John
10:1-21
Lesson 189
10:1-21
Lesson 189
John 10:1-21
A Parable 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. 19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? |
Margin notes:
"The door into the sheepfold." (10:1) - "The door into the sheep pen." "Shepherd." (10:2) - Shepherds represent protection, compassion, and faithfulness, which is why The Old Testament frequently portrays God as a shepherd minding His flock (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 23:1-2; 78:52). Additional note: Isaiah 40:11 and Ezekiel 34:23, written hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, prophesized that the Messiah would come as a loving shepherd. The word pastor is Latin for Shepherd. "The porter openeth." (10:3) - "The gatekeeper opens." "The sheep follow him: for they know his voice." (10:4) - The flock follows Jesus, the true shepherd (John 10:27). "A stranger will they not follow." (10:5) - "They will not follow a false prophet." "I am the door of the sheep." (10:7) - At night, shepherds slept at the gate of the sheep pen so no harm could come to the flock. Jesus is telling us that He protects His flock from danger, and He is the way to salvation. Additional Note: This is the third of seven times Jesus declares Himself "I Am." The first was "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35), followed by "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). Look for the remaining four coming up in John. "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers." (10:8) - See Jeremiah 23:1-2 and Ezekiel 34:2-3. "Find pasture." (10:9) - "Find sustenance." "I am the good shepherd." (10:11) - Jesus' fourth of seven "I Am" declarations. See also David's Psalm 23. "The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (10:11) - Means Christ died for us. "But he that is an hireling." (10:12) - "He is but a hired hand." "Hireling" refers to the false shepherds of Israel, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and others. "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice." (10:16) - "I have other sheep (Gentiles) which are not in this flock (Jews). I must bring them too. They will hear my message." Jesus' message of salvation is meant for Jew and non-Jew, as promised in Isaiah 56:8 and Ezekiel 37:24 centuries before Christ was born. See "Today's Question" below. "For these sayings." (10:19) - "Because of these comments." |