Judges 13:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Following this, the narrative illustrates the angels' fervor for the Lord. When Manoah desired to present a goat to the angel, the messenger of God responded: “If thou compel me, I will not eat thy bread; and if thou make a burnt-offering unto the Lord..., offer e.” This indicates that the angel has no requirement for sustenance and does not seek sacrificial offerings; the latter is intended for God, while the former is inherent to humanity. The angel does not require food as humans do, nor does it take pleasure in the honor afforded to God. This demonstrates that when Abraham offered food to the angels, they partook of it in a different manner.