DISCIPLESHIP - 102: SESSIONS 7 & 8
PRINCIPLES of APPLICATION - WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD:
Biblical scholars and heroes of the faith, throughout the history of the church have had enormous opportunity to practice their faith, stand for the truth, and committed themselves to the LORD in both word and deed. Men like Martin Luther, John Huss, Huldrych Swingli and John Knox imperiled their lives for their steadfast dedication to the Word. It wasn’t just head knowledge and belief with them, and countless scores of martyrs who died for their faith. It was truth applied to their lives – even if it meant their death.
MATT 7:24-29
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
In applying the Word of God to our lives, we are simply putting into practice what we have learned. One cannot apply what one has not learned – therefore new believers are to resort to the milk of the Word. Due to their immaturity as spiritual babies, it would be inappropriate to expect them to understand the deeper things of God, much less to obey. The meat of the Word is for those who are mature in the faith.
Application of the Word of God is sometimes very straightforward, with little or no interpretation required:
EXODUS 20:14
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
No digging is needed, there are no shades of gray – it’s quite clear. Simply read and obey.
In other passages, however, while the truth may be clear, often the application is not. We must have a way of probing the passage to seek applications meaningful in our lives. As probing tools for this purpose, here are Seven Questions one can ask of any Scripture; these will help you uncover the applicable truths of any passage and find the ways it can apply to you.
SEVEN APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1. What Truths Are Found In This Passage?
To answer this question, review your notes and charts and look for single thoughts of truths found in them, comparing these with the passage itself (because even after all the notes and charts, you might still discover other truths on the spur of the moment!). The number of truths found will vary depending on the passage. One of Josh McDowell’s students found 36 truths in JOHN 3:1-10! That’s three to four applicable truths per verse!
Examine this passage on your own and see how many truths you can find there. One such truth is that you must be born again to see the Kingdom of God; another is that you must also be born again to enter into the Kingdom of God.
2. How Does This Truth Apply To My Life? At Work? In My Neighborhood? At Home? In My Nation?
Now you apply those truths found in question One, to your own life. Does it apply at work? In your neighborhood? At home with your family? In your nation? Does it affect your activity? Your outlook? How does the truth “You must be born again” apply to your life? How are you different if you are born again? Does it affect the way you see the world? What is that effect? Does it affect the way you live your life with other people (family, co-workers, neighbors)? Write down the answers in some detail.
3. In View Of This Truth, What Specific Changes Should I Make In My Life?
The idea behind being ‘born again’ means becoming a new person, subject to new authorities – this sort of question forces you to examine yourself and determine whether your life reflects that dramatic change. Are you still acting like the person you were before you were born again? Can others tell a difference in you? Do the decisions you make in life according to the standard of Christ your new LORD? Or are you still in charge of your own life – asking yourself the hard questions, truly praying and asking the LORD to reveal your heart and anything that is unpleasing to Him is the whole reason for applying the truth of God’s Word to our lives.
4. How Do I Propose To Carry Out These Changes?
Make a list of all the changes you can make (or even already made) in your life that reflects the new birth in Christ. Perhaps you need to avoid certain situations, get a habit under control or your temper tamed. Perhaps you need to exhibit more care and compassion for others? How will you accomplish this? Will you need an accountability partner? Come up with real solutions under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
5. What Is My Personal Prayer Regarding the Application Of This Truth?
Let the tremendous power of prayer come to your aid as you apply these truths! Ask God for strength, wisdom and courage to apply it successfully and to His glory. If a struggle is involved, lay it out honestly before Him. Something you may find useful is a prayer journal, where you can record these issues, struggles, burdens and problems for which you need to apply truth, and return to pray for them until the LORD provides the victory.
6. What Verse (or Verses) Of Scripture Could I Memorize To Best Summarize This Truth?
Committing a Bible passage to memory is the best way to embed a truth deeply into your heart. Look at the Cross-Reference chart and see if you listed a verse that summarizes the truth you are dealing with. In regards to being born again, a good passage to remember would be:
2 COR 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
7. What Illustration Can I Develop That Will Help Me To Retain This Truth And Communicate It To Others (A story, a poem, a graphic, a cartoon or a drawing, for example)?
