah laughed.] God’s promises seem absurd and ridiculous, many of them, to human reason, which therefore must be silenced, and shut out, as Hagar was; for it will argue carnally, as that unbelieving lord (2 Kings 7:2) storms at God’s offers, as Naaman at the message (2 Kings 5:11) looks upon God’s Jordan with Syrian eyes, as he, and after all, cries out with Nicodemus, “How can these things be?” (John 3:4) measuring God by its own model; and casting him into its own mould. After I am waxed old, shall I lust?] Old and cold, is our English proverb; and the Greek word for an old body signifies one in whom natural heat is extinct. It is a most undecent thing to see the pleasure of youth prevailing in times of age, among old decrepit goats. Were it not monstrous to behold green apples on a tree in winter? My lord being old also?] This was the only good word in the whole sentence: God takes notice of it, and by St Peter records it to her eternal commendation; (1 Peter 3:6) yea, he was so well pleased with her subjection to her husband, whom she here in her heart calleth Lord, that he is content to forgive her great sin of unbelief. Πρεσβυς, α πυρ et σβεω