Origen of Alexandria : The expression "had not touched" is emphatic, like the statement "it is good for a man not to touch a woman," which means, even apart from sexual union, in no other way either to gaze at or to touch a woman with passion. God, of course, did not permit Abimelech to touch Sarah, though perhaps too because he had perfect self-control in all matters. Such a quality is truly a divine gift. — SELECTIONS ON GENESIS Ambrosiaster : CAN WE EXPLAIN THESE PARABLES OF THE SAVIOR ON THE CROSS: "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING (LK. 23:44)?” IF THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING, HOW CAN WE FORGIVE THEM WHEN KING ABIMELECH SAYS TO GOD, "SHALL YOU LOSE AN INNOCENT NATION BECAUSE OF ITS IGNORANCE (GEN. 20:4)?" — All ignorance is not exempt from punishment. Ignorance is excusable in those who have not been able to find means of learning. But the Savior asks His Father to forgive those who have no desire to learn when they can. This ignorance is therefore guilty in them, and it will be forgiven them if they convert. All ignorance is not exempt from punishment. He who was able to learn and did not do it, was guilty. Neither matter nor the masters were wanting him to learn, but the pleasures or a bad disposition made him neglect this duty and rendered it utterly inexcusable. This is what makes the Savior say in speaking of the Jews: "If I had not come, and had not spoken to them, they would have no sin (Jn. 15:22)." As for the one who is in ignorance without his fault, because he has not found a master to learn and has not been able to know by the public what it was necessary to think of such a doctrine, it is all to made free from fault and condemnation. The Lord asks his Father to forgive if they convert to those who have taken no care to learn the truth when he proclaimed it to them and who put to death by ignorance the very author of the truth. That is why the Apostle St. Peter said to them in the Acts: "Turn ye that your sins be blotted out.” (Acts 3:19) [QUESTIONS ON THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, PL 35, — QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON GENESIS, Q. 13 (tr. J. Litteral, draft)