1. Genesis 13:10 - "Lot lifted up his eyes and beheld all the plain of Jordan" - When Abram lifted up his eyes, he was shown "the world" - Romans 4:13 - and the Father promised him the earth for an inheritance - Galatians 3:16,29.  Poor Lot lifted up his eyes and looked down into the valley of Jordan, and was persuaded to move down into the "world" that God would one day destroy.
2. Genesis 13:11 - "Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan" - As the previous verse explains, Lot chose an area of the land that was similar to the country from which he had travelled, "the garden of the Lord" in Ur of the Chaldees; which was not unlike the delta region of Egypt, from which they had just returned. Some suggest the "Zoar" here should really be "Zoan" of the Nile Delta.
3. Genesis 13:12 - "Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain" - While Abram continued to "dwell in the land of Canaan," Lot is moving his family, and the Ecclesia that is with him, back into city life. Given that we know the end of Lot's wife, is it too harsh to conjecture that the pilgrim life was not for her, and her constant petitions to her husband wore away at him, until finally she ends up where she really longed to be.
4. Genesis 13:12 - "and pitched his tent toward Sodom" - Every step is bringing this family closer to disaster. It is with good reason the next verse begins with one of the Bible's BIG little words.  "BUT............. the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly!"  What a dreadful description Heaven has given us here of the inhabitants where Lot was leading his family. Does this description sound familiar of the world in which we live? So where does our heart dwell? In the land with Abram? Or in things of theis "world" with Lot and his family?
5. Genesis 14:12 - "Lot... who dwelt in Sodom" - Oh, Lot! What have you done? Why are you here? If you chose Sodom because of it's safety, then why are you now captive to marauding kings? If you chose Sodom for it's advantages, then you must also share Sodom's miseries. The pilgrim life may not be as exciting, but it is not nearly as dangerous either.
6. Genesis 19:1 - "and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom" - Lot's spiritual descent is not unlike the decline noted in Psalm 1.  "Walking in the counsel of the ungodly,  standing in the way of sinners, sitting in the seat of the scornful." Perhaps Lot believed that he could change the character of the city by having a hand in it's government. Not likely! For the hearts of these sons of men was fully set in them to do evil, and no amount of exposure to this one lonely man was going to change their [collective] lives. Their thinking is revealed in v9.

Two men (angels) visited Sodom and Lot invited them to stay at his house.  Lascivious homosexuals surrounded Lot's house demanding to have sex with these two visitors.  Lot urged the Sodomites not to do this wicked thing, but offered his two virgin daughters as substitutes.  Fortunately, Lot's daughters were spared any degradation.  Vileness cannot be counteracted by another sin, and Lot's hasty offer would have consequences.  He would become the victim of incest with the daughters who he was so quick to proffer.  From those unions would come two idolatrous nations, Ammon and Moab. These would both cause Israel much trouble. 

Jesus recalls the incident at Sodom to urge readiness for AD 70 and His second coming (Luke 17:28-32).  Remember Lot's wife is a reminder that we have been taken out of sin and death and are journeying towards safety (the Kingdom).  If we look back, it is because we have a hankering for the world, which makes us unfit for the Kingdom (Luke 9:62;12:34). 

19:29 That ‘God remembered Abraham’ is like the way in which He remembered Noah – Gen 9:1. It is not as though God had forgotten. The record now turns to the aftermath of the destruction and moves on in a positive way with His purpose.

19:12 In calling Abraham ‘my lord’ ‘within herself’ shows her respect for Abraham. As far as she was concerned no one would have known what she thought. Her attitude was not for show. It reflected her actual feelings. As such she serves as an example of any sister in Christ 1Pet 3:6

19:2  In inviting the angels in Lot was ‘entertaining strangers’ – Heb 13:2 – and what a blessing – deliverance from the punishment upon Sodom.

