11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees—and the wolf snatches and scatters them— 13 because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep, which are not from this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it away from Me, but from Myself, I lay it down. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
19 A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 20 And many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the words of someone demon-possessed. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” John 10: 11-21 LSB
John 10: 11-21
V. 11 I am the good shepherd - This is following the section where Jesus references back to the OT teachings against the bad shepherds, the priests, Pharisees, elders and teachers who did it for their own gain and wanted men to be followers of them rather than God. Shepherd is used to describe leaders in the Bible, both they that govern and spiritual leaders as well. There were men that wanted those titles, but were false prophets, false teachers, and basically blind leaders of the blind. I want you to see that these words aren't coming from nowhere, this isn't a new teaching though it brings new perception for those looking at Jesus. He is referencing the Shepherd of the OT, God, and every time He uses I am, it is the ego eimi. The good, not the false shepherds that we discussed, and "the" as special, set apart, the head shepherd, "the" as in pointing to a particular Shepherd, so let's include the OT Scriptures that this would reference. It is very similar to when people asked John the Baptist, "are you 'the' prophet?" and of Jesus many asked in similar fashion. Looking at it all it should help shape your eschatology as well. No strange formulas here, the OT prophets speak and Jesus perfectly fulfills what was spoken.
Strictly speaking this is the FOURTH great "I AM" statement in the Gospel of John -"I Am the Bread of life (Jn 6:35). “I Am the Light of the world” (Jn 8:12). “I AM the door of the sheep” (Jn 10:7). “I AM the good shepherd” (Jn 10:11, 14).
I am (ego eimi) the good (kalos) Shepherd (poimen) - Note two definite articles “THE shepherd THE good one” meaning "emphatically, and, in the sense intended, exclusively so." (Jamieson) Jesus is picking up on the metaphor in Jn 10:2. Good describes Him as beautiful, in the sense of beautiful in His noble character (cf 1Ti 3:7) and His selfless service (cf 1Ti 4:6, 1Pe 4:10). It describes the perfect model for His sheep to seek to imitate. Kalos is used 4 times in John 10 twice to the Shepherd (Jn 10:11,14), and twice to works (Jn 10:32, 33) (One other use in John is applied to wine Jn 2:10). The main responsibility of the shepherd was to keep the flock intact, to protect and to provide for the sheep. Jesus’ mission is marked by a caring concern, even willingness, to die for the sheep. It is notable that in Jesus' day shepherds were generally despised. - PA
1A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.… Psalm 23: 1-2
1For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth 2before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Rally Your mighty power and come to save us.… Psalm 80: 1-2
…10Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him. 11He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes. 12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on a scale and the hills with a balance?… Isaiah 40: 10-12
…23They will no longer defile themselves with their idols or detestable images, or with any of their transgressions. I will save them from all their apostasies by which they sinned, and I will cleanse them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God. 24My servant David will be king over them, and there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow My ordinances and keep and observe My statutes. 25They will live in the land that I gave to My servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They will live there forever with their children and grandchildren, and My servant David will be their prince forever.… Ezekiel 37: 23-25
…2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity. 3Therefore Israel will be abandoned until she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers will return to the children of Israel. 4He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD His God. And they will dwell securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth.… Micah 5: 2-4
19And I especially urge you to pray that I may be restored to you soon. 20Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.… Hebrews 13: 19-21
…24He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.” 25For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2: 24-25
V. 11b The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep - I have been thinking about this a lot the last few years as I study and share my studies with my family. I've always been a harsh critic of pastors and teachers, if you are going to teach my children, if it's going to play in the background at my house, or if we are going to sit in the pews of the church you preach at, then it's important to me that you teach sound doctrine. I don't care about your opinions so much, I don't even care about mine that much anymore, I want the Author's intent in the passage. Jesus has spent a lot of time rebuking false shepherds, and at the same time He has modeled the role of every shepherd. We need to walk in His foot steps, protecting His sheep. He said to Peter 3 times, feed my sheep, and if we love Him that's what we will do. I expect a lot from those with the titles pastor, elder, teacher, deacon, and I always patted myself on the back that I knew enough not to join their ranks, but for any dad reading this, the thing I missed is that as soon as I became a husband I was a shepherd, as a father the call was to shepherd. As soon as I was being regenerated to hear the call of the Great Shepherd, that call was to deny myself, take up my cross and follow Him. It was a call away from my comforts, my selfish feeding of ego, worried more about time spent on the water than time spent in the word and in prayer. My Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep, and tell me, is that not the call in marriage, is that not the same call as a parent. My job is to protect them, teach them, lay down my life for theirs. If you are a husband or a dad then you are a preacher, the one that your family hears and watches those other six days of the week. What do they hear, what do they see? What kind of pasture are you taking them to feed in? Do they see that your words honor God, and do they see that your words and your actions are one?
