John 10:1-18
Truly I say to you, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice. Truly I tell you, I am the door for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So, when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
Jesus is at a point in His ministry where He exclusively begins to teach using parables…His disciples asked Him, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” [Matthew 13:10)] because after many frustrating attempts to reveal Himself as the Messiah only to be rejected, He turned to parables.
Many Christians believe that Jesus taught in parables to make His message clear, that is not correct…it’s not biblical …the enemies of Jesus were always waiting for him to say something they could use against him (Luke 11:53-54) …by speaking in parables, Jesus was making it hard for them to arrest Him by not directly speaking out openly against them.
But the disciples weren’t much better…it’s not that Jesus was trying to hide anything from them…it’s just that after three years of preaching and teachings even the disciples understood NOTHING concerning His life…ministry…death …and resurrection.
They did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them [6]
So He uses earthly stories to teach heavenly truths…but only those who sought the truth were able to understand them…He wants to teach something about the Kingdom of God to believers while simultaneously concealing the truth from stubborn unbelievers.
In the Parable of the Good Shepherd Jesus uses the illustration of a public sheepfold which would have been familiar to His audience…in this context, the sheep pen refers to the nation of Israel…the thieves and robbers are false teachers like the Pharisees…the Good Shepherd is Jesus, and the sheep are those who are being saved out of the nation of Israel.
The true shepherd has the authority to approach the sheep through the gate, which is the proper entrance…anyone who gains access to the sheep by improper means is not the true shepherd.
Sheep pens in Jesus’ era were constructed with sturdy walls and a single doorway with a gate keeper to ensure the sheep’s safety.
In the evening all the shepherds who lived in the town would bring their sheep to the sheepfold which often held several flocks and turn them in for the night…they would trust their sheep to the gate keeper who watched over the sheep while the shepherds would go to their homes for the night.
What you have is an enclosure with a single access point that would allow easy control over what animals or people went in or out…and who could access the sheep.
There were no physical barriers across the opening to the sheep pen and since a gatekeeper was always on duty…for him to rest, or even to sleep, the gatekeeper would literally lay across the doorway.
Inside the pen several individual flocks would come together for the night…
during the night the individual flocks would become intermixed…sheep have a natural inclination to assemble in flocks…the next morning the shepherds would identify themselves to the gate keeper who would let them in to get their sheep.
Each shepherd separated his sheep from the other by making a unique call…the sheep would hear his voice and separate themselves from the larger flock.
he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice [4]
Instead of driving them he leads them and they followed him as one unit. The shepherd always went ahead of them to guide them…this enabled a lone shepherd to handle hundreds of sheep successfully…he shepherds them by going in front of the sheep leading them purely by voice recognition rather than driving them.
In this ‘parable’ Jesus is making a comparison between sheep and people.
First of all…I know little to nothing about sheep…and secondly…it’s not very flattering to some to be compared to sheep because sheep are really dumb animals
however, scientists believe that research shows that humans and sheep do have something in common…so Jesus wasn’t so far off after all.
People like sheep subconsciously follow the minority…published results show it takes a minority of only five per cent of what scientists call ‘informed individuals’ to influence a crowd’s direction — and that the other 95 per cent follow without realizing it.
So when you compare the effects of the many who call themselves ‘Christians’ and how they react there is a rather stunning comparison.
Unlike other animals, sheep rarely find their own way safely…since sheep easily go astray they require constant guidance and constant care…their safety lies in the shepherd’s leadership [Psalm 23:1-2].
Sheep are also notorious creatures of habit…if left to themselves they will follow the same trail until it becomes a rut…they will graze the same field until it’s barren of any grass all the while polluting the pastures until they are corrupt with disease and parasites…consequently, shepherds must constantly lead them to fresh pastures.
That’s why it’s important that we ask ourselves…what are the voices you’re listening to? …who is speaking to you? …are they leading you to Christ, or are they leading you away from Him? …are you able to discern between the voices to determine what is good and acceptable…as opposed to what are flat out lies?
Some believe it’s acceptable to treat religion like a buffet table…like sheep mixing together at night people mix and match religions to have it their way… believing it’s a Godly thing to listen to and follow other religions, while still maintaining they’re ‘a Christian’.
People today are just like sheep…hence the analogy…so then how are sheep to know their shepherd? How can the sheep know that they are not following a wolf before it’s too late?
A stranger they simply will not follow but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers. [5]
People today hear a religious-sounding voice and are led away from the truth by false religious leaders who are not speaking the truth, instead of listening to the one true Shepherd who speaks the truth.
This is the figurative meaning in John 10…notice how often Jesus emphasizes the importance of the shepherd’s voice in this short section:
The sheep hear his voice [3];
The sheep follow him, for they know his voice [4];
They do not know the voice of strangers [5].
When the true and faithful shepherd speaks, his sheep will hear and immediately follow!
