In this parable the _fold is the Church: the good shepherd, and also the door is Christ: the thieves and robbers are false guides; the hirelings, such ministers as seek their own profit and gain, and a good living, as they call it; the wolves, heretics; the sheep not yet brought into the fold, the G... [ Continue Reading ]
_His own sheep by name. By this is signified the particular care. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_He goeth before them, leads them by his instructions and example. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_All they who come are thieves, meaning those who came of their own accord, without being sent: not so the prophets, who had their mission from God. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
How happy are we in having such a shepherd, so great, so good, so loving, so careful of our true welfare! O he is the true shepherd indeed, that came down from heaven to seek the poor sheep that was lost; and when he found it, took it upon his own shoulders to carry it home with joy to his heavenly... [ Continue Reading ]
Every bishop and pastor is bound to abide with his flock in the time of danger, and persecution, except himself be personally sought for, rather than his flock, or the flock itself forsake him. In such cases the pastor may fly, as the apostles did, and St. Athanasius and others. (St. Athanasius, Apo... [ Continue Reading ]
_I know mine, and mine know me. To know, in the style of the holy Scriptures, is to love and approve. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_I lay down. That is, in a short time shall lay down my life for my sheep: for all, and in a special manner for my elect. See ver. 28. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_One fold. In the Greek one flock. The signification is the same that is, there shall be one church of Jews and Gentiles converted. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, &c. Christ here speaketh of himself, as made man for the redemption of mankind: or rather, as he was our Redeemer, both God and man: for he laid down his life, and died as man, and had power to take it up again, as God. Yet the command... [ Continue Reading ]
In the gallery of Solomon, which was near the temple, supposed to be attached to the eastern gate of the court, and called _beautiful. See Acts iii. 2._... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. St. John the Baptist had told them several times who Jesus was. See John chap. i. He himself had not only owned it in plain terms to the Samaritan woman, (John iv. 26.) but he had frequently delivered this truth so openly to them, that he came from heaven, th... [ Continue Reading ]
_The works and miracles, that I do in the name of my Father, they give testimony of me, and shew who I am, being foretold by the prophets. See John v. 31, &c. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because you are not of my sheep, refusing to believe in me, and to follow my doctrine, by your own wilful blindness. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ here says that his sheep hear his voice, and follow him: but let us ask ourselves, Do we cling close to this heavenly shepherd? Do we follow him, both by our faith and by our lives? Do we know him, and hear his voice? Do we fly from strangers, the world, the flesh, and the devil? If so, we ar... [ Continue Reading ]
_ They shall not perish for ever: and no man shall snatch them out of my hand. He speaks of his elect, of those whom he called by a special Providence and mercy, whom he blessed with more than ordinary graces, and with the gift of final perseverance to the end in his grace. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_That which my Father hath given [1] me, is greater than all. We may look upon this as the true reading by Tertullian, St. Hillary, St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, &c. The ancient Fathers make use of these words, to shew the eternal procession of the Son from the Father; and that they are one in nature,... [ Continue Reading ]
_I and the Father are one, [2] or one being, not one person, nor one by an union of affection only, but in nature, substance, power, and other perfections, as appears by the whole text: for Christ here tells them that none of his elect shall perish, because no one can snatch them out of his hands, n... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then took up stones, &c. because, they said, being a man, thou makest thyself God. The Jews, says St. Augustine, understood well enough what the Arians will not understand, that from Christ's words it follows that he was one and the same God with the eternal Father. (Witham) --- The Jews, in opposi... [ Continue Reading ]
This is addressed to princes established to govern the people of God. They are the image of God on earth by the authority they exercise, and which they have received from Him. --- Is it not written in you law, (under which were also comprehended the Psalms) I have said: you are Gods? &c. Christ here... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he escaped out of their hands; perhaps making himself invisible, or hindering them by his divine power. (Witham)_... [ Continue Reading ]