4 Before they lie down, the men of the city—men of Sodom—have come round about against the house, from young even unto aged, all the people from the extremity; 5 and they call unto Lot and say to him, 'Where 'are' the men who have come in unto thee to-night? bring them out unto us, and we know them.' 6 And Lot goeth out unto them, to the opening, and the door hath shut behind him, 7 and saith, 'Do not, I pray you, my brethren, do evil; 8 lo, I pray you, I have two daughters, who have not known any one; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do to them as 'is' good in your eyes; only to these men do not anything, for therefore have they come in within the shadow of my roof.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 19:4-8
Commentary on Genesis 19:1-29
(Read Genesis 19:1-29)
Lot was good, but there was not one more of the same character in the city. All the people of Sodom were very wicked and vile. Care was therefore taken for saving Lot and his family. Lot lingered; he trifled. Thus many who are under convictions about their spiritual state, and the necessity of a change, defer that needful work. The salvation of the most righteous men is of God's mercy, not by their own merit. We are saved by grace. God's power also must be acknowledged in bringing souls out of a sinful state If God had not been merciful to us, our lingering had been our ruin. Lot must flee for his life. He must not hanker after Sodom. Such commands as these are given to those who, through grace, are delivered out of a sinful state and condition. Return not to sin and Satan. Rest not in self and the world. Reach toward Christ and heaven, for that is escaping to the mountain, short of which we must not stop. Concerning this destruction, observe that it is a revelation of the wrath of God against sin and sinners of all ages. Let us learn from hence the evil of sin, and its hurtful nature; it leads to ruin.