OUTLINE: [3 A The Book of the Seven Signs (2:1 - 12:50)] [2 B Selected highlights from the later part of Jesus' public ministry: conflict and controversy (5:1 -10:42)] 7 C Jesus as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep (10:1-21) 8 C Jesus at … 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched —this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. By contrast, the shepherd enters the sheepfold openly, by means of the gate (10:2). 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep . …after Antiochus IV Epiphanes had desecrated it by decreeing pagan sacrifices there (1 Macc. Smith wondered how the shepherds would separate them once again into their individual flocks. No one comes to the Father, except through me” (14:6). Each produces fruits both good and evil—i.e., technology makes it easier both to save lives and to kill—education makes us smarter but cannot insure that we will not turn our knowledge to evil ends. “Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (v. 4). John 10 8 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives . * Figure of speech: John uses a different word for illustrative speech than the “parable” of the synoptics, but the idea is similar. Though chapter divisions might obscure the fact, there is no break after Jesus’ comments to the Pharisees in 9:41. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. Question: "What does it mean that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy in John 10:10?" While this verse is not included in the Gospel lesson, it helps us to identify time and place. He is the shepherd who enters by the gate which the gatekeeper opens for him (v. 2-6), and he is the gate (or door) by which the sheep enter into salvation and go out to find pasture (v. 7-9). John 10:1 • John 10:1 NIV • John 10:1 NLT • John 10:1 ESV • John 10:1 NASB • John 10:1 KJV • John 10:1 Commentaries • John 10:1 Bible Apps • John 10:1 Biblia Paralela • John 10:1 Chinese Bible • John 10:1 French Bible • John 10:1 German Bible Interlinear Bible Bible Hub "John's Gospel always addresses readers in the plural. Jeremiah 23:1-4 has much the same emphasis. For the blind man, salvation is not only receiving his physical sight but also spiritual sight, recognizing who Jesus is, believing in him, and becoming part of his community. If the thieves and robbers are Pharisees, are there also other thieves and robbers? Change Language {{#items}} {{local_title}} The son not only refused to agree that Jesus was a sinner, but also challenged the Pharisees with provocative answers. When this Gospel was written, late in the first century, the church was struggling with antichrists (1 John 2:18-22) and false prophets (1 John 4:1-6). This verse suggests otherwise. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice” (vv. “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. Acts 20:29-35 warns of savage wolves who will not spare the flock. This message often leads to much wealth for the preacher, but deception and despair for those who follow and find that life is still full of struggle. In verses 1-5 Jesus identifies himself as the true shepherd. Rather than change tactics, Jesus “doubles down” on this figure of speech, saying to them, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep” (10:7). “Most certainly, I tell you, I am (ego eimi) the sheep’s door” (thura—gate or door) (v. 7). There are also “wolves in sheep’s (or shepherd’s) clothing” — for example, preachers who proclaim the abundant life that Jesus offers as a life of continual health, wealth, and success. “and leads them out” (v. 3c). Indeed, Jesus says in verse 16, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. Once the sheep have recognized the shepherd’s call and have separated themselves from the other flocks and gathered around the shepherd, the shepherd leads them out of the sheepfold to pasture and water. That is the purpose of the sheepfold—a safe haven in a dangerous world. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” Rather, the purpose of the gate is to guard against all that threatens the well-being of the sheep — thieves, bandits, and wolves. John 10:1, NLT: "'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!" The disciples? While many Christians reject any hint of exclusivism, others find motivation for evangelism in verses such as this. Every preacher is tempted to pack the pews by telling people what they want to hear instead of proclaiming truth from the Bible. John 10:1–10 I Am the Good Shepherd 10 “ Truly , truly , I say to you , he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way , that man is a thief and a robber . James White (This information sheet is divided into two sections – the first explores the meaning of John 1:1, and the second addresses the more technical subject of the correct translation of the verse. Jesus changes the metaphor. The church suffers from televangelists who promise wealth for the sheep but reap wealth for themselves. During the day the gate is opened so that the sheep can go out, following their shepherd, to find pasture. These texts were meant to be read aloud in group worship." On many occasions the Lord Jesus used the phrase: I Am, as a bold proclamation of His deity and equality with God the Father. His days of isolation are over; he now knows himself to be a valued member of Jesus’ flock, cared for and protected. John definition is - toilet. The whole of John’s Gospel is focused on this gift of life: “Life” or “eternal life” in John’s Gospel is not just about life after death. “I am” (ego eimi—God’s name—see Exodus 3:14-15) the thura (door or gate—the latter translation better fits a sheepfold, which typically has either a hinged gate or simply an opening). The sheep know their shepherd’s voice and follow him willingly, but will not follow a stranger whose voice they do not recognize. Jesus warns of false prophets (Matt 7:15-23). 7Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am (Greek: ego eimi) the sheep’s door. 2 (Edinburgh: The Saint Andrew Press, 1955), Beasley-Murray, George R., Word Biblical Commentary: John (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), Bergent, Dianne and Fragomeni, Richard, Preaching the New Lectionary, Year A (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2001), Borchet, Gerald L., New American Commentary: John, Vol. All of these except for the wolves are introduced in the first ten verses, and all of the elements of this extended metaphor contribute to understanding who Jesus is, and who we are in relation to him. Quite apart from issues of world religions, we are tempted to seek salvation from psychiatry, free enterprise, education, or science and technology. Do we recognize the voice of the good shepherd over all the other voices promising abundance? She replied, “Well, there’s Billy and Harry and Martha and…”. This description is what 10:1-10 offer. Version. Acts, as the New Testament’s only book of ancient historiography, records Luke’s retelling of the earliest days of the church. John 10:10- The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. As Karoline Lewis rightfully emphasized, this discourse of Jesus follows directly after his healing of the man blind from birth in John 9. Commentary on John 10:1-10. This morning’s Gospel reading is John 10:1–10: Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. That does not necessarily mean health or wealth. 10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. In John 10 the porter opens the door to give the Shepherd access to the sheep, whereas in John 18 the door is opened that a … Learn more. Coming or going, Jesus’ sheep are safe and well fed. Admittedly, the image of Jesus as shepherd makes for a far more natural comparison than comparing Jesus to a gate. This sort of uncaring action is characteristic, not of a shepherd, but of a thief or a bandit who cares nothing for the sheep. Our text in John chapter 10 is best introduced by this Old Testament text in Ezekiel chapter 34: 1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! “If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved” (v. 9b). The word perisson (abound) has to do with the kind of abundance that goes far beyond one’s needs. The irony is that the religious leaders, who think that they understand everything, fail to see the significance of these signs. John 10:10 NIV. No one comes to the Father except by me.” Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd who gives His life willingly for His sheep (John 10:11), but He is the also the “gate” or “door” of the sheep (John 10:9). How can I be more like Jesus? The shepherd discourse, then, interprets the sign that he has enacted in restoring sight to the blind man.1. John 1:10, NLT: "He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him." The shepherd makes his bed in the opening—blocks the opening with his body—protects the sheep with his life. John 10 is the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.The book containing this chapter is anonymous, but early Christian tradition uniformly affirmed that John composed this Gospel. G. A. Smith tells of watching shepherds in Judea. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? In this context, it means a proverb, parable, or wise saying. Jesus uses two metaphors for himself in this passage. Jesus used a setting that the people would recognize. Many of us can only hear the first line of the Psalm in the King James Version (KJV): “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.1. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. “but they didn’t understand what he was telling them” (v. 6b). ‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. A friend of mine dishonored himself and injured his congregation by engaging in an illicit sexual relationship. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have, “I am the resurrection and the Those who believe in me, even though they die, will, “But these are written so that you may believe… and that through believing you may have. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens . While inside the sheepfold, the sheep have the protection of its walls. Jesus begins by describing who he is not. In this Gospel, Jesus speaks positively of Moses (5:45-46) and Abraham (8:56) and negatively of Jewish religious leaders (5:39-40, 47). Bruce sees the gate metaphor as a short parable inserted into the longer shepherd parable (Bruce, 225). Verses 11-18, which go beyond this Gospel lesson, emphasize the Christological nature of this passage and the inappropriateness of applying its imagery to anyone but Christ. The context and meaning are different, but the effusive language is the same. Excommunication isolated a person, not only religiously, but in every way. ), The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sunday’s Text. We sometimes refer to ordained clergy as pastors or shepherds. The answer came when it was time for a shepherd to move on. John 10:1-10 Jesus, the Good Shepherd A mother was once asked by a census-taker how many children she had. All the people came to him , and c he sat down and taught them . NIV: New International Version . Admittedly, the image of Jesus as shepherd makes for a far more natural comparison than comparing Jesus to a gate. Jesus says that thieves and bandits enter the sheepfold by another way (v. 1). It is true that without a shepherd, they will not necessarily be able to find food or water, and that they will easily get lost and not be able to find their way home. john definition: 1. a toilet: 2. a man who is the customer of a prostitute (= a woman who charges men to have sex…. “His own” reflects the personal nature of the relationship between shepherd and sheep. 2-3a). Amen expresses strong affirmation of that which is being said. He is the door to the sheepfold (Barclay, 67). We see something similar with babies who readily accept their mother or father but reject being held by strangers. These two images are part of a richly layered, extended metaphor that speaks of sheep, shepherd, gate, gatekeeper, strangers, thieves, bandits, and wolves. Those who climb into the sheepfold in a furtive way are thieves and bandits who do not care about the sheep but only about their own gain (10:1). John 10:1, CSB: ""Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn't enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber." “He calls his own sheep by name” (v. 3b). They believed that something of the person’s identity was tied up in the name––that the name expressed something of the person’s essential character. It is knowing the voice of the good shepherd who truly cares for us. 10The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. The two parts of the passage occur because no one seems to understand Jesus’ first “figure of speech” (verse 6). “I am the way, the truth, and the life. “I am the door” (he thura—the gate or door) (v. 9a). The focus of this portion of John 10, however, is on Jesus as the door or gate of the sheepfold. “At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem” (10:22). The gatekeeper recognizes the shepherd and opens the gate for him. Some believe that the events and dialog of chapter 9 and the discourse of chapter 10 took place at very different times. Sheep in the fold eat hay—last year’s crop—dry and tasteless. Jesus is both the gate and the shepherd at the same time; he guards and protects his sheep from danger, and he provides for their nourishment, for their life in abundance. