| Text | Comments |
| .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. |
In the
previous chapter the would-be shepherds, – the Pharisees – had cast out
a healed man who had expressed faith in the Messiah jn0934.
1 -
Entereth
not by the door Jesus said He was the door v7. Also
jn1406.
Today Christians claim to accept that Jesus is the Word jn0101
– the channel of light from the Father jn0151,
yet many doubt any portion of the written Word which doesn't fit their
theory.
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| .7
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the
door of the sheep.
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. 7 - I am the door Only through Him may the sheep enter. 9 - Go in and out They have free access to the benefits of grace. 10 - Thief ... steal ... kill ... destroy This is the work of Satan. He has power to take spiritual life from those who follow him and physical life at times, too. |
 10 -
Life
Only God can give life or restore it jn0526.
The Greek word for life means spiritual or eternal life. This is life more
abundantly.
|
| .14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. | 14 - Know my sheep The good shepherd has a two-way, close relationship with His people. And in the next verse, He and the Father have this relationship. This priceless unity is expressed in jn1721ff and indirectly in re0321. Compare 1co0804. |
| 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. 15 - Life for sheep Would you accept death to save the life of an animal? It would be poor stewardship of what God has given you to do so. The human to animal relationship is similar to the divine to human one, but there's a difference. God chose to make us in His image ge0126. He made us to enjoy heaven 1co0209. The condescension of Christ is beyond our comprehension. Yet we may meditate on the great gift of God in Christ! |
 16
-
Other sheep Are the other folds other churches? Yes but
in a general sense. The "other sheep" may even be in non-Christian religions.
16 - Shall hear my voice Notice that the statement is future. In a sense, the process happens each time a person changes spiritual shepherds. How does the selection process work? They recognize the voice of the Master. Their hearts are drawn to the purity of truth and love. See re1804. 16 - One fold When will this be? When all who can be touched by the voice of the Shepherd have made their decision. This will be at the very end before the unmixed wrath of God is poured out re1315, re1409-12 and when Jesus comes with His rewards for wicked and righteous re2212. I believe that time is coming soon. And before that? All who die with pure hearts and clean hands would have answered the final call of the Shepherd and will be saved. More. |
| .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. |
18
- Lay it down of myself See jn1930.
18 - Power to take it again He has life in Himself jn0526. On the cross He died as a man in our place. Divinity does not die. This is beyond our understanding but a beautiful principle. He paid the full price for our redemption, yet kept His divinity which is our eternal strength. |
| .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? |
19 - Division As there had been before jn0916, jn0743. |
| .22
¶ And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was
winter.
.23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. 24 Then 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. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. .26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. .27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: .28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. .30 I and my Father are one. |
.28
- Eternal life ... pluck As we follow our Shepherd, we have
the assurance of eternal life. No man can snatch us out of His hand (next
verse). Magnificent promise! It seems that none of those who follow Christ
sincerely will ever be lost. But Judas was a member of the kingdom of heaven
and was later lost mr0410.
And those who finally reject Christ would be miserable in the pure atmosphere
of heaven. Why would He force them to go there?
Notice the verses at the left which are referenced here.
What then does the text mean? First, Jesus' sheep were secure from the Jews who were accusing Him. Even for us, no human may separate us from the love of Christ ro0838. Jesus, through the pen of John, warned those addressed to refuse to let anyone take their crowns re0311. That means they had crowns of life ja0112 but they could lose them. Also see he0604 (very clear statement) and the note for Luke 15 lu15n So, although, no one can force us away from Christ, we have not lost our choice to leave on our own. |
| .31
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? .33 The 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. .34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; 36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? 37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38 But 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. 39 ¶ Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, |
33
- Blasphemy ... makest thyself God They cast themselves into
the rebuke of Psalm 82 quoted in v35 ps08206.
35 - Scripture cannot be broken Many today set themselves in judgment of the inspired word. Jesus would not approve. 
Jordan River |
| .40
And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized;
and there he abode.
.41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. .42 And many believed on Him there. |
40
- Beyond the Jordan He stayed in Perea for some time mt1901.
See map.
41 - John at first baptized (John the Baptist) jn0128. This ministry opened the way for Jesus to work. 41 - John did no miracle They believed anyway. Jesus did some miracles mt1901f. |
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Not
being able to lose the saved status is a misunderstanding. The idea of
security in Christ, is good and true. I expect that many who officially
endorse this concept of salvation also realize that the promise depends
on staying saved. A danger in considering we are unconditionally
saved is that we will stop fighting the good fight of faith 1ti0612.
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No
person can pluck us from the Shepherd's hand: Explained for