PARABLE 21 — JOHN 10:1-18 — SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK
18 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.
“Surely, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.” Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.
Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the door to the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and find pasture. The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. But he who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and I’m known by my own; even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. There shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.” (paraphrased by me)
Discussion Questions – Parable 21
PARABLE 21 — JOHN 10:1-18 — SHEPHERD AND HIS FLOCK
1. What kind of relationship do sheep have with their shepherd? (10:2-4)
Have you ever seen a herd of sheep gathered together closely in the field? When the shepherd comes near them, they are happy. They stand around with him, and when he calls, they follow him closely. Sheep are very nervous. When a stranger comes near them, they start to move away as a whole group.
There is a very close relationship between the sheep and the shepherd. The shepherd knows his sheep and calls his own sheep by name. They follow at the sound of his voice. Sheep will not follow a stranger.
Verses 1-5 reflect common practices and understanding of shepherding in Palestine at that time. When not out in the open the sheep were kept in an enclosure made of stone walls. The size varied considerably. But all had an entrance where the shepherd took the sheep in and out. Obviously anyone who entered the pen by climbing over the wall rather than by the entrance was up to no good.
The sheep learned their shepherd’s voice. In the summer the sheep were taken into rural areas to graze far away from home. There several flocks would be bedded down at night in a large fold built with stone walls. In the morning each shepherd called for his sheep and the flocks separated from each other simply by recognition of and response to the voice of their own shepherd. Instead of driving them, he led them, and they followed him as one unit. The shepherd always went before them to guide them to the most beneficial pasture and to protect them from danger.
2. To whom did Jesus say the sheep would not listen? (10:5, 10:8) Who did Jesus say was the thief? (10:1) Who does the stranger or thief represent today?
Verse 8 interprets Jesus as the gate by which the shepherd comes to the sheep. The thieves and robbers did not come through Jesus, the door, to get at the sheep. The fact that they used other means proves that they are imposters. If Jesus is the door by which the authentic shepherd comes to the sheep then Jesus is not the shepherd at this point, but God is. Verses 7-8 seem to be saying that Jesus is the door by which God comes to shepherd us. This view assumes the background of Ezekiel 34 where God is the shepherd of Israel. This is a beautiful picture of the Incarnation. It is God who comes to care for us through Jesus.
The door metaphor is then turned around in verses 9-10. Here Jesus is the door by which the sheep go out to find pasture, salvation, and life. There is no other way by which the sheep can find these benefits. If they do not come through Christ, they will not find life and salvation.
Who is the thief? The thief is Satan. The bible says, “our enemy, the devil, walks about, as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8
Jesus is accusing those Jewish religious leaders of being false shepherds. They are the thieves and robbers mentioned in verse 1. He is the shepherd whose voice the sheep follow. They are the strangers—the rustlers who care nothing for the sheep but only for the profit they can make for themselves from the sheep.
Why did they not understand it? Simply because of their own hard heartedness. They refuse to allow the parable to expose their own sinfulness and need of God.
Who are the imposters today, who do not enter in at the True Gate? False prophets. These are people (whether pastors, prophets, or members who want others to follow them instead of following Christ). The wage may not be money, it may be personal prestige, or power.
Matt. 7:15 – “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
Acts 20:29-30 – “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”
“Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:11
How can you know who is a false prophet or teacher? See on blog - False Teachers
3. In this parable, Jesus describes himself as both the gate (10:7) and the shepherd (10:11, 10:14). How is that?
Jesus is proclaiming that not only is he "the door" to the sheep (the way for them to go from Earth to Heaven), but that he is also the Good Shepherd (the one who leads them through).
Here Jesus is the door by which the sheep go out to find pasture, salvation, and life. There is no other way by which the sheep can find these benefits. If they do not come through Christ, they will not find life and salvation. If they follow the thief they will find death and destruction. This is another beautiful picture of Jesus. It clearly teaches that he is the only way for salvation. Verse 10 concludes this section with a statement of Jesus’ purpose. I came in order that they might have life and that they might have it in abundance.
