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.
Verse 1
He that entereth not by the door; that is, by Christ. (John 10:7.) The condemnation is applied to those religious teachers, who, like the Pharisees, are destitute of the spirit of Christ, and teach salvation otherwise than through him. Climbing up some other way, refers to spiritual characteristics, not to a want of compliance with the forms of organization and office; for the Pharisees were punctilious, in the extreme, in respect to the latter.
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.
Verse 3
The porter; the person employed to keep the door of the fold.
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.
Verse 8
All that ever came before me, &c. It is plain, from the connection, that Jesus is speaking of the Pharisees and leading Jews; but how this very general expression can be grammatically limited to them in its application does not appear.
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.
Verse 9
Pasture; food, spiritual support.
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.
Verse 12
Hireling; that is, a man employed for wages, and influenced chiefly by his expected reward.
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.
Verse 16
Of this fold; the Jewish nation.
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.
Verse 18
This commandment; this power.
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?
22.
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
Verse 22
The feast of the dedication. This feast commemorated the renovation and purifying of the temple, after it had been desolated and polluted by foreign armies.
23.
And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
Verse 23
Solomon's porch; an extensive piazza, or covered walk, on the eastern side of the temple.
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.
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?
Verse 34
Psalms 82:6.
35.
If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Verse 35
Them unto whom the word of God came; that is, the commission of God; meaning those commissioned by him to execute his will.--Cannot be broken; cannot be pronounced wrong.
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?
Verse 36
Sanctified; consecrated to the work, viz., of redemption. In the reply of our Savior contained in this and in the John 10:34,John 10:35, we observe that he neither affirms nor denies the charge advanced against him by the Pharisees, (John 10:33,) of making himself divine. He shows that his language is to be justified, on any supposition which may be made in regard to his character.
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,
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.