#1497 John 10 Part 3 Into Thy Hands I Commit My Spirit

 

22 At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the Portico of Solomon. 24 The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us openly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish—ever; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

 John 10: 22-30 LSB

John 10: 22-30 One

V. 22 At the time the Feast of the Dedication - This is Hanukkah which commemorates a time of great distress among the practicing Jews and also a time of great triumph. Antiochus Epiphanes was a Hellenistic ruler of that time from the area of Syria, and many of the apostate Jews in Jerusalem had made an alliance with him. This led to the desecration of the temple, the priests being force fed pork, all in order to punish the faithful for not becoming polytheist, for saying there is only one God. Also called Epimanes by his subjects, meaning mad one, he erected idols of other gods, and sacrificed to them on the temple altars, hence desecrated. This was an abomination of desolation, and part of Jewish history, so when Jesus later speaks of these things the people have a clear picture in their mind. It makes desolate in that the temple is defiled, much as sin defiles us, for we that believe are the temples of the Holy Spirit. So in order to use the temple or the altar again there had to be a cleansing and rededication or sanctifying of the temple, setting them apart for holy use.  

At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem - NLT paraphrases it accurately "It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication." The Feast of Dedication is also known as Hanukkah and the Festival of Lights (because of the lighting of lamps and candles in Jewish homes to celebrate the Feast) and began in the intertestamental period when the temple was rededicated after the Maccabean revolt (led by Judas Maccabaeus = ‘Judas the Hammer’), that threw off the rule of evil Antiochus Epiphanes and recaptured the temple and reconsecrated it to God on 25 Kislev (the lunar month that approximately coincides with December), 164 BC. (1 Maccabees 4:52-59). This feast is mentioned only here and was not one of the feasts sanctioned in the Old Testament. - PA

More on Antiochus

V. 23 Portico of Solomon - All that was left of the original temple after the Babylonian destruction and occupation. 

V. 24 How long will You keep us in suspense - They are trying to trap Him, that is the main purpose of the religious leaders, get Him to make a confession of this, that He is the Messiah, and hopefully turn the crowd against Him as a blasphemer. There are some peripheral people who are on the fence probably as well, and everyone wants Messiah to come as a deliverer, so there may be some of the hopeful there in that sense as well, but these Pharisees want Him dead. This drips of sarcasm, and not of the meaningful sort, because it is blindly be directed at the Son of God. 

…67“If You are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe. 68And if I ask you a question, you will not answer. 69But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”…

…70So they all asked, “Are You then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” 71“Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips.” Luke 22: 67-71

V. 25 I told you and you do not believe - He has said that He is from the Father, and for that they wanted to kill Him. In John 5:21 Jesus tells them that He gives life as the Father gives life, to whom He will. In verse 23 He states that all should honor the Son as they honor the Father. In verse 27 He reveals His authority as the Son of Man, and this is a clear Messianic claim. He had told them, and it's not even that they didn't hear, but that they heard and don't want Him. Why? This is the T in TULIP, they are dead in their trespasses and sins and the fruit of their bondage is unbelief, and we will see that it is in the face of damning evidence. 

Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you ("ou" = absolutely) do not believe (pisteuo = lengthy note in John 8 Commentary) - Jesus boldly calls those who question Him "unbelievers!" (cf Jn 10:26) Jesus says "I DID tell you!" For example read John 5:17-43+ (and see the Related Passages above). The problem was not in Jesus' words, but in the hearer's hearts! This is always the case! Jesus had made a similar declaration to the Jews who professed belief in Him in John 8:30+, declaring "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word" (Jn 8:43+) - PA

…18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.… John 3: 18-20

…6Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil. 8Go up to the feast on your own. I am not going up to this feast, because My time has not yet come.”… John 7: 6-8

V. 25b The works that I do in My Father's name, these bear witness of Me - He had performed many miracles that they were well aware of, and that would substantiate His claims to deity. He has also fulfilled the Scriptures written about the Messiah and is nearing the end of this ministry when He will be lifted up on a cross, further fulfilling the bruising of the heal as He crushes His adversary's head. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up. He has healed the deaf and blind, but the problem they have with Him is that He confronts their sin, and that is the problem still today. If I tell you God is love, Jesus loves you, He has a wonderful plan for your life, then most aren't offended, but if I confront your sin and tell you that God requires that you repent and believe in Jesus Christ as the only way to avoid eternal punishment, then the crowd goes wild, they throw themselves down in full temper tantrum mode. 