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. Paroimia combines two words, para–by) and (oimos–a way or highway). Finding food is the purpose of leaving the fold. “But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. All these are “thieves and robbers” who “steal, kill, and destroy”—who steal that which does not belong to them—who kill the trust of those who believed them—who destroy faith. The focus of this portion of John 10, however, is on Jesus as the door or gate of the sheepfold. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. In the Beginning Was the Word (John 1:1-18) I Have Called You Friends (John 1:35-51, John 15:15) Water Into Wine at the Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11) Jesus Teaches Nicodemus (John 3:1-21) Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at the Well (John 4) Jesus Heals on the Sabbath (John 5) Jesus the Bread of Life (John 6) Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind (John 9) Instead, they expel the healed blind man from their community, refusing to believe that Jesus and his healing work come from God. It is popular today to believe that there are many equally valid doors that lead to God. 9I am the door. The shepherd would use a distinctive call to call his sheep, and they would recognize his call and gather around him. If we want to experience life at its fullest, we will ask, WWJD?— “What would Jesus do?” What would Jesus have me to do? We who are entrusted with Word and Sacrament need always to remember that the devil, whom Jesus calls a murderer (8:44), works especially hard to bring us down. In this Gospel, Jesus will use “I am” to identify himself as “the bread of life” (6:35)—“the living bread” (6:51)—“the light of the world” (8:12; 9:5)—“the son of God” (10:36)—“the resurrection and the life” (11:25)—“the way, the truth, and the life” (14:6)—and the “true vine” (15:1). It is life that begins here and now; it is knowing the one true God and Jesus Christ whom God has sent. The thieves and bandits are “all who came before me” (v. 8), and the thief who “comes to steal, kill, and destroy” (v. 10). Jesus doesn’t say that he is A door, but that he is THE door. “The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy” (v. 10a). These metaphors are confusing if we treat them as allegory and try to assign precise meanings. Surely not the great historical figures of the faith! This is "Good Shepherd" Sunday. “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” (v. 1b). 1. It goes without saying that there are many thieves and bandits in our world who seek to steal and kill and destroy. God can admit to his kingdom anyone whom he chooses, but Jesus’ disciples have the responsibility for proclaiming that Jesus is THE door, THE way, truth, and life. AN OVERVIEW. In that culture, people considered a person’s name to be more than a simple label to identify that person. As we bring our lives into compliance with Jesus’ will, he blesses us with abundant life. 2But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The function of the gate is to keep the sheep together in the sheepfold during the night, safe from thieves and predators. ), which the WEB has updated. The Pharisees of 9:41 are one example of thieves and bandits, but there is no lack of others. They follow their shepherd, but will not follow a stranger whose voice they do not know. A resource for the whole church from Luther Seminary. They are more concerned about guarding their power and authority than about the well-being of the people. It means abundance, which has more to do with what is in our hearts than with what is in our hands. Morris notes that the author of this Gospel always has “amen, amen” linking a prior story with Jesus’ teaching. Much has been written about how sheep are rather unintelligent animals. How to use john in a sentence. It protects sheep from thieves and predators and saves them from their own foolishness. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. To find succulent green pasture and cool running water, they must leave the sheepfold. The Old Testament includes a number of references to God as shepherd and the people as flock (Psalm 23:1; 77:20; 79:13; 80:1; 95:7; 100:3; Isaiah 40:11). The Third Readings: The Gospels (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001), Madsen, George H. O., Lectionary Bible Studies: The Year of Matthew, Lent-Easter, Study Book (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977), Moloney, Francis J., Sacra Pagina: The Gospel of John (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 1998), Marty, Peter W., “The Door to Abundant Life,” The Christian Century, April 17, 1996, Morris, Leon, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Gospel According to John (Revised) (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995), Myers, Allen C., The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1987), O’Day, Gail R., The New Interpreter’s Bible, Volume IX (Nashville: Abingdon, 1995), Sloyan, Gerald, “John,” Interpretation (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1988), Smith, D. Moody, Jr., Abingdon New Testament Commentaries: John (Nashville: Abingdon, 1999), Snow, John H. and Furnish, Victor P., Proclamation: Easter Series A (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1974), Vawter, Bruce, and Carl, William J. III, Proclamation 2: Easter, Series A (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981), Copyright 2007, 2010, 2014, Richard Niell Donovan. The prior story in this case is that of the man born blind (9:1-41), so the good shepherd teaching grows out of that story where the Pharisees were anything but good shepherds (Morris, 446). We must be always on guard against temptation lest we find ourselves numbered among the thieves and bandits. Being held by strangers identify time and place divisions might obscure the fact, ’! Hard to miss always has “ amen, amen ” linking a story! 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