In the book of John, John has already described Jesus as the source of living water (John 4:10, 11; 7:38) and as the bread of life (John 6:33, 35, 48, 51). Now, within the metaphor of sheep, Jesus provides the pasture of life. And that pasture is abundant; it provides all that is needed and fully satisfies. Jesus is the only way by which salvation and life can be obtained. The life that he provides is totally sufficient and satisfying.
4. What does a hired hand do for the sheep? (10:12) What was Jesus willing to do for his sheep? (10:11, 10:15, 10:17)
The contrast between the genuine shepherd and the imposter appears in terms of response to impending danger. The imposter flees before the wolf; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
The imposter in verses 12-13 is the hireling as opposed to the thief of the preceding verses. The hireling is not attempting to harm or steal the sheep. In fact, the hireling's motive is good. He is a protector, one who cares for the sheep. However, the point of mentioning the hireling is to show the contrasting levels of commitment. When push comes to shove, the hireling is more interested in protecting himself than the sheep. In contrast, the good shepherd, Jesus, has no concern above caring for and protecting the sheep.
When Jesus says he will give his life for the sheep, he is talking about paying for their sins with his death, so that they can receive Salvation.
5. How are we like sheep? What tempts people to follow a stranger (or thief)? Why?
Ezekiel 34:21, “And you my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.”
Acts 20:28-29, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with His own blood.”
1 Peter 5:2-3, “Feed the flock of God which is among you… being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that will not fade away.”
Luke 12:32, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Sheep are not created to act separately from others, or of their own will. They cannot survive running their own lives by themselves. Most people like sheep need someone to lead them. Neither can the church nor individual believers. Genuine faith or trust in Christ only exists as we are confident that the Shepherd is more concerned for us than for his own welfare. Verses 9-10 suggest that his care includes salvation, nurture, and abundant life. These benefits are not just one-time, past benefits of the death of Christ, but the ongoing, present blessings and concern of the risen Lord. Verses 11-13 speak both of Jesus' character as the Good Shepherd and of the care that the church receives as His flock.
One reason people are led astray by a stranger, or thief, the devil, is because they do not know God. They do not know His voice. You can identify false teachers and false prophets by their teachings. If there is an uneasy feeling that it doesn’t square up with Scripture, then study the Word to see if it either lines up with biblical doctrine or if it doesn’t (2 Timothy 2:15-16). The best way to keep from being deceived by false teachers and prophets is to be a good Bible student yourself. If you know the Scriptures well enough, you will be prepared to know what is error and what is not. Reading the Bible daily is clearly one of the best methods for keeping one’s self from believing false teachings or a false gospel…which is not really another gospel but is a gospel from the Devil. And we are warned to not even entertain them in our house or in our minds.
If anyone teaches anything other than the Word of God, it is false teaching. Those who have the Holy Spirit in them will hear God's Words (John 8:47). They will consent to wholesome words. Those who do not know God, will not consent (John 8:47).
6. In what ways has Jesus been your shepherd? How can we better hear his voice?
My own personal experience: I went astray, and when I tried to come back home, I could not find my way. Jesus clearly came and found me! How merciful he was to me! The next two sermons I heard (from two different churches) were about Jesus leaving the ninety-nine to find the one. God was confirming that he came looking for me!
We can better hear His voice by communion with Him through prayer, and through the studying of his Word. Prayer is how we talk to God; His Word is how He talks to us.
The flock of Christ
· Redeemed
· Restored
· United
· Recognized by Christ
· Knowing Christ
· Recognize the voice of Christ
· Obey the commands of Christ
· Imitate the example of Christ
Application of the parable
· How interesting and delightful the character of Christ as a shepherd
· How lovely and beautiful the character of his flock
o Called
o Justified
o Sanctified
· Are you his sheep?
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