…24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her 26to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,… Ephesians 5: 24-26
…34David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, 35I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. 36Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”… 1 Samuel 17: 34-36
…16But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. 17When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.” 2 Samuel 24: 16-17
MacArthur - The phrase lays down His life is unique to John's writings and always refers to a voluntary, sacrificial death (Jn 10:15, 17-18; Jn 13:37-38; Jn 15:13; 1Jn 3:16). Jesus gave His life for His sheep, because they were chosen to become part of His flock. (See John Commentary) - PA
V. 12 He who is a hired hand - A hireling, the one only there for the paycheck. He may even look fondly on the sheep, may even think they're cute, but when the wolf comes he is out of there. He won't grab the lion, the wolf or the bear by the fur; he is a coward so he won't engage, only thinking of his own preservation, he will leave the sheep to be destroyed. This is in all of us, and so we have to be born again, empowered by the Holy Spirit to stand or we won't do our sworn duty. We will break, we will put a spin on it to try and seem less cowardly than we are, that we picked our battles, what we supposed to do? "You would have done the same in my position," we say, thinking that what another does is the bar when it is really Christ.
…16For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will neither care for the lost, nor seek the young, nor heal the broken, nor sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the choice sheep and tear off their hooves. 17Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!” Zechariah 11: 16-17
1As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.… 1 Peter 5: 1-3
…28Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. 29I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.… Acts 20: 28-30
V. 14 And My own know Me - Just like before the sheep that hear the shepherd, know His voice, won't follow another.
7But whatever was gain to me I count as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.… Philippians 3: 7-9
…19We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one. 20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true— in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the TRUE God and eternal life. 21Little children, keep yourselves from idols.… 1 John 5: 19-21
V. 15 Even as the Father knows Me - We have been adopted into this family, and wildly beyond my comprehension is this in some degree, but remember no one knows the Father without the Son, and so this is all possible only in Jesus.
Steven Cole writes "Knowing God and His Son is the essence of eternal life (John 17:3). And the crucial matter on the day of judgment will be whether Jesus knows you (Matt. 7:23+). He knows all people, of course, but He was talking about knowing you in a personal, intimate way. (Why Follow Jesus? ) - PA
…8When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”… Revelation 5: 8-10
V. 16 I have other sheep which are not from this fold - This would probably get Him some rebukes from the Jews, but it is an ancient prophecy. They hated gentiles, but this was part of God's eternal decree, not a secondary notion from time and space.
…9Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? 10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. 11He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.… Genesis 49: 9-11
…17May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed. 18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. 19And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.… Psalm 72: 17-19
…9They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water. 10 On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious. 11On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.… Isaiah 11: 9-11
I must (dei) bring them also - Note that Jesus does not say "might" or "maybe" but must! It is a necessity! The reason it is a must is alluded to by Paul writing to the Gentile "brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth." (2Th 2:13+) The salvation of the Gentiles was foreordained in eternity past which explains why Jesus must bring them into the flock in eternity present!
And they will hear (akouo) My voice (phone) - They will hear the Shepherd's voice because they were His sheep from before the foundation of the world! Remember that hear does not just mean to hear "sound waves," but means to listen attentively so as to obey what is heard.
Of course, now Jesus in no longer physically present and so this "must" passes on to His disciples (sheep who have been called and justified) and it is His missionary mandate for them to take His Gospel to all nations (Mt 28:19+; Lk 24:47+; Acts 1:8+). Notice that Jesus gives us a prophetic promise of success declaring "they will hear My voice (through His ambassadors - see 2Co 5:20+)." - PA
V. 16c They will become one flock with one shepherd - Believing Jews and Gentiles becoming one family in Christ.
…27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.… Galatians 3: 27-29
…17I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. 18And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” 19Abraham went back to his servants, and they got up and set out together for Beersheba. And Abraham settled in Beersheba.… Genesis 22: 17-19
V. 17 For this reason - Jesus was obedient even unto death. It is a simple concept in our minds until we see the many applications, or instances where it could have been applied. It took the three Hebrew boys into a furnace, and Daniel obeyed to the lion's den, but you can't stand the thought of not being liked, of not fitting in. How dare we see ourselves as negotiators, brokers of some new deal.
…8and placed everything under his feet.” When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. 9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 10In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.… Hebrews 2: 8-10
V. 18 No one takes it away from Me - Jesus gave.
…10So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?” 11Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.” 12From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”… John 19: 10-12
V. 20 He has a demon and is insane - Of course, though everything He does attests to His otherliness, and it fulfills that which was written by the prophets, yet they can't stand His words, but this is all foretold by Isaiah. This is the line that the Pharisees take and being the "shepherds" of their time, they are trying to pull the people after them, they are trying to discount the Son of God. This is a tactic that followed His disciples as well, declaring them mentally ill or unstable.
23that the Christ would suffer, and as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to our people and to the Gentiles.” 24At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!” 25But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.… Acts 26: 23-25
V. 21 Others were saying - Some were still stuck back on the healing of the blind man. They knew of demon possession, but no one knew of demons going around healing people. It wasn't that they wouldn't want to use a ploy like that, but they didn't have that creative power. They weren't God. Pentecostals try to use that ploy all the time, bragging about healings that have taken place, politicians do similar with promises that are impossible to keep, but people have itching ears.
…31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will. 32Never before has anyone heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33If this man were not from God, He could do no such thing.”… John 9: 31-33
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