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Pentecost Season · Proper 6 · Year A

Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7)

The Lord Visits Abraham; Sarah's Laughter

June 14, 2026

Abraham Entertaining the Angels, Rembrandt van Rijn
Abraham Entertaining the Angels, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1646Private collection
Three visitors at a meal under a tree, with Sarah listening at the door behind. Rembrandt keeps the scene domestic and lets one guest's face do all the work.Paul takes Abraham as the pattern of faith, and this is the afternoon that faith was asked for: a promise made over lunch.Rembrandt van RijnRembrandt (1606-1669) painted scripture as if it had happened in a room he had been in, and returned to the same stories across forty years, changing his mind about them in public.Private collectionIn private hands, which is why it is seen in reproduction far more often than in the flesh.Private collection
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 9:35-10:8, (9-23)Mt 9:35-10:8, (9-23)
EpistleRom. 5:1-8Rom 5:1-8
Old TestamentGen. 18:1-15, (21:1-7)Gn 18:1-15, (21:1-7)Alt. OTExod. 19:2-8aEx 19:2-8a
PsalterPs. 116:1-2, 12-19Ps 116:1-2, 12-19Alt. PsalmPs. 100Ps 100

Overview & Insights

"Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son." (Genesis 18:14)

Abraham shows hospitality to three visitors at the oaks of Mamre, who announce that Sarah will bear a son within the year. Sarah laughs in disbelief, and the Lord asks whether anything is too wonderful for God.

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Take it further: Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7)

Commentary

Commentary on Genesis 18:1-15Commentary on Gn 18:1-15 Working Preacher

Lectionary commentary on hospitality at Mamre and the promise of a son.

Genesis 18 CommentaryGn 18 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse notes on Abraham's visitors and Sarah's laughter.

Genesis 18:1 CommentariesGn 18:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentaries collected for the appearance of the Lord at Mamre.

Genesis 18 CommentaryGn 18 Commentary Precept Austin

Precept Austin's commentary and resources on Genesis 18.

Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7) CommentaryGn 18:1-15, (21:1-7) Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed sermon commentary on making room for strangers and for God's promise.

Background & Word Study

Genesis 18:1 InterlinearGn 18:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew text with parsing for the theophany and the announcement of a son.

Genesis 18 in HebrewGn 18 in Hebrew Sefaria

Hebrew and English with Jewish commentary on Abraham's hospitality.

Overview: Genesis 12-50Overview: Gn 12-50 BibleProject

Animated overview of the ancestral narratives and the promise of descendants.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Genesis 18Catena: Gn 18 Catena

Patristic comment, often reading the three visitors as a sign of the Trinity.

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