John10
King James Version · Public Domain
1Verily, 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.
2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10The 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.
11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12But 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.
13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16And 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.
17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18No 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.
19There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
22And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
24Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
26But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
30I and my Father are one.
31Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
37If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
39Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
40And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
41And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
42And many believed on him there.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for John 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The parable of the good shepherd. (1–5). Christ the Door. (6–9). Christ the good Shepherd. (10–18). The Jews' opinion concerning Jesus. (19–21). His discourse at the feast of dedication. (22–30). The Jews attempt to stone Jesus. (31–38). He departs from Jerusalem. (39–42).
vv1-5
Here is a parable or similitude, taken from the customs of the East, in the management of sheep. Men, as creatures depending on their Creator, are called the sheep of his pasture. The church of God in the world is as a sheep-fold, exposed to deceivers and persecutors. The great Shepherd of the sheep knows all that are his, guards them by his providence, guides them by his Spirit and word, and goes before them, as the Eastern shepherds went before their sheep, to set them in the way of his steps. Ministers must serve the sheep in their spiritual concerns. The Spirit of Christ will set before them an open door. The sheep of Christ will observe their Shepherd, and be cautious and shy of strangers, who would draw them from faith in him to fancies about him.
vv6-9
Many who hear the word of Christ, do not understand it, because they will not. But we shall find one scripture expounding another, and the blessed Spirit making known the blessed Jesus. Christ is the Door. And what greater security has the church of God than that the Lord Jesus is between it and all its enemies? He is a door open for passage and communication. Here are plain directions how to come into the fold; we must come in by Jesus Christ as the Door. By faith in him as the great Mediator between God and man. Also, we have precious promises to those that observe this direction. Christ has all that care of his church, and every believer, which a good shepherd has of his flock; and he expects the church, and every believer, to wait on him, and to keep in his pasture.
vv10-18
Christ is a good Shepherd; many who were not thieves, yet were careless in their duty, and by their neglect the flock was much hurt. Bad principles are the root of bad practices. The Lord Jesus knows whom he has chosen, and is sure of them; they also know whom they have trusted, and are sure of Him. See here the grace of Christ; since none could demand his life of him, he laid it down of himself for our redemption. He offered himself to be the Saviour; Lo, I come. And the necessity of our case calling for it, he offered himself for the Sacrifice. He was both the offerer and the offering, so that his laying down his life was his offering up himself. From hence it is plain, that he died in the place and stead of men; to obtain their being set free from the punishment of sin, to obtain the pardon of their sin; and that his death should obtain that pardon. Our Lord laid not his life down for his doctrine, but for his sheep.
Key Words
ἀμήν (amḗn): properly, firm, i.e. (figuratively) trustworthy; adverbially, surely (often as interjection, so be it)
λέγω (légō): properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas G2036 (ἔπω) and G5346 (φημί) generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while G4483 (ῥέω) is properly to break silence merely, and G2980 (λαλέω) means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean
ὑμῖν (hymîn): to (with or by) you
μή (mḗ): (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas G3756 (οὐ) expects an affirmative one)) whether
εἰσέρχομαι (eisérchomai): to enter (literally or figuratively)
εἰς (eis): to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
πρόβατον (próbaton): something that walks forward (a quadruped), i.e. (specially), a sheep (literally or figuratively)
διά (diá): through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
ἀλλά (allá): properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
ἀναβαίνω (anabaínō): to go up (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
John 10Directly quoted by Jesus ('I said, Ye are gods') to defend His claim as Son of God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Messianic prophecy of the one Shepherd whom God would set up over His flock.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Prophecy of the Shepherd of the Lord (His Fellow) being smitten for the sheep.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Explains 'other sheep' as gathering together in one the children of God scattered abroad.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallels the Jews' reaction to Christ's claims of divine oneness, charging Him with blasphemy.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Old Testament background condemning false shepherds who feed themselves and scatter the flock.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Expounds the metaphor of 'the door' as Jesus being the exclusive way to the Father.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The classic Old Testament identification of Jehovah as the personal, caring Shepherd.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Prophetic portrait of the Messiah gently feeding, gathering, and leading His flock.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Apostolic designation of Jesus as 'that great Shepherd of the sheep' through His blood.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel on God's secure, mutual knowledge: 'The Lord knoweth them that are his.'
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Fulfillment of making 'one fold' by breaking down the middle wall of partition.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin, JFB
Refers back to the division among the Pharisees concerning Jesus' miracles.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Previous instance where the Jews took up stones to stone Jesus for claiming divinity.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Instruction to under-shepherds to feed the church of God, purchased with His blood.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Describes believers returning unto the 'Shepherd and Bishop' of their souls.
Supported by John Calvin
Locates the post-resurrection ministry of the apostles in the same 'Solomon's porch' location.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus prays for the keeping of His sheep, grounded in their oneness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Mosaic law commanding stoning as the legal penalty for blasphemy.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies the place 'beyond Jordan' where John originally baptized.
Supported by Matthew Poole