Using stories, both personal and others can help to bring home a truth that is being addressed in your study. Also, poems, charts, a cartoon, etc. can be effective means of conveying a truth, and as you consider the truths revealed in your study, think about how you can best represent that truth with an illustration of some kind.
In Sunday School I once illustrated how we need Christ in us in order to live the truth as found in the Bible. It involved a ball, a glove and a volunteer – little Ronnie Toland (I still remember his name!). I asked Ronnie to speak to the glove and tell it to pick up the ball and bounce it. He looked at me as though I was crazy, and mumbled the words to the ball. “Louder Ronnie!” I encouraged him, and he complied. But of course, that empty glove just lay there, completely lifeless.
I asked my students what we could do to help the glove pick up the ball and bounce it. One girl suggested that Ronnie put the glove on and then help the glove that way by picking up the ball. Ronnie did so, and then that ball was bouncing! Without Christ we are like that empty glove – powerless to obey the Bible; but just like that glove could bounce that ball because the hand inside of it was giving it the power to do so, Christ in us is the power we need to apply the truth of God’s Word to our lives, living in such a way that honors Christ.
APPLICATION and WITNESSING:
When witnessing to others, having a command of Scripture is important; by studying, learning, interpreting and applying the Word of God to your own life, will embed its truth into your heart and mind, and Scriptures will flow out of you when you share your faith with others.
Whether you’re talking to a Muslim Imam or a state representative or councilman – you can share the story of Jesus and Nicodemus, who was a religious leader and also a government official!
Having studied the LORD Jesus’ approach to Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and others, you can use these Scriptural scenarios as examples to follow. The Samaritan for example: The LORD started out by offering her something desirable – water that would quench her thirst. He then explained what prevented her from partaking of this water – the immorality in her life. He then told her God’s plan for worship – how to establish a relationship with Him.
Lastly, He challenged her faith when he told her who He was.
The offer of an endless supply of water was good news to the Samaritan woman! Good news can be shared with sinners by showing them a biblical truth: God loves them and is offering a wonderful plan for their lives! Most people are looking for two things in life: love and meaning.
Offering what Christ has – He is Love! He also has fantastic purpose for those who will surrender to Him! This is most certainly good news! This, along with the entire Gospel message is something that one may present to others and draw them to the LORD. Just as the LORD explained to the Samaritan woman why she couldn’t experience God’s love in her present condition, we likewise can talk about how sin separates us from God, and must be overcome – but that we are powerless ourselves to do so. The good news is that Christ has done this work for us, and what He requires of us is faith.
Truth as found in God’s Word is not merely academic and ‘head knowledge’ but practical and applicable in our everyday lives, as well as the lives of others.
HAZARDS TO AVOID:
Hazard #1: Mistaking Interpretation for Application
It sometimes easy to think that because we have understood a truth in Scripture that we have therefore applied it. We understand the principles we learned in Jesus Conversation with the Samaritan woman and when we lodge that solidly in our mind, we can easily think we are somehow ‘soul winners’ without ever putting the principles into practice. That would be like a man putting on a soldier’s uniform and thinking he is a valiant warrior, though he may never have fired a shot.
It’s not the knowledge that counts but what you do with it.
Hazard #2: Procrastination
Often you may not feel like studying the Bible – which isn’t unusual considering you may have made of habit of not studying it for years, so the pattern is firmly established in you. To be a disciple, we must be disciplined to read, study and apply the truth of God’s Word. Discipline is never easy! Such a change in life will take time, and the habit of Bible study on a regular basis is a habit that will take time.
When we procrastinate and put things off, the true priorities in a person’s life comes out – when we put something off, we get into something else instead. Studying the Bible “later” because there is a game on now is revealing: after the game there could be time still, but then you might just feel like hanging out and discuss the game or other sports conversation and forget (unintentionally) about your study time. What must govern your actions is not your emotions (whether you feel like it or not) but your convictions: the belief that God speaks to us through the Word trumps over my feelings.
Hazard #3: Emotional Response Without Accompanying Action
You may have uncovered a profound truth that hits you hard and evokes a strong emotional response. It may be either a response of heightened joy or of godly sorrow and remorse over an uncovered sin. Yet that emotion may spend itself and fail to motivate you to action. You stop short of the goal of application and treat the emotional response as an end to itself. Thus, the application is aborted!