Jesus came to gather into one flock the scattered children of God…in his narrative John uses a wider principle than does Matthew, Mark and Luke in their parable… the three synoptic gospels emphasize the careful concern that the shepherd feels for them, but John emphasizes the sovereignty of Christ as the Shepherd…He is the Ruler and Owner of all His sheep.
In this parable are several important details that need to be looked at…First of all for the 3rd time Jesus uses the I AM statement…confirms His identity as God.
In the ‘I AM’ statements Jesus declares Himself to be God…He contrasts himself with the Pharisees who were acting as a door to prevent people from coming in… Jesus says you guys are all wrong and introduces the third I AM statement;
- John 10:7 I am the door of the sheep.
By referring to Himself as the ‘door’ …Jesus is laying down the fundamental truth of salvation…He is the only way of entrance into eternal life with God…Period.
Salvation and eternal life with God are completely, uniquely dependent on Jesus…it is only through His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins and His resurrection to life eternal that we are able to enter into His presence.
Jesus makes a distinction as the true shepherd as opposed to the false teachers that included many of the Pharisees…I didn’t sneak over the fence like the thieves and robbers that the sheep pen keeps out.
I came in by fulfilling the prophesies of the Old Testament…I came in under the law [Gal.4:4] …I came in the line of David according to the prophesy [Luke 1:32] …I was born in Bethlehem according to prophesy [Micah 5:2].
He was the Messiah…no one else could have had the credentials that He had… anyone else would have been a thief and a robber… they would not have had the credentials of the Messiah and would have had to climb over the fence.
Second thing Jesus says is:
whoever enters through me will be saved [9]
In the pluralistic society we find ourselves in it has no problem with God as long as there are many ways of accessing Him…people are intimidated and frustrated by the idea that Jesus is the only way to the Father.
In Jesus’s fourth ‘I AM’ statement He more than clarifies without any hesitation the exclusive nature of salvation:
- John 10:9 whoever enters through me will be saved
In making this statement He’s going back to His encounter with the Pharisees over the healing of the blind man in Ch. 9.
The Pharisees at the end of chapter 9 declared that the blind man was born in sin…that’s why he’s blind…they believed his blindness was proof that he was a sinner and that he couldn’t possibly come to God…being filled with scorn for him, they threw him out of the synagogue.
Notice Jesus’ condemnation of the Pharisees… ‘all who came before Me are thieves and robbers [8] …as opposed to the apostles who were sent under the authority of Jesus.
The Pharisees were trying to decide who could have access to God …even Jesus’ own disciples were in danger of deciding who could be saved when they asked Jesus who was responsible for the man’s blindness. Was it his sin or his parents?
In Jesus’ comment as the door…He is revealing that He’s the One who’s going to allow him to come to God…whoever enters through me will be saved [9].
Jesus is the Shepherd who enters into the fold calling his sheep by name…and as such He is the one and only door or means by which a person can be saved and enter into fellowship with God.
Jesus then makes a contrast between Himself and the false religious leaders…but more specifically against Satan…and the purpose each one is proposing:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy [10]
John is saying that the religious leaders, or more specifically Satan, is literally killing and destroying us by stealing our most precious commodities…what are they and how is he doing it?
One is time spent in prayer and meditation…Satan does this by keeping us too busy with work…or by prompting others to constantly seek worldly pleasures thus denying us the right balance between work and rest. One of Satan’s worst enemies is a man on his knees.
He steals time away from our families with the countless gimmicks and gadgets in our homes demanding our attention and keeping us distracted from time bonding with our families.
He steals our time through recreation and sports…those we play or our kids play… it’s all time away from spending time in prayer…he can steal our ambitions, goals and aspirations to seek all that is good and leave us in a state of depression, despair, gloom and doom.
As a destroyer he destroys loving and caring relationships among individuals, families, communities and countries by breeding competition, greed, selfishness and strife…which all lead to evil thoughts and acts of revenge, murder and suicide.
He takes pleasure in dividing and blinding us from knowing the real purpose of why we are born and stealing our potential as created beings in the image of God.
He has ended countless lives through abortion, drug abuse and disease…the result has left a multitude of suffering, torment, misery, wars and death.
These are but a few of the acts that Satan instigates…could go on to mention hatred, anger, fear, envy, adultery, fornication, idolatry and a host of other deceitful works Satan uses to entice us to sin…so he truly does come “to steal, kill, and to destroy.”
Jesus contrasts with the reason he came;
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly
If you heard me preach for any length of time at all you’ve heard my explanation of what the abundant life is NOT…it’s NOT about what we have…it’s NOT about what we get…it’s NOT about what we claim…the abundant life does not consist in an abundance of material things.
