Genesis 19:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He then addresses them, "My brothers, refrain from wrongdoing." What extraordinary patience the righteous exhibit! What profound humility! To respond to such individuals with such gentleness exemplifies genuine virtue. Indeed, when aiming to heal the ill or to guide the errant, one does not approach with rage or cruelty. Observe how he refers to those who consider committing such an act as brothers, aiming to induce shame, awaken their consciences, and redirect them from their wicked desires: "My brothers," he implores, "do no evil." Do not entertain such thoughts, do not scheme this disgraceful act, do not corrupt nature itself, do not concoct an unnatural blend.

Saint Lot presented the honor of his daughters, acknowledging the disgraceful nature of this action; nonetheless, it is a lesser transgression to act according to nature than to contravene it. He prioritized the dignity of his household over the moral failings of his decision, upholding the principle of hospitality, which remains sacred even among the fiercest of peoples. Hospitality is a steadfast virtue, even when familial bonds may not be wholly reliable.

In his thoughts, feeling compassion for the outsiders, showing mercy towards the wrongdoers, and holding God's glory in high regard (for those who transgress and disrupt the divine order dishonor the Creator), the righteous man sought to offer his cherished daughters to them. However, the men of Sodom, driven not by natural desires but by unnatural inclinations, furiously demanded not Lot's daughters but rather the men who had arrived to engage in their wickedness. They began to batter the doors of Lot's home, aiming not only to disgrace the visitors but also to kill Lot himself.

Lot lived in Sodom with his wife and his two daughters, a righteous man among the unrighteous. The faithful Abraham asked: Will You also sweep away the righteous with the wicked?