Hazard #4: Expecting Instant Results
As we apply scriptural principles to our lives with prayer and dedication, it’s easy t expect the result to be instant; problem solved – no more effort required. There are many times that the LORD seems just as interested in the PROCESS as in the results, for its usually in the process that we grow to be more like Him. Just as exercise produces muscle, the process of dealing with our problems and weaknesses produces patience and faith. Instant results are RAER and we should not (necessarily) expect them. And this leads to hazard #5 . . .
Hazard #5: Frustration
Frustration can come about because of expecting instant results. It can also come about because of interruptions or failing to find the time you need for Bible study or thinking you are not learning all that you should. Address such frustrations quickly by lowering your expectations. Consider how you spend time doing other things, and pray that the LORD will show you how you can conserve time so you are able to do more study – but even if it’s just 10 minutes here and 20 minutes there, then that’s something!
ALSO: Don’t compare your rate of learning with that of others – we all learn and grow at our own pace, right? As I said at the beginning of this course – some of you got ahold of mathematics with tremendous ease, while for others, it was like pulling teeth! And yet the math whiz struggled through art class and the math flunkie could produce astounding beauty in their art work.
Yet with determined persistence, both the artist and the mathematics whiz can become competent at both, given time and patience! REMEMBER: The growth process in learning all of this is itself important!
APPLICATION OF THE WORD – IN WITNESSING: A POTENTIAL HAZARD:
In any experience, while witnessing and sharing the Gospel, there is always the possibility in getting drawn into an argument. They might talk with you about unimportant questions or misinformation about the Bible that comes to their attention because they see you as knowledgeable: “Where did Cain get his wife?” or “Why did God have all those people in Canaan slaughtered – even the babies!?” are examples. Try to avoid rabbit trails and stick to the point.
Remember what we saw with the Samaritan woman and how she tried the same tactic on the LORD. When He pointed out that she had been married five times but was presently living with a man who wasn’t even her husband, she said “Oh, you must be a prophet! So, tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place to worship while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerazim, where our ancestors worshiped?”
When the LORD got too close to the truth, nailed it in fact, she tried to deflect the direction of the conversation by starting a religious argument! But the LORD refused to get drawn into it, and instead, He addressed her need to worship God in spirit and in truth.
Don’t be afraid to ignore questions that are intended to deflect away from the central message of the Gospel! OR – you could say something like, “You know that is a very good question! Let’s get back to that question right after we’re done discussing the more important issue of your immortal soul?” And then if there is time, address such questions – or exchange email addresses so you can give them an answer later on.
Be discerning – and the LORD will grant it to you! There are times when questions are actually quite valid and may help the person to be more receptive to the Gospel – but other times, as we said, it’s a deflection intended to get the focus off their need of salvation. Don’t forget that the enemy is working on that person as well, providing them with argumentative questions to side-track you!
SESSION EIGHT – PART I - Seeing the Whole Process Work Together
Some people can read a ‘How-To book’, and then immediately go out and work the process described in that book. Most of us however, learn best by SEEING the process work, by getting our hands dirty in doing, rather than just reading.
For the remainder of this class we will begin to work together as a group on the process that we have learned and then the next class, which is our last, we will pick up where we leave off and complete the study process on our selected portion of Scripture: JOHN 10:1-18.
We probably won’t be able to finish studying this entire chapter, but between this session and the next, let’s see how far we go, and hopefully by the time we end the next session, we’ll feel more comfortable and understand better how the whole process works! And you’ll be more confident in doing your own study, of the Scripture passage selected.
Since I want to encourage all the students to do the best in studying, you will all have the same passage to study – that way, you can help each other out (not do the work FOR someone else but) working together, you will learn together as well. The passage to be studied is JOHN 15 (select any 10 to 15 verses to exposit).