The abundant life means something more meaningful than material wealth and prosperity [Col. 3:2 / Matt. 6:25-32]
…it begins with salvation [Rom. 6:23]
…it’s the result of having been made new [2 Cor. 5:17]
…it’s living eternally with Jesus [John 17:3]
…it means growing into a life full of the fruit of the Spirit [Gal. 5]
…it’s receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit [John 3:5]
Ultimately the abundant life is not in what we have received, but in what we have given…when we have shared the blessings of God (mercy, peace, love, grace, wisdom) and have shared that with others that’s when we truly have abundant life.
False teachers and false religion offer only shallow…temporary relief…only Jesus brings truly everlasting life and spiritual abundance.
Jesus has made two analogies about His ministry using a topic familiar to His listeners…the first idea is that sheep instinctively listen only to the voice of their particular shepherd and no other.
Secondly…as ‘the door’ He is the single narrow opening in the sheep pen that allows the sheep to enter…this means He is the sole means by which we are able to come into His presence…all others are like thieves and robbers who are trying to enter without using that door.
Then Jesus makes a statement that would have certainly led to a riot if understood correctly…not even the disciples understood what Jesus was about to say…for the first time Jesus is revealing a revelation that has been keep secret to the Jews for thousands of years…BUT…in reality a secret that was revealed thousands of years earlier to Abraham…they just missed it.
I have sheep which are not of this fold; I must bring them also [16]
Jesus is referring to believers who are Gentiles…something unimaginable to the Jews.
First, He claims to be God with the ‘I AM’ statement when referring to Himself as the door…now He’s suggesting that Gentiles are also welcomed into the fold as well…that there will be one flock…that Jews and the Gentiles will become one church.
As Christians we are part of the fold…and here’s what’s really exciting about being part of Jesus’s flock…the magnitude of this verse gets overlooked far too frequently:
and the sheep hear his voice and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out [3].
All of Jesus’ references to sheep are personal:
His own sheep [4],
My sheep [14],
I have other sheep [16].
And He calls then by name…one day Jesus WILL call His own out of the world… that might be at the Rapture or at the resurrection…but regardless whether I’m in this body…or at the resurrection I believe that—he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out—is referring to the promise that He will call every believer by name and lead them to heaven.
I think I will hear Him personally call me by name…how wonderful to know that Jesus knows my name…that He knows me personally and He’ll call me at that time.
Here’s the promise for every person who has ever lived and has professed Jesus as Lord…if you are one of his sheep you will hear your name on the last day when He shouts.
This is a twofold calling…hearing the voice of God is actually hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit in our hearts…without His active participation in our lives the voice of God would be silent in our hearts.
There are many voices floating around in our heads [Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 John 2:15-17] and it’s important as Christians that we are aware of those other voices that can be harmful…first of all there’s the real thing:
- God’s voice — the real thing.
- The World — voices of others, peer pressure, worldly standards of success.
- The Flesh — our own desires and thoughts, many of which are selfish.
- The Devil — demonic temptation and misdirection from Satan and his forces.
- Our Conscience – the moral sense of right and wrong obtained from our upbringing.
Here’s the problem with our conscience…our conscience can be educated by the Word of God as we seek God’s direction in our lives…but…our conscience can also be strongly influenced by the culture we grow up in.
As a result, sometimes we can be hindered by a skewed sense of justice…or…of what is right and wrong which results in a suppression to certain sins when we intentionally suppress the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin in our lives.
But there’s another who is just as important as the ‘door’, that’s the ‘doorkeeper’
The doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice [3].
It has been suggested that the doorkeeper is the Holy Spirit…the doorkeeper refers to the Holy Spirit opening the door to the heart.
He is the One bringing the Jews the realization that Jesus is the Messiah…and for those Jews who believed…it was The Holy Spirit who was opening the eyes and ears of His sheep to hear His voice and bring them out of Judaism.
Without the opening of our spiritual eyes and ears we walk in carnal blindness unable to comprehend the good news of the Gospel and what it means for our eternal salvation.
having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you…” [Ephesians 1:16-18]
I see two main points of Jesus sharing the figure of speech using sheep and shepherds. In the parable Jesus shows the difference between Himself and all those who claim to be religious leaders.
Firstly, He is the only door…the only life…and the only truth that brings people into the flock of God. There is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved [Acts 4:12].
Secondly, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who truly knows his sheep…Jesus’ use of the word ‘good’ in this parable implies that
…as the Good Shepherd He manifests all the characteristics of perfect goodness
…as the Good Shepherd He died for sinners who like sheep have all gone astray
…as the Good Shepherd He didn’t come just to save Israel alone
…as the Good Shepherd His call is to anyone who would listen to his voice
…as the Good Shepherd He knows us by name
…as the Good Shepherd He guides us through life
Isaiah the Prophet described all of us perfectly: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—everyone—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
God’s point is that we are His sheep, but we are helpless without Him…we can do nothing without Christ [John 15:5] …Jesus knew the nature of people without a shepherd, just as a he knew what happens when you neglect sheep or leave them to themselves.
When Jesus “saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt 9:36), and we are helpless too…without Jesus, our Good Shepherd.