Jesus, The Good Shepherd
Study No. Eighteen Chapter 10
This chapter is a ‘well-worn’ much loved passage. Jesus is still talking with ‘Jews’ (Pharisees, that is). He has spoken in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles (week), avoided a trap set by the Pharisees, in which they bring to him a woman taken in adultery. Because Jesus claimed to be equal with God, these Jews took up stones to put Him to death. They do this even though the Roman authorities, under whom they are now subject, have not given them permission to perform capital punishment. Their anger seems to be such that they would rather deal with Pilate for the consequences of their actions having the satisfaction that they have done away with Christ.
Jesus slips away from them but as He goes, stops to heal a man who had been born blind. This results in another confrontation with the Jewish leaders.
We ended the previous study with the Jews sarcastically asking Jesus if they too were blind. Jesus’ answer; “If you were blind you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.”
In this study the discussion continues.
This sounds a little like a change of subject. He goes from discussing spiritual blindness to talking about sheepfolds, sheep, shepherds and doorways.
Jesus has just inferred that these Jewish leaders are blind. (Mt 15:14 "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.")
Verses 1 - 6 The sheep and the fold
The sheepfolds of the East are large enclosures, open to the sky, but walled around with reeds or stones or brick in order to afford a protection against robbers, wolves, and other beasts of prey. There is a large door at which the shepherd enters with the sheep. (Peoples New Testament notes)
A doorkeeper guarded the entrance, permitting the shepherd to walk in, leading the flock behind him. The flock represents believers. The fold represents the church, as in
Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,
23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Jesus is the good shepherd. The doorkeeper may not have a special representation but, if anything, would represent God the Father.
And the sheep hear his voice. This is true to the letter. The sheep in the East are so tame and so trained that they follow their keeper with the utmost docility. He leads them forth from the fold just where he pleases. The Eastern shepherds lead their sheep, while in our country we drive them. He calleth his own sheep by name. This corresponds exactly with the facts of Eastern shepherd life. They give names to sheep as we do to horses, cows, and dogs. "Passing by a flock of sheep," says Mr. Hartley, "I asked the shepherd to call one of his sheep. He instantly did so, and it left its pasturage and its companions, and ran to the shepherd with a promptitude and signs of pleasure that I never witnessed before." (Peoples New Testament notes)
Verses 7 - 18 Jesus is both a ‘door’ and a shepherd.
The emphasis of Jesus ‘talk’ now switches to the flock and its relationship with a ‘good’ shepherd.
A. Jesus is the door v7
1. What does it mean to come before Jesus –
2. Jesus is the only door v 8-9. Ac 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
3. bad shepherds are to be expected. Acts 20:29
B. Jesus is the Good shepherd.
1. He freely gives abundant life.
2. He gives His life for the sheep.
3. He is the only good shepherd Mt 19:17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Note: JWs take the above verse to mean that Jesus is not God. Therefore they take the liberty to change John 10:14 to read, I am the fine shepherd … The word fine is an adjective. In our English language we have used the word good in a comparative sense. For instance, we say good, better and best. The bible uses it as an absolute.
C. Flocks need to be protected, v11-13.
1. Hirelings allow the flock to be scattered.
2. Hirelings care about themselves and their reputations. (I Peter 5:1-4)
3. Jesus protects the flock with His life
4. He will enlarge it past the Jewish boundaries, v16.
5. In Laying down His life he is doing more than protecting the flock … He is purchasing it, v17, 18.
Results of this discourse 19-24
1. Division
2. Curiosity
Jesus gives more information about his Flock 25-30
1. my sheep are believers … they follow me 25 - 27.
2. my sheep are secure.
3. the flock came from the Father v29.
4. Jesus and the Father are one.
3. Angry confrontation and Jesus’ answer. 31-39
4. Ministry beyond the Jordan (Perea)
This chapter is a ‘well-worn’ much loved passage. Jesus is still talking with ‘Jews’ (Pharisees, that is). He has spoken in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles (week), avoided a trap set by the Pharisees, in which they bring to him a woman taken in adultery. Because Jesus claimed to be equal with God, these Jews took up stones to put Him to death. They do this even though the Roman authorities, under whom they are now subject, have not given them permission to perform capital punishment. Their anger seems to be such that they would rather deal with Pilate for the consequences of their actions having the satisfaction that they have done away with Christ.
Jesus slips away from them but as He goes, stops to heal a man who had been born blind. This results in another confrontation with the Jewish leaders.
We ended the previous study with the Jews sarcastically asking Jesus if they too were blind. Jesus’ answer; “If you were blind you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.”
In this study the discussion continues.
This sounds a little like a change of subject. He goes from discussing spiritual blindness to talking about sheepfolds, sheep, shepherds and doorways.
Jesus has just inferred that these Jewish leaders are blind. (Mt 15:14 "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.")
Verses 1 - 6 The sheep and the fold
The sheepfolds of the East are large enclosures, open to the sky, but walled around with reeds or stones or brick in order to afford a protection against robbers, wolves, and other beasts of prey. There is a large door at which the shepherd enters with the sheep. (Peoples New Testament notes)
A doorkeeper guarded the entrance, permitting the shepherd to walk in, leading the flock behind him. The flock represents believers. The fold represents the church, as in
Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,
23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Jesus is the good shepherd. The doorkeeper may not have a special representation but, if anything, would represent God the Father.
And the sheep hear his voice. This is true to the letter. The sheep in the East are so tame and so trained that they follow their keeper with the utmost docility. He leads them forth from the fold just where he pleases. The Eastern shepherds lead their sheep, while in our country we drive them. He calleth his own sheep by name. This corresponds exactly with the facts of Eastern shepherd life. They give names to sheep as we do to horses, cows, and dogs. "Passing by a flock of sheep," says Mr. Hartley, "I asked the shepherd to call one of his sheep. He instantly did so, and it left its pasturage and its companions, and ran to the shepherd with a promptitude and signs of pleasure that I never witnessed before." (Peoples New Testament notes)
Verses 7 - 18 Jesus is both a ‘door’ and a shepherd.
The emphasis of Jesus ‘talk’ now switches to the flock and its relationship with a ‘good’ shepherd.
A. Jesus is the door v7
1. What does it mean to come before Jesus –
2. Jesus is the only door v 8-9. Ac 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
3. bad shepherds are to be expected. Acts 20:29
B. Jesus is the Good shepherd.
1. He freely gives abundant life.
2. He gives His life for the sheep.
3. He is the only good shepherd Mt 19:17 So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Note: JWs take the above verse to mean that Jesus is not God. Therefore they take the liberty to change John 10:14 to read, I am the fine shepherd … The word fine is an adjective. In our English language we have used the word good in a comparative sense. For instance, we say good, better and best. The bible uses it as an absolute.
C. Flocks need to be protected, v11-13.
1. Hirelings allow the flock to be scattered.
2. Hirelings care about themselves and their reputations. (I Peter 5:1-4)
3. Jesus protects the flock with His life
4. He will enlarge it past the Jewish boundaries, v16.
5. In Laying down His life he is doing more than protecting the flock … He is purchasing it, v17, 18.
Results of this discourse 19-24
1. Division
2. Curiosity
Jesus gives more information about his Flock 25-30
1. my sheep are believers … they follow me 25 - 27.
2. my sheep are secure.
3. the flock came from the Father v29.
4. Jesus and the Father are one.
3. Angry confrontation and Jesus’ answer. 31-39
4. Ministry beyond the Jordan (Perea)