TITLE
CHART: CHAPTER and PARAGRAPH TITLES
GOSPEL OF JOHN
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CHAPTER
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JOHN 10:1-42
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Chapter Title
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CHRIST – 'THE GOD
SHEPHERD'
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Paragraph Titles
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:1-2 The Door and Shepherd of sheep
:3-5
The Shepherds Voice
:6-9
Jesus ID As the Door
:10-15
The Shepherd vs. the Thief, Hireling and Wolves
:16-18
Shepherd’s
Self-Sacrifice for Sheep and Other Sheep
:19-26
Non-sheep divided over Christ the Shepherd
:27-36
The
God Shepherd, Eternal Life Giver
:37-42
Shepherds Work and John’s Witness: A Testimony |
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Key Verse(s)
*Theme | :27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. | |
Key Word(s)
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Good Shepherd, door, sheep,
voice, give life, saved
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OBSERVATION
CHART
for JOHN Chapter 10
SCRIPTURE References |
<< OBSERVATIONS: Facts of the verse (who, what, where, when, how, why); place answers to Q: here |
<< QUESTIONS: based on observational facts - leads to Interpretation. |
vs. 1: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
vs. 2-3: 2 But he that
entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his
own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
vs. 4-5: 4 And when he
putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but
will flee from him: for they know
not the voice of strangers.
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Who: Thief/Robber. What: Enters not by the door. Where: Climbs up some other way.
(how, when, why are not answered here). “Why” the thief does what he does
would involve interpretation at this point.
Who: The shepherd; also the porter
and sheep. What: the porter opens
the door; the shepherd enters by the door. Also the sheep hear His voice: Why/How: because He calls His own sheep by name. Where: He leads
them out. “When” is not answered here.
Who: “he” The shepherd; also the
sheep; also the stranger.
How does the shepherd guide his
sheep: at the lead; also the sheep follow him. But the sheep will not follow
a stranger. Why do they follow the
shepherd: because they know his
voice. Why do they not follow the
stranger. Why do they flee from
him: because they do not know his voice.
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What does the thief want to steal? What is this door? What is the sheepfold? Why does the thief climb up some
other way, and not go through the door?
Who is this shepherd? What is the job of a shepherd? Who is the porter that opens to the
Shepherd? Where does the shepherd
lead His sheep? How does the sheep
recognize the voice of the shepherd?
Who is this shepherd? Still not
answered. And the sheep? Why does
the stranger even deal with the sheep? Why
does the shepherd “go before” (lead from the front) of the sheep? Is the
stranger the same person or different than the thief/robber?
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JOHN Chapter 10
SCRIPTURE References |
OBSERVATIONS (who, what, where, when, how, why): What Does The Scripture SAY |
QUESTIONS: based on observational answers |
vs. 6: This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
vs.
7-9: 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came
before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am
the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and
out, and find pasture.
vs.
10-11:
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am
come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
vs.
12-13:
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are
not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf
catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he
is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
vs.
14-15:
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the
Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the
sheep.
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Who: Jesus; also “they”. What: Jesus spoke a parable to
“them”; also: they did not understand.
Who: Jesus; the sheep, thieves/robbers;
“them”; “if any man.
What: Jesus said “I am the door of the
sheep”; also: “if any man enters by the door shall be saved”. The sheep did
not hear thieves/robbers.
Where: he (any sheep) shall go in and out and find pasture.
When: Those that came before – are thieves/robbers.
Who: the thief; “I” (Jesus), Good
Shepherd, the sheep.
What: thief comes to steal and kill and
destroy. What: Jesus comes to give
abundant life. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
Who: hireling, shepherd, sheep, wolf. What: The hireling is not the
shepherd, not like the shepherd. He does not own the sheep or care about
them. He flees from the wolf.
The wolf: catches and scatters the sheep; the hireling flees from him.
Who: The Good Shepherd, sheep, the Father.
What: Good Shepherd knows His
sheep, the sheep know Him. The Father knows the Good Shepherd, and He knows
the Father. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
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Why did Jesus speak in parables? What is a parable? Why did “they” not understand? Who are “they”?
How is Jesus like a door? We still
don’t know who “them” are. Because the sheep don’t know the voice of
strangers or hear the thieves or robbers: Are strangers/thieves/robbers all
the same? How are they different?
Where do the sheep go, when they “go in
and out”? what is this pasture? How
is a man saved?
What does it mean to “be saved”?
Why does the thief want to steal, kill and destroy? Who is this thief? What do these three words mean? Who does he want to do this to? Who: we now know who the Shepherd is:
Jesus ID’s Himself. How does Jesus
give abundant life? Where do we
experience this abundant life? Why does
He give His life for the sheep?
How are the shepherd and the hireling different? Why doesn’t the hireling care for the
sheep and flee from the wolf, leaving sheep defenseless? What is a hireling? What
is a wolf? When does the wolf
catch and scatter the sheep?
