John 10:11

The good shepherd. For the figure of the shepherd see on v. 2. The image of Jesus as the shepherd has impressed itself deeply upon the mind of the church, in its literature, art, music, and statuary. The adjective “good” (Gr. kalos) designates one who performs his service well, one who is extraordinary outstanding, excellent. In 1 Tim. 4:6 kalos describes a good minister and in 2 Tim. 2:3 a good soldier.

The figure of Messiah as a shepherd was not new to the Jews. In the Psalms of Solomon, written about the middle of the 1st century B.C., the Anointed One is spoken of as follows: “(He will be) shepherding the flock of the Lord faithfully and righteously, and will suffer none among them to stumble in their pasture. He will lead them all aright, And there will be no pride among them that any among them should be oppressed” (17:45, 46).

Giveth his life. This is in contrast with the thief, who comes “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (v. 10). There is no OT example of a shepherd actually laying down his life for his sheep, although the hazards of the occupation are reflected in 1 Sam. 17:34-37. The self-sacrifice that leads the shepherd to hazard his life for a member of his flock has its ideal fulfillment in the Good Shepherd, who would have given His life for even one member of the human race (see DA 483).