Lot's hesitation:
Gen 19:16-22 When Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters because the Lord had compassion on them. They led them away and placed them outside the city. 17 When they had brought them outside, they said, “Run for your lives! Don’t look behind you or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains or you will be destroyed!”18 But Lot said to them, “No, please, Lord! 19 Your servant has found favor with you, and you have shown me great kindness by sparing my life. But I am not able to escape to the mountains because this disaster will overtake me and I’ll die. 20 Look, this town over here is close enough to escape to, and it’s just a little one. Let me go there. It’s just a little place, isn’t it? Then I’ll survive.”
21 “Very well,” he replied, “I will grant this request too and will not overthrow the town you mentioned. 22 Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”
Matt 18:3 and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!
Note: The point of the comparison become like little children has more to do with a child’s trusting spirit, as well as willingness to be dependent and receive from others, than any inherent humility the child might possess.
Matt 18:7 Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come. 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.
Note: In Greek there is a wordplay that is difficult to reproduce in English here. The verb translated “causes…to sin” (σκανδαλίζω, skandalizw) comes from the same root as the word translated “stumbling blocks” (σκάνδαλον, skandalon) in the previous verse.
Matt 18:10 “See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
To Peter (in the context of Peter's proclamation that Jesus is the Christ and "on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it"):
Matt 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”
To the disciples in general (in the context of " If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector.")
Matt 18:18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.
this was while Jesus was still with them...
Matt 18:20 For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.”
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture readings and notes are taken from the NET Bible. You can find the M'Cheyne reading plan many places online, as PDFs to print out, as well as in Bible reading apps (e.g., Olive Tree) - some of my favorites include here and in the Lumina online Bible (click Daily and then select M'Cheyne in the dropdown)
