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And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

And the Lord appeared unto him. — 1. Ut proeludium incarnationis . 2. Ex philanthropia ;" his delight" is "in the habitable part of" God’s "earth". Proverbs 8:31

And he sat in the tent-door. — He dwelt in a tent (let us be content, though we dwell not to our minds), yet kept a good house. A very hearty householder he was.

In the heat of the day. — The usual time of rest and repast, when travellers wax faint and hungry.

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And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

And he lift up his eyes and looked. — As "pursuing hospitality" (that is the apostle’s expression, Romans 12:13 ), and waiting an opportunity of doing good. Charity is no churl. "The liberal man deviseth liberal things"; Isaiah 32:8 "he considereth the poor and needy". Psalms 41:1 Praeoccupat vocem petituri , as Augustine expounds it, Aug. in Psalm ciii. he stays not till he is asked a good turn; he ministereth to the uses , not only "to the necessities ταις χρειαις Usibus, non necessitatibus. Nequis existimet prius non succurrendum proximo quam ad necessitatem sit redactus. of the saints," as the apostle’s word is, Romans 12:13 and as Bishop Hooper’s and Dr Taylor’s practice was. The one had his board of beggars sent for, and served every day with whole and wholesome meats, ere himself sat down to dinner. And the other went once a fortnight at the least, to the almshouse, and other poor men that had, many children, and were sick, to see what they lacked, and to supply them. Act. and Mon., fol. 1369, 1388.

And bowed himself toward the ground. — Piety is no enemy to courtesy; it doth not remove but rectify it, that it be not only complimental and ridiculous. Potest Augur Augurem videre et non ridere? Cicero. So it may be said of our common cringers.

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And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

My Lord. — He directs his speech to one of them, in whom appeared to be most majesty; and whom he afterwards knew to be the Lord by an excellency.

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Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

And wash your feet. — Fouled with going barefoot; as in these parts men used to do, because of the great heat.

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And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

For therefore are ye come to your servant. — He meaneth not, that they therefore came to him to taste of his cheer; but that God, by his providence, had so ordered that he should see them passing, and invite them to his house. How glad was this good man of an occasion to show kindness, acknowledging God’s good providence! And how improvident are we for ourselves, that will not offer a sacrifice, when God sets up an altar before us!

So do as thou hast said. — The angels needed not his courtesy, yet kindly accept of it. Good offers or offices, even from inferiors, are not to be rejected, but regarded, yea, rewarded.

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And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead [it], and make cakes upon the hearth.

Make ready quickly. — Habent aulae suum cito, cito , saith one. So had Abraham’s house here. He, she, the boy, and all hasted, and had their various offices. The very expression itself here used, is concise and quick; much like that of the prophet in the case of returning to God, "If ye will inquire, inquire; return, come". Isaiah 21:12

“ Praecipita tempus; mors atra impendet agenti .” - Silius.

Three measures of fine meal. — Three pecks for three man’s dinners; and the best of the best too; fine meal, the fat calf, butter and milk, God’s plenty of all, and hearty welcome; the goodman himself standing by, and bidding them "Come": which shows his humanity, and his humility also.

“ Dat bene, dat multum, qui dat cum munere vultum .”

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And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave [it] unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

And gave it unto a young man. — Here was a well-ordered family; every one knew his office, and did it. In every society, say the politicians, as in a well-tuned harp, the several strings must concur to make up a harmony.

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And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set [it] before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

And they did eat. — The angels, as they assumed human shapes, so they did truly eat, according to the present dispensation of the shape so assumed.

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