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John 10:1-18

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

1. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly. 11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14. I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine. 15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd. 17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

John 10:1-18 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on John 10:1

Theological / Devotional

Verily. [The Good Shepherd, John 10:1-21.] See on Matt. 5:18; John 1:51. The present passage is a sequel to the healing of the blind man. The Pharisees, the recognized shepherds of Israel, had been unfaithful to their trust. They had cast out one from the fold who had expressed faith in the Messiah (John 9:34).

Sheepfold. Gr. aide, a fenced-in, unroofed enclosure around a house, such as a courtyard (see on Matt. 26:58). This was sometimes used as an enclosure for sheep. Some scholars think that an uncovered enclosure in the country is referred to.

Thief. Gr. kleptes, one who pilfers, or steals, as did Judas from the common purse (ch. 12:6). He may or may not employ violence. The idea of violence is more prominent in the word for “robber,” lestes, “one who plunders.” Such was Barabbas (ch. 18:40). The one who climbs up and over the wall of the enclosure by a way of his own making gives evidence that he is not the owner of the sheep. He may be a lone sneak thief carrying out his pilfering under cover of darkness, or he may be one of a gang of robbers who acquires property by violence. In any case he is a false shepherd.

By thieves and robbers Jesus was here designating especially the Pharisees, who claimed that they were the shepherds of Israel. They decreed who should be admitted to, and who should be expelled from, the fold. They “shut up the kingdom of heaven against men” and prevented those who sought to enter (Matt. 23:13). They compassed land and sea to make one proselyte, but when he was made he was twofold more a child of hell than they (Matt. 23:15). They took away the “key of knowledge” (Luke 11:52), and by their false interpretation of the Scriptures prevented men from recognizing and accepting the light.

Thieves and robbers are they who offer men any other means of salvation than that which has been provided through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). The world has had, and will continue to have, its false messiahs. They do not enter by the door, Christ Jesus (John 10:9). Their claims, are false, and their carefully laid schemes will end in disaster.

By SdaBc