Genesis 19:6

When we are in the midst of temptation, what we really want is to, in a way, "have our cake and eat it too" – we want to be better, want to do the right thing, want to be closer to the Lord... but would like to do it without actually quite giving up our evil desires. So there’s a tendency to want to make peace between the two, make the evil not quite so bad.

That’s what is illustrated here and in the next verse. Lot – representing those in a state of caring for others – goes to the outer door of his house to address the men of Sodom. Doors represent introductory concepts and desires that lead to the loving state represented by the interior of the house, so in going to the outer door he is looking for some good in the men to issue an appeal. But he also knows the danger, so he closes the inner door, protecting the state of love within.

This is akin to us telling ourselves that our desire "are not really all THAT bad," while knowing, deep down, that they are indeed really that bad.