19:14  Lot’s sons seemed as if he ‘mocked’. Doubtless this was not the first time that Lot had told these men that the city was full of evil people. Doubtless he told them that God would not tolerate such behaviour – but nothing happened. So when Lot spoke, doubtless with greater urgency than ever this time the boys ridiculed Lot thinking that Lot was just on about his ‘favourite’ topic again. We should not be discouraged that our testimony about the return of Jesus Christ is ignored or ridiculed. It will happen one day. The reactions of others to the message should not cause us to stop speaking about it

v16 'and they brought him forth and set him without the city', the angels took him and put him out to where he should have been from the beginning.

v26 'But his wife looked back from behind him', from the verses previous it would suggest that Lot's wife was outside the city of Zoar lingering behind Lot when he entered into the city.  And therefore when the destruction and judgement started.  The angel promised to Lot that he would not start the destruction until Lot was in Zoar 'I cannot do anything till thou be come thither' v22-23, we read v24 'Then the LORD rained upon Sodom....' as soon as Lot had entered into Zoar.  Lot's wife was outside the city when the noise and shaking of the judgement started and because she was outside the city she was able to look back and also because she was without she was consumed in the same judgement.  Exhortation on looking after the weak Rom 15:1, Deut 25:17-18, the angel had promised Lot that he would not bring judgment UNTIL he entered into the city.  If Lot had held back and gone behind his wife and daughters to ensure that they did not look back and also to encourage them, then they would have all been in the city when the judgement came.

Gen 19:3 - Only Lot prepared the meal. Perhaps there was a lack of co-operation or harmony in the home.

Gen 19:4-5 - Sodom was full of wickedness (sin); Gen 19:11 - they couldn't find the door (only those in Christ can find the door John 10:7,9); Gen 19:15 - Wickedness and sin is defeated at dawn; Gen 19:17 - once led in the right direction we don't want to backslide; Gen 19:29 - the wicked will be destroyed (Rom 6:23;Psa 145:20); Gen 19:21,32,3 - reminds us of Christ having an unnatural childbirth plus we have mention of wine and unleaven bread prepared by the father (echo of Christ's offered body and poured out blood ?), 3 survive (the number 3 is sometimes associated with Christ's resurrection when he defeated sin and death); Gen 19:36-38 - "Moab" means "from father" while "Ben-Ammi" means "son of my people" (similarly, Christ was the Son of God and the son of man). 

19:3 The baking of ‘unleavened bread’ shows the urgency of the situation in Sodom. There was no tie to lose that night. God was going to destroy the city.

There are several occasions in the Psalms when the word "declare" is used. One is in today's reading, Psa 22:22, where David is to declare to his brothers.  Another use isPsa 19:1, where the heavens speak of God's glory. Another one is Psa 96:3, where the psalmist is to preach to the heathen. All three of these are the same Hebrew word. Therefore our preaching can be thought of as just the natural thing. We must talk about God, both inside and outside the Truth.

22:12   The bulls answer to the ox of Exo 21:29 and speaks of the Jewish leaders in the days of Jesus. Their very actions against Jesus made them like the ox that had pushed before – they had been doing this all through the ministry of Jesus.

v6  The Strong's word for "worm" is 08438 "towla", & Strong's quotes this from "Biblical Basis for Modern Science" 1985 by Henry Morris (pg 73) :

"the worm "coccus ilicis"...when the female of the scarlet worm species was ready to give birth to her young, she would attach her body to the trunk of a tree, fixing herself so firmly & permanently that she would never leave again. The eggs deposited beneath her body were thus protected until the larvae were hatched & able to enter their own life cycle. As the mother died, the crimson fluid stained her body & the surrounding wood. From the dead bodies of such female scarlet worms, the commercial scarlet dyes of antiquity were extracted. What a picture this gives of Christ, dying on the tree, shedding his precious blood that he might "bring many sons unto glory" (Heb 2:10) He died for us that we might live through Him. "

22:17    In saying ‘they look and stare’ David is speaking, in spirit, of the crucifixion of Jesus – Matt 27:36

V.29 - none can keep alive [his own "soul" KJV or "themselves" NIV the Hebrew word used here is "nephesh" (5315) and its primary meaning stands for creature, a breathing creature  man or animal. It is rendered variously : life, person, creature, self, soul] - The soul is mortal - nowhere in the Bible do you find the words "immortal soul" together.

