John 10:1-6 – “Truly, truly I say to you, the one 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. 2 But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus told them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what the things which He was saying to them meant.
“Truly, truly I say to you, the one 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.” We know that Jesus is our Shepherd. God spoke to the people using the example of shepherds because the people would understand. When the shepherd and sheep were out in the open the shepherds would use brush to surround the sheep to keep them for straying. However when they were in town they would put them in a common sheepfold that was built with stones. Multiple shepherds might use the sheepfold at the same time. The Israelites were aware of thieves and robbers who wanted to enter into the sheepfold to steal sheep. The was usually assisted by an accomplice. The thief would climb over the wall of the sheepfold. Once the thief was inside, he would kill a few sheep and throw the dead bodies over the wall to his partner. Those who came into the fold by jumping the fence did so for one reason, to steal, kill and destroy the sheep. They did not love the sheep, these thieves came to benefit only themselves. (V10)
“But the one who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” The legitimate shepherd comes in through the door. The doorkeeper (guardian of the gate) recognizes the true shepherd and opens the door for Him. Then the Shepherd called out to the sheep, who recognized his voice and followed him out. Some shepherds said their sheep even recognized the name the shepherd had given them and responded to their names. (Revelation 2:17) A shepherd’s sheep know his voice and follow him.
“When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” Note that the shepherds at the time that Jesus lived did not drive their sheep but led them and the sheep trusted and followed them. In the western world the sheep are driven, and often by sheepdogs. Our shepherd goes before us and leads us in the path He has already gone. He knows where he leads us and knows how to keep us safe on that path. Praise our good Shepherd!
“However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Really, people of the world will follow the one they have chosen. If the world and the enemy of God, then they will follow where he leads them. But those who love and serve the Lord will follow Him and be safe with Him for all eternity. All who love Jesus know and are led by Him.
“Jesus told them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what the things which He was saying to them meant.” The Jews who rejected Him never did understand what Jesus was teaching, but the humble heard Him and followed Him. The Jewish authorities were the same ruling families for generations. This parable was plain even to the fake shepherds of the Jews that Jesus was describing them as the bad players who only steal, kill and destroy the faith of those seeking God. But the ones who had a heart for God had a heart for Jesus. Today it is the same. Many reject Jesus and find the Bible flawed and foolish and there are many false leaders. But those who love and serve Him know that Jesus gave to all who would follow Him words of eternal life and security in it. And so we live eternally with Him. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will Hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, Oh man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.