20 And the Lord said , " The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great , and their sin is exceedingly grave . 21 "I will go down now , and see if they have done entirely according to its outcry , which has come to Me; and if not, I will know ." 22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom , while Abraham was still standing before the Lord .
23 Abraham came near and said , " Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked ? 24 "Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city ; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 "Far be it from You to do such a thing , to slay the righteous with the wicked , so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly ?" 26 So the Lord said , " If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city , then I will spare the whole place on their account ." 27 And Abraham replied , "Now behold , I have ventured to speak to the Lord , although I am but dust and ashes . 28 "Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five , will You destroy the whole city because of five ?" And He said , "I will not destroy it if I find forty-five e there ." 29 He spoke to Him yet again and said , "Suppose forty are found there ?" And He said , "I will not do it on account of the forty ." 30 Then he said , "Oh may the Lord not be angry , and I shall speak ; suppose thirty are found there ?" And He said , "I will not do it if I find thirty there ." 31 And he said , "Now behold , I have ventured to speak to the Lord ; suppose twenty are found there ?" And He said , "I will not destroy it on account of the twenty ." 32 Then he said , " Oh may the Lord not be angry , and I shall speak only this once ; suppose ten are found there ?" And He said , "I will not destroy it on account of the ten ." 33 As soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham the Lord departed , and Abraham returned to his place .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 18:20-33
Commentary on Genesis 18:16-22
(Read Genesis 18:16-22)
The two who are supposed to have been created angels went toward Sodom. The one who is called Jehovah throughout the chapter, continued with Abraham, and would not hide from him the thing he intended to do. Though God long forbears with sinners, from which they fancy that the Lord does not see, and does not regard; yet when the day of his wrath comes, he will look toward them. The Lord will give Abraham an opportunity to intercede with him, and shows him the reason of his conduct. Consider, as a very bright part of Abraham's character and example, that he not only prayed with his family, but he was very careful to teach and rule them well. Those who expect family blessings must make conscience of family duty. Abraham did not fill their heads with matters of doubtful dispute; but he taught them to be serious and devout in the worship of God, and to be honest in their dealings with all men. Of how few may such a character be given in our days! How little care is taken by masters of families to ground those under them in the principles of religion! Do we watch from sabbath to sabbath whether they go forward or backward?
Commentary on Genesis 18:23-33
(Read Genesis 18:23-33)
Here is the first solemn prayer upon record in the Bible; and it is a prayer for the sparing of Sodom. Abraham prayed earnestly that Sodom might be spared, if but a few righteous persons should be found in it. Come and learn from Abraham what compassion we should feel for sinners, and how earnestly we should pray for them. We see here that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Abraham, indeed, failed in his request for the whole place, but Lot was miraculously delivered. Be encouraged then to expect, by earnest prayer, the blessing of God upon your families, your friends, your neighbourhood. To this end you must not only pray, but you must live like Abraham. He knew the Judge of all the earth would do right. He does not plead that the wicked may be spared for their own sake, or because it would be severe to destroy them, but for the sake of the righteous who might be found among them. And righteousness only can be made a plea before God. How then did Christ make intercession for transgressors? Not by blaming the Divine law, nor by alleging aught in extenuation or excuse of human guilt; but by pleading HIS OWN obedience unto death.