Genesis 19:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This is the essence of a true physician: even when aware that the illness resists his efforts, he continues to fulfill his duty, aiming to demonstrate the power of his craft and, should he succeed in restoring the patient, he gains recognition; but if he cannot restore them, he still finds assurance in knowing he did everything possible. The righteous man maintained his virtue despite his surroundings and upheld his love for goodness, while the Sodomites forfeited any hope of mercy, as they not only clung to evil but multiplied it. The Scripture states, "they surrounded the house, from young to old, all the people from every corner of the city." Observe the profound unity in their wickedness, their overwhelming desire for sin, and their unspeakable shame! From "the young, it is said, to the old": not merely young men, but aged men too, all joined in pursuing these evils. They did not shy away from their audacious and disgraceful acts; they disregarded the Most High and did not heed the righteous man, showing no compassion even to those who sought refuge in his home. Boldly and without modesty, they approached Lot, for whom the lack of head covering signified utter shamelessness. Thus, St. Chrysostom pointed out their extreme insolence as they came to Lot's residence, declaring, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us; we wish to know them." Out of fear of their nefarious intent, the righteous man positioned himself at the door of his home until dusk, seeking to protect any unsuspecting travelers from falling prey to their malice. With a unique love and unwavering purity, he welcomed all who passed by, treating them as ordinary guests rather than angels. In stark contrast, the wicked sought only to carry out their vile intentions. The angels, intending to remain outside, wished to give the righteous man an opportunity to express his extraordinary kindness, revealing through the actions of the Sodomites the justness of their impending judgment.

When God decides to discipline someone, He does not merely enact punishment or conclude His judgment without clarity; rather, He justifies His actions through evidence, similar to judges in a public court. When judges are prepared to condemn someone to death, they take their seats in a prominent place, unveil the proceedings, gather the crowd, and commence their deliberation openly, questioning the accused in view of all. Similarly, God, as it were, taking His position on a lofty seat—the sacred words of Scripture—examines sins before the eyes of the universe, not by merely reading records but by presenting the actual sins of the transgressors. Thus, when He intended to unleash mighty judgment upon the people of Sodom, to consume cities and nations with divine fire, He sent forth an extraordinary deluge, unparalleled in history. Before executing this punishment, He revealed the wickedness of those destined for judgment, not by detailing their offenses but by showcasing their sinful actions. Therefore, He dispatched angels, not only to rescue Lot but to manifest the vices of the Sodomites. Upon Lot's receiving the angels, the lawless individuals besieged his home, driven by unclean desires that defied all boundaries of nature and age. Not only young men clamored, but also the elderly, whose gray hair did nothing to temper their violent lust. Even when Lot offered his daughters to quell their desires, they persisted, insisting on achieving their goals while threatening harm to Lot for his reluctant offer. Do you see how God exposed the Sodomites’ wickedness before sending punishment? So that when we witness their downfall, we are not troubled by the severity of their fate, nor do we accuse God alongside them, but rather stand in condemnation of their deeds, as God revealed their iniquities to eliminate any remorse or compassion we might feel for them.

Yet this account is presented to reveal the formidable wrath of God against such behavior and to illustrate the everlasting and grave ruin that awaits those who, having dismissed the reverence of God from their hearts, dare to engage in similar actions. Therefore, let us attentively hear the account of the Sodomites’ disgrace as conveyed in Holy Scripture.

It was insufficient for the Sodomites to engage in their vile and unnatural depravity among themselves; they also violently pursued the travelers with the same immoral intentions, committing acts of theft—not in wilderness or along roads, but right in the heart of their city. They did not take mere possessions but sought to rob their victims of their virtue and innocence; they did not execute the body, but rather they shamed, violated, and disgraced them through their grievous and wretched sin, which equated to death itself; for a person of integrity would rather face death than endure such indignities. Most astonishing is the fact that every member of that community—young and old alike—participated in this egregious sin. While it is not unexpected to observe those entrenched in vice act without shame, for their sinful ways have become their second nature, it is genuinely shocking to see youths, who are not yet fully matured, already steeped in debauchery, joining their elders in besieging Lot's home.

The cause of such early moral decay among the young is clear: the elders, unashamedly committing their sins, serve as examples for the youth, who mirror the wicked actions of their forebears. How profound is the devastation wrought upon young souls by the enticing examples set before them! Alas for the adults who lead the young astray! According to the words of the Gospel, it would be preferable for them to bind a millstone around their necks and cast themselves into the sea (Matthew 18:6; Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2)! Thus in Sodom, the evil spread from one to another, with the youth imitating the sins of the old, all equally caught in their immoral filth; not a single soul in that city (save for Lot) remained untainted by their iniquities. They all shouted with fury at righteous Lot, demanding that he bring out the two men for shameful purposes.

Righteous Lot, however, refused to surrender the visitors he had welcomed into his home, not knowing how to shield them from the mob. To appease the Sodomites’ desires, he offered them two of his daughters, who were pledged to their husbands but had not been with them. He resolved that it was preferable for him to bear the shame of dishonoring his daughters than to deliver them to these wicked men for such vile acts. Moreover, Lot had the thoughtful rationale that it was better for God to be incensed by a lesser sin, one naturally associated with the female sex, rather than by a greater and unnatural one. He believed it more prudent for his neighbors to incur a lighter divine punishment due to lesser wrongdoing rather than face more severe consequences for greater sins.