22:22   This verse is quoted – Heb 2:12 – as Jesus’ own words that he could express because of  his resurrection. We become Jesus’ ‘brethren’ because of his willingness to die for us. It is not a natural right we have. It is a wonderful privilege that we share.

Christ was prophetically mocked and insulted - Psa 22:7-8,17;Matt 27:39-43.

Christ prophetically thirsted - Psa 22:15;69:21;John 19:28.

Christ's hands and feet were prophetically pierced - Psa 22:16;Matt 27:31,35-36;Luke 24:36-40.

Soldiers prophetically cast lots for Christ's clothing - Psa 22:18;Matt 27:35;John 19:23-24.

22:3 The idea that God ‘inhabits’ is ‘enthroned’ RV margin is an interesting concept. God’s dwelling is, so to speak, made more comfortable by our praise. Does that motivate us to praise our Father.

Though this Psalm is a prophecy of Jesus, it is derived from David's own life. Which time in David's life do you think it could refer to? There are some clues in the text:

v6 a reproach and despised by the people

v7 being ridiculed

v14-15,17 a serious illness?

v20 in danger from the sword

If you have any answers, please could you let me know by clicking "reply to" below?

Matthew 12:36-37 - What do you think Christ meant, when He warned the Pharisees that "every idle word" that is uttered, we must give an account of at the Great Assize? Can it mean that we will be required to justify every "lighter moment", the foolish jesting if you like, that often creeps into our speech? Or is Christ warning of something of far greater importance than flippant speech? Surely, discourse tending to innocent mirth, to exhilarate the spirits, is not idle discourse; just as the time spent in necessary recreation is not idle time. The word "idle" conveys the idea of "being unemployed" in the Greek, cp Matt 20:3-6. It is a word descriptive of that 'which produces no good effect, and neither is it calculated to produce any'. Thayer tells us that it carries the idea of "pernicious" [suggesting "highly hurtful, ruinous, unsound, noxious" ] in Matt 12:36. This has led some to suggest that our Lord is warning that every "unfounded, unsound, or pernicious reasoning" we hold concerning Christ, His character, His mission, or His commandments, will need to be explained by us to Him at the Judgement [Mercy?] Seat. "For by your (Grk. "logos") 'reasonings' [about Christ] shall ye be justified; and by your (Grk. "logos") 'reasonings' [about Christ] shall ye be condemned". For a classic example of "reasoning" that has no foundation at all in the Word of God, examine the "reasoning" [about Christ] supplied by the "wicked and slothful servant" in Matt 25:24-30 & Luke 19:21-27 to justify his inappropriate behaviour toward his fellows.

V.25-28 - the degree of hatred, jealousy, desperation, fear, and grasping at straws on the part of the Pharisees is clearly shown because if Christ was the prince of demons he would be fighting against his own purpose/allies if he were to drive them out.

V.32 - the unforgiveable sin. An interesting verse demonstrating that the power of God (Holy Spirit) is to be treated with even greater reverence than Christ. Another reminder that God is greater than Christ John 14:28

V.43-45 - we must replace bad with good so we don't fall into a worse rut.

V.47-50; John 7:5 - even Jesus' brothers didn't believe in him at this point in time.

12:10    It is probable that the man with the withered hand had been brought in to the synagogue to try to trap Jesus.

v32 if one denies the power of God, that power cannot be used to forgive, and therefore the sin remains unforgiven.

v34-37 our words are the fruit of what is in our hearts, and therefore by saying that we will be judged by our words, Jesus is saying that actually we are judged by what is in our hearts. The words are only the outward manifestation. Therefore to wonder whether we are judged on each frivolous word is not the point. God knows the attitude behind them.