But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep - This is the reason, you are still in chains, the slaves of sin, you haven't been born again. This is the U in TULIP, Unconditional Election. You have not chosen Me but I have chosen you. People like hearing about this the same as they like hearing that they are sinners. Every bit of your salvation is dependent upon Christ. The Father draws you to Him, the Holy Spirit gives you new life to believe in Him. The faith you exercise in believing is a gift itself, because your free will is only so free as to the end of it's chain, the width of your cell, you are a slave to sin unless He frees you. Your good works are all filthy rags, there is no work that you can do to save yourself, least of all anything of your so called "free will", for the will of a sinner is in bondage. God is sovereign here as well.

…6For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth. 7The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. 8But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.… Deuteronomy 7: 6-8

…14Behold, to the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, and the earth and everything in it. 15Yet the LORD has set His affection on your fathers and loved them. And He has chosen you, their descendants after them, above all the peoples, even to this day. 16Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and stiffen your necks no more.… Deuteronomy 10: 14-15

…3When iniquities prevail against me, You atone for our transgressions. 4Blessed is the one You choose and bring near to dwell in Your courts! We are filled with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple. 5With awesome deeds of righteousness You answer us, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.… Psalm 65: 3-5

…13Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen.” 15Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words.… Matthew 22: 13-15

…10Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac. 11Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, 12not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”… Romans 9: 10-12

V. 27 My sheep hear my voice - The gospel goes out, the seed is thrown all over by the sower, but it only takes root and produces fruit in the tilled ground. The L in TULIP is for Limited atonement, meaning that the work of Christ on the cross was effectual to the saints who were elected by God before time began. These hear the call and respond in saving fashion, because they have been regenerated, given sight and hearing, and are being drawn by the Father to Christ Who is the way provided. The Pharisees did not like Jesus voice, refused what He was saying. 

…20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:… Matthew 1: 20-22

…47For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” 48When the Gentiles heard this, they rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. 49And the word of the Lord spread throughout that region.… Acts 13: 47-49

V. 27b -28 They follow Me and I give eternal life to them - We call God's unmerited favor, grace, and every bit of our salvation is most gracious, and this would bring us to the I in TULIP, Irresistible Grace. It is not that God, as RC explains, brings us kicking and screaming, but rather that through the work of the Holy Spirit, we are made alive, convicted of sin and judgment, and convinced to believe. We, who were once strangers to God and enemies, are now caused to love Him by way of a new nature. The apostle says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God and not of works, lest any man should boast." People get mad when you say "irresistible", because they put much on their free will, but this reflects back to the T, the doctrine of Total Depravity, in that the dead cannot make themselves alive, the prisoner is bound in chains, the slave to his sin, and in denial of that as well, so he will never come of his own accord. I would encourage you, if you struggle with this, to go back and read John 3.

…13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”… Romans 8: 13-15

…10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.…

…13And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man judges all things, but he himself is not subject to anyone’s judgment.… 1 Corinthians 2: 10-15

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,… 1 Peter 1: 1-3

V. 28c And no one will snatch them out of My hand - Now there are those who believe that you can lose your salvation, but this is not what Scripture teaches. Many of these also put a lot of weight on free will, and yes, if that were the case, I suppose if you could will yourself to be saved then you could un-will yourself by changing your mind, as I did. When I was young I walked the aisle and said the prayer, but when I was older I left the faith, wanted desperately to believe atheism, but God graciously called me later in my life, and kept me alive through those times when He only owed me death. This brings us to the P in TULIP, the Perseverance of the Saints. Of those who leave the faith, He says they were never of us.

…13But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires. 14For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans. 15Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.… Job 23: 13-15

…23Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel. 24Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth, 25who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,…

…26who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’ 27who says to the depths of the sea, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your currents,’ 28who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’ ”… Isaiah 44: 23-28

…2He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand. 3Surely You love the people; all the holy ones are in Your hand, and they sit down at Your feet; each receives Your words— 4the law that Moses gave us, the possession of the assembly of Jacob.… Deuteronomy 33: 2-4

18Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us. 20You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.… 1 John 2: 18-20

V. 29 No one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand - He is speaking of God, as prior He says, My Father is greater than all. Those in His hand are a gift to Him from the Father, and this was settled before time. No one also includes me, I don't hold my salvation, Christ does, which is the equivalent of God, and He will make that even clearer still. 

