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 ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 18:23-32
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.