Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 13:18

"And he said unto him, I also am a prophet as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of Jehovah, saying, Bring him back with thee into thy house, that he may eat bread and drink water. [But] he lied unto him." — 1 Kings 13:18 (ASV)

An angel spoke to me. —The lie was gross, and ought to have been obvious to one who had received a plain command, and must have known that God was not a man that He should lie, or the son of man that He should repent. It was believed, no doubt, because it aligned with some secret reluctance to obey, and, by obedience, to give up all reward and hospitality. Hence the belief was a self-deceit, and, as such, culpable.

It is inexplicable that the condemnation which it drew down should have been thought strange by any who understands human nature, and knows the self-deceiving colour which our wish gives to our thought. (See the famous Sermon of Bishop Butler on “Self-deceit.”)