…5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.… Philippians 1: 5-7

1Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.… Isaiah 43: 1-2

…3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.… Colossians 3: 3-5

V. 30 I and the Father are one - Another claim to deity, and they will now want to stone Him again. 

…26Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. 28Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.… Matthew 11: 26-28

…12It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. 14He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.… Titus 2: 12-14

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#1496 John 10 Part 2 THE

 

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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#1495 John 10 Part 1 Pastoral Settings

 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he 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 he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he brings all his own out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will never follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.

7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

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: 1-21 LSB

John 10: 1-21 Shepherds

Then the word of Yahweh came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been shepherding themselves! Should not the shepherds shepherd the flock? 3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you sacrifice the fat sheep without shepherding the flock. 4 Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, and the diseased you have not healed, and the broken you have not bound up, and the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you searched for the lost; but with strength and with severity you have dominated them. 5 They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered. 6 My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was no one to seek or search for them.”’”

7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh: 8 “As I live,” declares Lord Yahweh, “surely because My flock has become plunder, My flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not seek for My flock, but rather the shepherds shepherded themselves and did not shepherd My flock; 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh: 10 ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will seek My flock from their hand and make them cease from shepherding the flock. So the shepherds will not shepherd themselves anymore, but I will deliver My flock from their mouth so that they will not be food for them.”’”

Yahweh Will Shepherd His Flock

11 For thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I Myself will seek My sheep and care for them. 12 As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his sheep which are spread out, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. 13 I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will shepherd them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and be shepherded in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will shepherd My flock, and I will make them lie down,” declares Lord Yahweh. 16 “I will search for the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd them with judgment.

17 “As for you, My flock, thus says Lord Yahweh, ‘Behold, I will judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the male goats. 18 Is it too slight a thing for you that you should be shepherded in the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pastures? Or that you should drink of the clear waters, that you must foul the rest with your feet? 19 As for My flock, they must be shepherded on what you tread down with your feet and drink what you foul with your feet!’”

20 Therefore, thus says Lord Yahweh to them, “Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and with shoulder, and thrust at all the sickly with your horns until you have scattered them abroad, 22 therefore, I will save My flock, and they will no longer be plunder; and I will judge between one sheep and another.

23 “Then I will establish over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will shepherd them; he will shepherd them himself and be their shepherd. 24 And I, Yahweh, will be their God, and My servant David will be prince among them; I, Yahweh, have spoken.

Yahweh’s Covenant of Peace

25 “I will cut a covenant of peace with them and cause harmful beasts to cease from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing. And I will cause showers to come down in their season; they will be showers of blessing. 27 Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit, and the earth will yield its produce, and they will be secure on their land. Then they will know that I am Yahweh, when I have broken the bars of their yoke and have delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 They will no longer be plunder to the nations, and the beasts of the earth will not devour them; but they will live securely, and no one will make them tremble. 29 I will establish for them a renowned planting place, and they will not again be victims of famine in the land, and they will not bear the dishonor of the nations anymore. 30 Then they will know that I, Yahweh their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people,” declares Lord Yahweh. 31 “As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God,” declares Lord Yahweh. Ezekiel 34

V. 1 He who does not enter by the door into the fold of sheep - A fold was a temporary holding for sheep, and a shepherd, the one responsible for them, would return by way of the door, speak to the guard at the door, who would let him in to get his sheep. The people that Jesus is talking to are not unfamiliar with these images. They are rural but also close to town when we think of Jerusalem and the many sheep that lived and were tended outside the city for sacrificial purposes. It is also, more importantly, a spiritual concept from their own scrolls, the OT. You can read Ezekiel 34 above and the OT is filled with references to shepherds, including King David who was a shepherd as a boy. 

