I am the door, &c. Rupertus thinks that this relates to a different door and a different sheepfold from the other, according to what is said (ver16), "Other sheep I have," &c. But there is only one fold of Christ; one Church, that is. As He subjoins, "There shall be one fold and one shepherd." The meaning of the door already spoken of, Christ partly confirms, partly explains when He adds, "By Me if any Prayer of Manasseh , enter in, he shall be saved." That Isaiah , if any man believe in Me, and therefore through faith in Me and by My grace enters the Church, "he shall be saved," i.e, shall be justified and blessed, if he continues, that Isaiah , in My faith, grace and charity even unto death. So S. Gregory (Epist. lib. vii49). "He enters through the door into the sheepfold who enters through Christ. But he enters through Christ who believes and teaches the truth concerning Him—the Creator and Redeemer of mankind, and abides by what he preached."
And will go in and out. Will go out to...
Also in the same place: "I am the door: by me if any man shall enter in, he shall be saved.".
Also in the same place: "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved."
After His usual manner, He moulds the form of His speech to a spiritual application as though it arose naturally from the course of His story, and seems to treat things which are simple to look at and contain nothing difficult of comprehension, as images of things more obscure. For the thieves, He saith, and robbers, violently breaking into the enclosures of the sheep, do not enter by the door, but leap in by some other way, and by getting over the wall of the fold put themselves in danger. For perhaps, or rather very probably, one who is robbing in this way and rashly practising villainy may be detected and caught; but they who enter by the door itself, effect an entrance without risk, being manifestly not mean in conduct, nor yet unknown to the lord of the sheep. For he who standeth at the doors openeth to them and they run in: moreover, saith He, such as these shall be together with the sheep in great security, having effected an entrance very lawfully as it were and without guile, ...
As though He had said, shall be in safety and security, (but by pasture, He here means His nurturing and feeding the sheep, and His power and Lordship,) that is, shall remain within, and none shall thrust him out. Which took place in the case of the Apostles, who came in and went out securely, as having become lords of all the world, and none was able to cast them out.