The Pharisees accused Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils.  He of-course showed how stupid this idea was, by saying that a house divided against itself could not stand. Beelzebub would find nice comfortable homes for his demons, not cast them out! But then the Lord leads on to the difficult idea of unforgiveable sins (Matt 12:31,32). The Pharisees had blasphemed against the Holy Spirit. They had accused Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebub, rather than possessing the Holy Spirit.  He is therefore saying that their crime is unforgiveable. The words at the end of Matt 12:32 probably mean that such blasphemy are not forgiven under the Law of Moses (= this world, or age), nor in the Christian era about to start. It does not mention the judgement, or the Kingdom. So, we must assume, that everything is possible to be forgiven at Christ’s judgement seat.  He will not be bound by “minimum sentences”, as our judges are.

12:10 What a situation to get into! To even question whether it is ‘lawful’ to do good! This is the mind which is so careful to hedge his life about with rules that he is unable to exercise his conscience. Beware lest we become like this.

12:7   Jesus had already drawn the Pharisees attention to Hos 6:6 – in Matt 9:13 – but as they had not taken heed to what it said.

V.14 The Pharisees had been given two scriptural lessons from Jesus.  But, instead of accepting them, they held tight to their position and plotted to destroy Him.  How willing are we to change our position when shown a scriptural lesson?  Do we hang on to our old ways because pride will not allow us to be wrong?  Let us keep open minds, strive to learn, and be willing to change our positions when sound reasoning from the scriptures is given.

12:3Jesus’ appeal to David’s behaviour also relates to events on the sabbath. The shewbread was changed on the sabbath – Lev 24:8 – and David’s men arrived n the day that the shewbread was changed - 1Sam 21:6 . If the king of Israel were able to violate not only the sabbath but the use of the shewbread the one who was lord of the sabbath could allow his disciples to pluck corn which was not even spoken of in the Law of Moses.

In v11 Jesus tries to get the hard hearted rulers to recognise the mercy in their own hearts. If they own sheep, wouldn't they be moved to help them no matter what time of day or night? And if that is true, then how much more concern does God have for men and women whom He owns (v12)? So having made that connection, the rulers ought to have learned that the law was given by God for the express purpose to protect and look after His men and women, and not to be used to condemn them needlesly (v7). God's law about gleaning was actually for the purpose the disciples used it in v1 (see Lev 23:21-22). Amazingly the law of the sabbath comes in the verse adjacent to it, and looking more closely reveals to us that it is only "customary work" i.e. day to day work that is forbidden.

To what use do we put the word of God? Is it to tie up or condemn others? Surely the gospel of peace is not designed for that purpose?

In Matt 12:38, they asked the Lord for a ‘sign’. Other than Gen 1, the first time we come across the idea of a sign is in Exodus 4 where the LORD gives Moses the ability to be able to perform certain ‘signs’ so that the Israelites would believe that God had sent him. The second of these signs was that Moses would be able to make one of his hands leprous and then restore it so that it was ‘turned again as his other flesh’ (Ex 4:7). Following this, God told Moses that he, the LORD, was in control of speech, hearing and sight (Ex 4:11). This is significant because Jesus had just healed the man with the withered hand so that it was ‘restored whole, like as the other’. Then he had showed his power over speech (and hearing? Gr. Kophos=deaf and dumb) and sight. When Moses had performed these signs, the Israelites had believed (Ex 4:30,31), but now Jesus was doing the same, it wasn’t enough for them. They still needed more signs. The fact is no number signs would have been enough for the Jewish leaders. It shows how entrenched the human heart can become. A warning for us.

12:18-22 The point of the quotation from Isaiah is that Messiah would not establish his authority by show. His appeal was to the individual who, on seeing the evidence, was convinced. We need to be careful that we do not equate a brash show with evidence.