More on Ezekiel 34 Crooked Staff

Still more on Ezekiel 34 The Good Shepherd

…10Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber. 11Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain: 12“Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”… Isaiah 56: 10-12

He is a thief and a robber - A thief can be one who steals by stealth, but a robber is a thief who comes prepared for violence or  uses violence as his means to steal, like highway robbers. Mohammad was a good example of this. He was a caravan robber who then used cunning in making peace treaties without intent to keep them. Some talk of subterfuge in our day, and even some Christians say it is not lying when you lie in war, but God never calls sin by any other name. By teaching bad doctrine and adding unnecessary steps to the law, the Scribes and Pharisees sought to draw attention to themselves and away from the true God. They would that men follow them astray rather than teaching men to follow God. Now they can't recognize the true God Himself, nor His Son, so they are trying to kill Him before He can take away His sheep. 

Thief (2812) kleptes from klépto = steal; kleptomaniac) is a stealer or thief who acts with stealth or subterfuge. The kleptes steals by fraud and in secret (Mt 24:43; Jn 12:6) whereas the robber or lestes steals by violence and openly. In classical Greek kleptēs signifies the one who with cunning and deceit obtains others’ property. The NT uses kleptes in a figurative sense to describe the false teachers and deceivers who "steal" men away from the truth. In the present context kleptes is used as a figure of speech ("like a thief" - see term of comparison = simile) to describe the sudden and unexpected appearance of the Day of the Lord.  - Precept Austin

V. 2 But He Who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep - So from the text and the previous text of chapter 9, plus the OT, we see that shepherds are leaders. Political leaders, those in government are a type of shepherd, David being the most famous of those in Jewish history, but there are also spiritual shepherds, and those would be the men that watch over the fold for the Good Shepherd. In Judaism they had priests, synagogue leaders, Scribes and Pharisees, and in the church we have preachers, teachers, elders, and the word pastor is even another word for shepherd. So who is He talking about here? The fold here is Israel, Judaism, and how can we be certain of that, well in v. 16 Christ says, "I have other sheep which are not from this fold." This differentiates this fold (Israel) from the other fold (gentiles). Now remember the last post, we just had a blind man whose parents were afraid of getting kicked out of synagogue, or in other words, removed from the fold. Their son was kicked out, but really he was being called out by the true Shepherd, Jesus. The Bible is very clear in defining the way those not only present themselves but are to actually be, who step into these roles. The Pharisees were obsessed with titles and the praise of men, all the while leading men astray and stealing from God. 

2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity

5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 1 Timothy 3: 2-7

…3Listen to the wailing of the shepherds, for their glory is in ruins. Listen to the roaring of the young lions, for the thickets of the Jordan are destroyed. 4This is what the LORD my God says: “Pasture the flock marked for slaughter, 5whose buyers slaughter them without remorse. Those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich!’ Even their own shepherds have no compassion on them.… Zechariah 11: 3-5

V. 3 He calls His own sheep by name - This goes so much deeper than trying to develop a rural setting or backdrop for a story. We know that He is bearing down on spiritual applications, that the Pharisees were setting themselves up as shepherds, that they were wolves though who did not protect the flock from other wolves, false prophets and teachers. They were greedy for gain, even taking a widow's last pence. Now here we see too the doctrine of election, that within this fold of Jews is a remnant, His elect, Christ's sheep. 

…29For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified. 31What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?… Romans 8: 29-31

…14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20: 14-15

V. 4-6 They know His voice - They have been conditioned to the voice of the true Shepherd, as those who are born again gain spiritual eyes and ears. We just witnessed this in the story of the blind man. In verse 5 we see that these sheep will not follow strangers, they don't recognize the voice so they run from them. It's like when we were kids and our moms told us about stranger danger, and not to go with someone we don't know. We tend to forget this when we are older, we tend to take people at their word, or not want to look much deeper than this because we are too lazy to look for fruit or too afraid of sounding judgmental. Some of this we lose and take the low rode of just writing off everyone all together, hiding and keeping to ourselves.  Jesus is using this "figure of speech" to teach them, and it is loaded with great truth, but it is all going over their heads and not penetrating the untilled soil of their hearts. There are so many today who pretend at being the voice of the Lord, but those who would distort such a thing, not carefully sticking to His word, will come under a harsh judgment. 

