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.
Verily, verily. The fifteenth occurance. Connecting the sign with the signification. See note on John 1:51 .
entereth = entereth in. Note the Figure of speech Parechesis ( App-6 ), the Aramaic ( App-94 ) being: min tar ' s' letira'.
not. Greek. me. App-105 . As in verses: John 10:37 , John 10:38 . Not the same as in John 10:5 .
by = by means of. Greek dia. App-104 .John 10:1 .
into . Greek eis. App-104 .
the sheepfold = the fold (Greek. stele) of the sheep; the two symbols being used separately. See John 10:16 .
climbeth up = mounts up [over the fence].
some other way = from another quarter. The "from" is significant. Greek. allachothen. Only here, in N.T.
the same = that one. thief.
Who uses craft . Greek. kleptes. Always correctly so rendered. Compare App-164 .
robber . One who uses violence. Greek. lestes. As in John 10:8 ; John 18:40 ; 2 Corinthians 11:26 . Elsewhere wrongly rendered "thief", as in Matthew 21:13 ; Matthew 26:55 ; Matthew 27:38 , Matthew 27:44 .Mark 11:17 ; Mark 14:48 ; Mark 15:27 . Luke 10:30 , Luke 10:36 ; Luke 19:46 ; Luke 22:52 .
2.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
the = a: i.e. one of many.
3.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
porter = door-keeper. Greek. thuroros. Occurs only here; John 18:16 , John 18:17 . Mark 13:34 . Compare App-160 .
hear = hear [and understand]. Compare John 8:43 .
calleth . Greek. kaleo. But all the texts read phoneo, generally implying a personal address. Compare John 13:13 .
by name = according to (Greek. kata. App-104 .) their name.
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.
not = by no means, or in no wise. Greek. ou me. App-105 .
from = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 . not. Greek. ou. App-105 .
6.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
This parable . See note on "and we", &c. (John 1:14 ).
parable = wayside saying. Greek paroimia. Not parable, which is parabole. Paroimia Occurs in John here; and translated "proverb" in John 16:25 , John 16:25 , John 16:29 , and 2 Peter 2:22 . Parabole occurs fifty times, but is not used in John. Paroimia is the Septuagint word for mashal = proverb in Proverbs 1:1 . See note there.
Jesus . App-98 .
understood not = did not get to know. Greek. ginosko. App-132 . See note on John 1:10 .
what things they were = what it was, or what it meant.
7.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Then = Therefore.
I say . . . I am = I say . . . that I am, &c.; hoti, putting the words that follow as a quotation. See App-173 .
of = for. Of the sheep, not of the fold.
8.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
All that ever = All whoever.
before . Greek pro. App-104 . The true Shepherd could not come till God's purpose was ripe in the fullness of the times (Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:4 ). Moses and the prophets were not "thieves and robbers". None of them claimed to do more than point, as John the Baptist did, to the coming One. All others were deceivers.
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.
I am = I represent. See note on John 6:35 .
if, &c. A contingency which would be proved by the result. App-118 . Not the same word as in Joh 24:33 , Joh 24:37 , Joh 24:38 .
any man = any one. App-123 .
and out = and shall go out. The two expressions being the idiom used for life in general.
find = shall find.
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.
but = except. Greek. ei me.
for to steals = sin order that (Greek. hina) he may steal. and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), for emph.
I am come = I came.
that = in order that (Greek. hina) .
life . Greek. zoe. App-170 . See note on John 1:4 .
might = may.
more abundantly , i.e. life in abundance.
11.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
I am , &c. See note on John 6:33 .
the good Shepherd = the Shepherd-the good [one]. Connect this with death, and Psalms 22 ; connect the "great" Shepherd with resurrection (Hebrews 13:20 ), and Psalms 23 ; and connect the "chief" Shepherd with glory (1 Peter 5:4 ), and Psalms 24 .
giveth His life = layeth down His life. The expression is frequent in John. See verses: John 10:15 , John 10:17 , John 10:18 ; John 13:37 , John 13:38 ; John 15:13 . 1 John 3:16 . Agreeing with the presentation in this Gospel. See page 1511. Compare Mat 20:35 .Mark 10:45 .
life = soul. Greek. psuche . See App-110 .
for = on behalf of. Greek huper. App-104 .
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.
he that is an hireling = the hired servant. Greek. misthotos. Only here, John 10:13 , and Mark 1:20 .
and not = and not being.
seeth . Greek. theoreo = to view [with fixed gaze], i.e. with terror or fascination. See App-133 .
and . Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), for emph.
catcheth them = catcheth or snatcheth them away. Same as "pluck", verses: John 10:28 , John 10:29 . Compare Acts 8:39 . 2 Corinthians 12:2 , 2Co 12:4 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:17 , &c.
13.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
The hireling fleeth . [L] Tm. Trm. WI R omit, but not the Syriac. See App-94 . note 3, p. 136.
because . Greek. hoti. Same as "for" in John 10:4 .
careth not for = is not himself concerned about.
for = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .
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.
As = According as. the Father. See note on John 1:14 .
even so know I = I also know.
lay down. Same as "give", John 10:11 .
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.
other . Greek altos. See App-124 .
of = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .
fold . Greek aule = a place in the open air, as in John 10:1 , not the same word as in the next clause.
I must = it behoves Me.
shall = will.
be = become.
fold = flock. Greek poimne. Only here, Matthew 26:31 . Luk 2:8 . 1 Corinthians 9:7 .
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.
No man = No one. Greek. oudeis, i.e. no being, man or devil. Until 1660 the Authorized Version read "none".
of = from. Greek apo. App-104 .
power = authority. App-172 .
of = from. Greek para. App-104 .
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?
devil = demon. Greek. daimonion. Compare John 8:48 , and Matthew 12:24 .
21.
Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
words . Greek. Plural of rhema. See note on Mark 9:32 .
him that hath a devil = one possessed by a demon.
Can a devil. . . ? = Surely a demon is not (Greek. me, App-105 ) able to . . . is he?
22.
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
And. Figure of speech Chronographia. App-6 .
at. Greek. en. App-104 .
the feast of the dedication. Greek. enkainia = renewal, from kainos, new, i.e. the cleansing of Ezra's temple after its defilement by Antiochus Epiphanes, 25th Chislen (= December), 164 B.C. Compare 1 Macc. 4:52 - 59.
23.
And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
walked = was walking. in. Greek. en. App-104 .
temple . Greek. hieron. See note on Matthew 23:18 .
Solomon's porch. According to Josephus (Antiquities xx. 9, 7), this was a relic from Solomon's temple (compare Acts 3:11 ; Acts 5:12 ).
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.
came . . . round about = encircled. Compare Psalms 88:17 .
make us to doubt? Greek. raise our souls, i.e. hold us in suspense, or excite our expectations.
us = our souls. App-110 .
If , &c. App-118 .
Christ , i.e. Messiah. App-98 .
plainly . Same Greek. word as "openly", John 18:20 .
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.
told . He had not spoken to them as He did in John 4:26 ; John 9:35-37 , but the works were evidence enough to those who had eyes to see. Compare John 5:36 ; John 7:31 ; John 9:32 ; John 15:24 . believed. App-150 .
My Father's name . Only occurs here and John 5:43 . Compare Revelation 14:1 .
of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .
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:
and . Fig, Polysyndeton. App-6 .
28.
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
eternal . Greek aionios. App-151 .
never = by no means (Greek. ou me. App-105 ) unto the age (Greek. eis ton aiona. App-151 ).
neither = and not (Greek. ou. App-105 ).
pluck = snatch. See John 10:12 .
out of . Greek. ek: App-104 .
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.
one. Greek hen. Neut., one in essence, not one person which would be heir, masculine. This is the climax of His claim to oneness with the Father in verses: John 10:18 , John 10:25 , John 10:28 , John 18:29 . Compare also John 10:38 ; John 14:11 .Revelation 22:3 .
31.
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
again . See John 8:59 .
to . Greek hina, as in John 10:10 .
32.
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
from . Greek. ek. App-104 .
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.
blasphemy . See Leviticus 24:16 .
God = Jehovah. See App-98 .
34.
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
law. The usual division is "the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms "(Luke 24:44 ). Here the Psalms are included in the Law. Compare John 15:25 .
gods . See App-98 . Quoted from Psalms 82:6 . Psa 82:38
unto . Greek. pros. App-104 .
35.
If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
cannot = is not (Greek. ou. App-105 ) able to.
broken . Compare John 7:23 .
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?
sanctified = set apart for a holy purpose. Compare John 17:19 .
sent . App-174 .
world . App-129 .,
the Son of God . App-98 .
37.
If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
believe . App-160 .
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.
though = even if. Greek. kan = kai ean. App-118 . the works. These have a voice of their own. Compare Psalms 19:1-4 .
believe . App-150 . that, &c. With this profound statement Compare John 14:10 , John 14:11 , John 14:20 ; John 17:11 , John 17:21 . See also Matthew 11:27 .
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.
went , away, &c. This was in December, and He remained away till April, visiting Bethany (John 11:1 ) in the interval, and spending the latter part of the time at the city Ephraim (John 11:54 ).
where , &c. See John 1:28 .
baptized = was baptizing. App-115 .
41.
And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
resorted = came.
said = kept saying.
did, &c. Miracles were not necessarily the credentials
of a prophet (Deuteronomy 13:1-3 ).
no . Greek. ouden.
miracle = sign, a characteristic word in this Gospel. See note on John 2:11 , and p. 1511.
true. Greek alethes. App-175 .
42.
And many believed on him there.
believed. See App-150 .
on. Greek eis. App-104 .
there . Emphatic, in contrast with His treatment in Jerusalem.