John 10:1-21

John 10:1-21

[1] Verily,  I say  He that entereth  not  by  the door  into  the sheepfold,  but  climbeth up  some other way,  the same  a thief  and  a robber.  [2] But  he that entereth in  by  the door  the shepherd  of the sheep.  [3] the porter  openeth;  and  the sheep  hear  his  voice:  and  his own  sheep  by  name,  and  them  out.  [4] And  when  he putteth forth  his own  sheep,  he goeth  before  them,  and  the sheep  follow  him:  for  they know  his  voice.  [5] And  a stranger  follow,  but  will flee  from  him:  for  they know  not  the voice  of strangers.  [6] parable  spake  Jesus  unto them:  but  they  understood  not  what things  which  he spake  unto them.  [7] Then  said  Jesus  unto them  again,  Verily,  I say  am  the door  of the sheep.  [8] All  that ever  came  before  thieves  and  robbers:  but  the sheep  not  hear  them.  [9] am  the door:  by  if  any man  enter in,  he shall be saved,  and  shall go in  and  out,  and  find  pasture.  [10] The thief  cometh  not,  for to  steal,  and  to kill,  and  to destroy:  am come  that  they might have  life,  and  that they might have  it more abundantly.  [11] am  the good  shepherd:  the good  shepherd  giveth  his  life  for  the sheep.  [12] an hireling,  and  not  the shepherd,  whose  own  the sheep  not,  seeth  the wolf  coming,  and  leaveth  the sheep,  and  fleeth:  and  the wolf  catcheth  them,  and  scattereth  the sheep.  [13] The hireling  because  an hireling,  and  careth  not  for  the sheep.  [14] am  the good  shepherd,  and  know  my  sheep, and  am known  mine.  [15] As  the Father  knoweth  the Father:  and  I lay down  life  for  the sheep.  [16] And  other  sheep  I have,  which  not  of  fold:  them also  must  bring,  and  they shall hear  voice;  and  there shall be  fold,  and one  shepherd.  [17] my Father  love  because  lay down  life,  that  I might take  it  again.  [18] No man  taketh  it  from  but  it  down  of  myself.  I have  power  it  down,  and  I have  power  to take  it  again.  commandment  have I received  of  Father.  [19] There was  a division  again  among  the Jews  for  sayings.  [20] And  many  of  them  He hath  a devil,  and  is mad;  why  hear ye  him?  [21] Others  not  the words  of him that hath a devil.  Can  a devil  open  the eyes  of the blind? 

What does John 10:1-21 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Evidently this teaching followed what John recorded in chapter9 ( John 10:21), but exactly when between the feast of Tabernacles ( John 7:2; John 7:14; John 7:37) and the feast of Dedication ( John 10:22) it happened is unclear. The place where Jesus gave it appears to have been Jerusalem ( John 10:21). Probably this teaching followed the preceding one immediately. The thematic as well as the linguistic connections are strong. The blind beggar had just been put out of the fold of his synagogue ( John 9:34), so Jesus spoke of His fold, which the beggar had now entered (cf. John 9:35-38).