THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Let us not disregard these words, dear friends; let us not merely focus on the rampant wickedness of the Sodomites, which merits no mercy, but rather contemplate how the righteous man, living amongst such vile beings, radiated and exemplified remarkable virtue. Consider how he endured their transgressions, how he chose not to flee from that wretched city, and how he engaged in communication with them. I will elucidate this matter. The Lord of Hosts foresaw the extreme depravity of the Sodomites and appointed this righteous man to reside amongst them, so that, like the finest healer, he might mitigate the influence of their moral afflictions.
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Even though the righteous man recognized that he was surrounded by those afflicted with incurable vices, who would reject any remedy, he did not abandon them. This is the hallmark of a true healer: even if he perceives that the ailment is beyond his skill, he perseveres in his duty, demonstrating the efficacy of his art, hoping to restore the afflicted in due time; and if he ultimately fails, he finds consolation in knowing he left no stone unturned.
In this instance, despite dwelling amidst such men, the righteous man upheld his virtue and maintained his commitment to righteousness; yet they squandered all hope for forgiveness, as they not only clung to their evil ways but escalated them further. The text proclaims that from young to old, the entire populace of the city surrounded the house. How profound was their unity in wrongdoing, how intense their thirst for sin, an unparalleled overflow of wickedness, an unjustifiable intent! The phrase, “from the young to the old,” indicates that not just young individuals but the aged, and all the people collectively, pursued these acts of depravity. They exhibited no shame in engaging in such brazen acts, disregarding the Almighty, providing no consideration for the righteous man, and showing no mercy towards those whom they recognized as guests in his home. With brazen faces, they approached, defying modesty, as it was customary for them to cover their heads; hence, St. Chrysostom emphasized their sheer audacity by noting that the Sodomites approached Lot’s dwelling “with uncovered heads,” illustrating their extreme impertinence and the shameless declarations they made. They demanded of the righteous man, “Where are the men who came to you this night? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.” In light of their lawless intentions and malevolent purposes, the righteous man sat at the entrance of his home until dusk, so that none of the innocent passersby might fall into their trap. With a unique love and supreme purity, he made it his mission to welcome all who passed by, ensuring that none would slip away unnoticed; he received those travelers not merely as celestial beings but as ordinary men. In stark contrast, the wicked displayed none of this kind of behavior, only daring to commit acts that surpassed all other evil. The angels sought to remain in the streets, allowing the righteous man a chance to demonstrate his exceptional kindness towards them and to reveal through the very actions of Sodom's inhabitants the rightful judgment that awaited these people for their profound iniquity.
When God purposes to chastise someone, He does not simply administer punishment or content Himself with declaring His judgment; rather, He justifies His actions before humanity through their outcomes, much like a judge in a public tribunal who seeks to gather the entire populace for a fair evaluation. As judges who plan to condemn someone to death convene in a high place, instruct the drapes to be elevated, and assemble the city to witness the proceedings, so too does God position Himself above, framing the Scriptures before all of creation. He examines sin in full view, not by merely recounting offenses or presenting physical records but by revealing the very sins of the guilty. Consequently, when He intended to unleash fierce lightning upon Sodom, to devastate the cities and nations therein with an unprecedented and frightful downpour, before executing this judgment, He displayed the wickedness of those destined for punishment, not through the reading of records, but by manifesting their actual sins. For this reason, He sent forth angels, not solely to rescue Lot but to unveil the transgressions of the Sodomites. When Lot welcomed them, the inhabitants besieged his home, arrayed for unlawful desires that defied all bounds of age and nature. Not only young men participated, but even the aged, with gray hair failing to temper their frenzy. The devastating craving for sin was evident, even in oldness. Their malice did not cease when Lot offered to surrender his daughters; even then, they insisted until they received what they sought, threatening harm upon him for honoring the presence of guests.
Can you see how God exhibited the wickedness of the Sodomites in every aspect before rendering judgment? This was done so that when you witness their punishment, you would not be distressed by the extent of their misfortune, nor would you blame God along with them. Rather, you may rightly condemn them in unity with God’s observations. He, having first displayed their wickedness, ensured that we would experience no regret for them and would be removed from any empathetic feelings toward their fate.