2382. 'And the men who were at the door of the house' means rational concepts and matters of doctrine deriving from these by means of which violence is offered to good flowing from charity. This is clear from the meaning of 'the men' as rational concepts, dealt with in 158, 1007; from the meaning of 'a door' as something that introduces or affords access, which leads either to truth or to good, and so means something to do with doctrine, dealt with above in 2356; and from the meaning of 'a house' as good that flows from charity, dealt with in various places. The subject here being those who 'came near to break down the door', that is, who tried to destroy the good of charity as well as the Lord's Divinity and His Holiness, 2376, rational concepts that are evil and derivative matters of doctrine that are false are meant, by means of which violence is offered to the good of charity.

2355. Verses 6-7 And Lot went out to them to the door (janua) and shut the door (ostium) behind him. And he said, No, my brothers, do not act wickedly.

'Lot went out to them to the door' means that he acted cautiously. 'And shut the door behind him' means to prevent them doing violence to good that flows from charity and denying the Lord's Divine Human and His Holy proceeding. 'And he said' means an earnest appeal. 'No, my brothers, do not act wickedly' means that no violence should be done to these - he calls them 'brothers' because it was from good that he made the earnest appeal.