Genesis 18:6, commentary and pictures

At hot summer noontide by his tent door under the oaks of Mamre, Abraham saw three passing travelers and hastened to refresh them, himself choosing food and bringing water for their feet while asking Sarah to quickly make cakes of fine meal and having them rest in cooling shade as he stood beside them while they ate. Those wayfarers were heavenly angels appearing and conversing in human form, and among them was the glorious Commander Himself, the Creator, Redeemer and Covenant Angel. They were sent on a mission of mercy to commune with Abraham and bring promises of blessing, and when the entertainment was over and his guests stood revealed, the counsels of heaven were opened to him and he was called the friend of God. In so courteously welcoming unknown strangers who might never come his way again, Abraham became the finest example of true courtesy and Christian gentlemanliness, showing that hospitality is love toward others. That privilege is not denied now, for by showing hospitality to God's children believers may still entertain angels unawares, making welcoming strangers with practical kindness a small daily duty that brings blessing.

Setting and Hospitality

The scene is set at hot summer noontide at Abraham's tent door under the oaks of Mamre, when three travelers came by without asking for help. In the heat of the day he hastened to welcome them and provide for their needs.

He would not let them go unrefreshed but moved quickly to supply everything, himself selecting their food and bringing water to wash the travel dust from their feet. He asked Sarah to make ready quickly and knead cakes upon the hearth from fine meal, had the men rest under cooling shade, and stood respectfully beside them while they ate. His household responded promptly and generously to the visitors.

He did all this simply for wayfarers and passing strangers who might never come his way again. The visitors were unknown to him, yet he treated them with prompt, generous, courteous kindness and hastened to have food prepared for them. His kindness in having Sarah prepare food was an act of courtesy important enough to be recorded.

In so courteously welcoming and entertaining them he stands as the finest example of the power of true courtesy. He is a true gentleman and an example of a Christian gentleman who knew what is due from man to fellow man. His hospitality represents love toward others and illustrates the Bible's call to treat others courteously.

Heavenly Visitors and Ministry

The three travelers were heavenly angels appearing and conversing in human form, coming as men in the garb of wayfarers and resting as if weary under the oaks at noon. Among them was the glorious Commander, his Creator, Redeemer, and King, the Covenant Angel who had wrought for Israel in past ages and the same divine Messenger who later appeared to Gideon. They were sent on a mission of mercy to Abraham with promises of blessing, communing with him and tarrying to share his hospitality, and when the entertainment was over and his guests stood revealed, the counsels of heaven were opened to him and he was called the friend of God.

The account shows that heaven was near to people in common occupations, with ordinary people meeting and speaking with heavenly messengers in the course of daily life. It is one instance of how in all ages God works through holy angels for the succor and deliverance of His people, with celestial beings taking an active part in human affairs and ministering to God's people. They accepted the hospitality of a human home and the food of the meal Abraham hastened to prepare for them.

The mighty ones came as weary travelers in need of shelter and ate at Abraham's humble board, proving that heavenly beings frequently disguise themselves to act a part in this life, to speak in assemblies, lead armies, cleanse away pestilence, and do works impossible for human agencies to do. Abraham's act of asking the heavenly visitors to remain as his guests and hastening to prepare food gave Gideon the pattern he followed when he desired a token from his visitor and entreated him to remain while he prepared a kid and unleavened cakes.

Call and Present Application

Together with the message of Genesis 18 and 19, the hastening to have cakes made calls people to seek the Lord most earnestly and to take a more decided stand for Him. It calls for being not merely professed believers in the truth but obedient to all of God's requirements. That response comes with confession and with hearts softened and subdued under the Spirit of God. Abraham's kindness in having Sarah prepare food for unknown travelers was ministry not only to wayfarers but to heavenly angels unawares. It was an act of courtesy God thought important enough to record in His word, and one of the deeds referred to more than a thousand years later in the call to entertain strangers.

The privilege granted to Abraham is not denied now. By showing hospitality to God's children, believers may still receive angels in human form into their dwellings. Christians are accompanied by unseen angels, and leave a blessing behind in the homes they visit. His example made hospitality a habit and a part of Lot's religion. Welcoming strangers with practical kindness is a small daily duty that can bring blessing, while neglecting such duties can have serious consequences.