…6So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” 7But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here of whom we can inquire?” 8The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man who can ask the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.… 1 Kings 22: 6-8

…26He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace. 27If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge. 28A corrupt witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.… Proverbs 19: 26-28

V. 7 I am the door of the sheep - Some suggest quite probably that His sheep have heard His voice from the earlier verses and followed Him. Now He speaks of a different type of fold, one they would use when away from town, one for when they were grazing in the hills. This would be a wall of rocks with an opening, and the shepherd would rest in the opening so that anything trying to enter or exit would come through Him, which also reminds us of the exclusive nature of the Kingdom in vs 9. It is only accessed by Him and through Him, His obedient life and atoning death. 

…6O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice, 8do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness,… Psalm 95: 6-8

I say to you, I am (ego eimi) the door of the sheep (probaton) - I am is the famous "ego eimi" and in this passage He identifies Himself as the door, the definitive article "the" (he) indicating that He is not just any door, but is continually (eimi is present tense) the specific door. The idea is the ONLY DOOR! The sheep pens had only one door for the sheep to enter and as discussed above, in some settings, the shepherd Himself sat in the door guarding the way in and out. In essence then the shepherd was himself equivalent to the door, which is Jesus' point about Himself. He Alone is the door. This statement echoes His declaration in John 14:6 that "I am the (DEFINITIVE, SPECIFIC, ONLY) way, and the (DEFINITIVE, SPECIFIC, ONLY) truth, and the (DEFINITIVE, SPECIFIC, ONLY) life; (ABSOLUTELY) no one comes to the Father but through Me." Door is not literal, but is a term of comparison, specifically a metaphor, identifying Jesus as the specific, unique way through which the sheep can go in an out. He will elaborate on the significance of Himself as the door in Jn 10:9. - Precept Austin

Bruce Barton also interprets the sheep as Jews and the sheepfold as Judaism - The "sheepfold" of Judaism held some of God's people who had awaited the coming of their Shepherd-Messiah (see Isaiah 40:1-11). He "calls his own sheep by name and leads them out"NRSV of the fold. When the Shepherd came, believing Jews recognized his voice and followed him. Not all Jews were God's people (see Ro 9:6-8). (Borrow John - Life Application Commentary) - Precept Austin

V. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and robbers - They had many pretenders, those that put themselves up as judges of the people, who dishonored the office of priest, took bribes, called themselves prophets when they had not been sent. 

25 “There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have devoured lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in the midst of her.

26 “Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

27 “Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain.

28 “Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord has not spoken. Ezekiel 22: 25-28

Lenski writes "Some have thought that Jesus here refers to false Messiahs who had come before his time. But this is historically incorrect and also untrue to the figure. False Messiahs would be false doors to the fold not thieves and robbers who fight shy of "the door." When Jesus adds that these "are" thieves and robbers he comes down to the present and includes the present Jewish leaders. All, past and present, "are" self-seekers. All these are (reality) "thieves and robbers" (figure). They do not own the sheep and they are not shepherds. For their own evil purposes they attempt to get the sheep into their power. How ill the sheep would fare at their hands is left to the imagination. That they are, indeed, nothing but men who steal and rob is evidenced by the present representatives (PHARISEES), who, like their predecessors, reject "the door." (See page 713 of Interpretation of St John's Gospel) - PA

…20The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand this clearly. 21I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. 22But if they had stood in My council, they would have proclaimed My words to My people and turned them back from their evil ways and deeds.”… Jeremiah 23: 20-22

V. 9-10 He will be saved - There is only this One Way. You enter through Jesus, you are saved by Jesus from the justice of God. Jesus is the satisfaction for God's Holy and just wrath. You are lost, He has to come find you. The Pharisees, false pastors, teachers and phony Christians will try to offer you another way. Most of it will relate to works and their measuring tape. "You are so special they say, God just wants everybody to be happy, you are good enough, he was a man who did good things before he died, she was a woman who donated much, you said a prayer, we wrote your name in a registry, the god I believe in would never send anyone to such a place as hell." They are thieves and robbers that talk like this. Those that play down sin, the very thing the eternal Son had to die for, in order that we could be saved, they are not your friends, they don't know the Shepherd so they don't represent Him. They say what people want to hear.

…23At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible. 25See, I have told you in advance.… Matthew 24: 23-25

I'm going to leave 1-21 up for context but pick up with verse 11 next post.

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