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In this lesson:
Jesus is the door. Also: "The Good Shepherd." (Re-read John 9:34-38) Study Tip: It helps to study more than one Bible translation. As you read, scroll back and forth between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" below. Also, check the Margin Notes in blue and click on the links. |
The Good Shepherd.
By an unknown artist |
The Gospel According to St. John
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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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. Just like a shepherd, Jesus protects His flock from danger. 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. It is perhaps the most recited passage in the Bible. "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." |
New Living Translation
John 10:1-21
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
1 "I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!
2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.
5 They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice."
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn't understand what he meant,
7 so he explained it to them: "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.
9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.
10 The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock.
13 The hired hand runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,
15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 "The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again.
18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded."
19 When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him.
20 Some said, "He's demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?"
21 Others said, "This doesn't sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
1 "I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!
2 But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.
5 They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice."
6 Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn't understand what he meant,
7 so he explained it to them: "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.
9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.
10 The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don't belong to him and he isn't their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock.
13 The hired hand runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep.
14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,
15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.
16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
17 "The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again.
18 No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded."
19 When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him.
20 Some said, "He's demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?"
21 Others said, "This doesn't sound like a man possessed by a demon! Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (10:7-9)
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (10:11)
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (10:11)
Today's Question:
1. What other sheep? (10:16)
Questions? We will do our best to answer them.
1. What other sheep? (10:16)
Questions? We will do our best to answer them.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. The "sheepfold" Jesus speaks of in verse 10:1 refers to the Jewish people. The "other sheep" are non-Jews or Gentiles. This is a clear declaration that Jesus Christ came to offer salvation to all mankind, Jew, and Gentile.
Application thought for the day:
Unlike hirelings (10:13) who tend the flock because it's a job, Jesus does it out of love.
He knows each in His flock by name (10:3), and they know His voice (10:4).
Are you listening to the voice of "the Good Shepherd?" Don't be misled by false teachers (10:5).
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2026 evolke
© 2026 evolke