Why is the Shepherd considered “Good”? Why does He lay down His life for the
sheep? How does He know His sheep
and the sheep know Him?
How does the Father know the Good Shepherd and He the
Father?
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SCRIPTURE References |
OBSERVATIONS (who, what, where, when, how, why) |
QUESTIONS: based on observational answers |
vs. 16:
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring,
and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one-fold, and one shepherd.
vs. 17-18: 17 Therefore
doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay
it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received
of my Father.
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Who:
other sheep, one shepherd.
What: fold; the shepherd must bring the other sheep into one-fold. Other sheep will hear His voice.
Who: The Father, no man, “me”
(Jesus).
What: The Father loves (Jesus). Jesus has the power to lay down His life and also power to take it up again. No one is able to take His life from Him.
This
commandment “I” (Jesus) received from the Father.
Why: The Father loves Jesus because
He lays down His life.
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Who
are these other sheep? What is the
“fold” spoken of here? Why are
these “other sheep” not of the first fold?
Why
must the shepherd bring the other sheep? How
do these other sheep hear the voice of the shepherd? When will there be one-fold?
What is
the conclusion to “Therefore” in
this passage? How is the love that
the Father has for the Son different than His love for us or is it?
How did Jesus meet His death: as a helpless victim or a willing sacrifice?
How
do we obey the commandments of the Father – by the same power that Jesus had
(the Holy Spirit)?
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The
12 RELATIONSHIP QUESTIONS – JOHN CH. 10
1) What things
are alike or similar?
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The
uncaring attitude of the stranger and the hireling (vs. 5,12). The porter’s
and shepherds care for the sheep (vs.3,17). The Father and Son are “one” (vs.
30); “other sheep” compared to these sheep (vs. 3,16). No one can pluck the
sheep from the Father’s hand, as well as the Son’s (vs. 28-29). The shepherd
and the sheep know each other, as does the Father and Son (vs. 14-15).
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2) What things
are different?
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The
response of the sheep to the voices of the shepherd and the stranger as well
as the thieves and robbers (vs. 3-5, 8). The shepherd’s attitude to the sheep
and the hireling’s (vs. 11-12,27). The perspective of Jesus between the Jews
(vs. 19-21).
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3) What things
are repeated?
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The
shepherd gives his life for the sheep (vs. 10-11,15,17-18). The mention of
the door (vs. 1,7), thieves and robbers (vs. 1,8), the hireling flees from
the wolf (vs.12-13).
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4) What evidence
of cause and effect do you see?
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The
shepherd calls, the sheep hear and follow (vs. 3-4); the stranger calls and
the sheep flee (vs. 5); if any one enters in through Jesus, they shall go in
and out and find pasture and be saved (vs. 9); the hireling sees the wolf and
flees (vs. 12); the hireling flees because he doesn’t care for the sheep (vs.
13).
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5)
What movement from the general to the specific do you see?
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None.
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6) What progressions are evident?
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He is the
shepherd, then the good shepherd, then the good shepherd that gives his life
for the sheep (vs. 2, 11) and knows them (vs. 14).
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7) What questions or answers are given?
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“He has a demon,
why do you listen to him?” (vs. 20). “Can a demon open the eyes of the
blind?” (vs. 21). “How long do you make us to doubt?” (vs. 24); “I have told
you and you don’t believe me. The works I do bear witness of me” (vs. 25-26).
“Many good works have I done from my
Father, for which of them do you stone me?” (vs. 32). “For a good work we
don’t stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself
to be God.” (vs. 33)
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8) What problem and solution are presented?
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The hireling
doesn’t care for the sheep; the wolf catches and scatters the sheep (vs. 12).
The good shepherd leads them and gives his life for them (vs. 4,11). The Jews
don’t recognize Jesus’ Deity (vs.33). Jesus explains that He as the Son of
God has claim to Deity even as judges of Israel were considered ‘gods’ of a
sort (PS 82:6).
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9) In what way
might the length of the passage be significant?
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None.
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10) What
relationship words are used?
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But
(vs. 1,2,5,6,8,10,11,12,18,26,33,39,41); before (vs. 4); then (vs. 7); if
(vs. 9,35,37,38); and (vs. 927-28,42); more (vs. 10); because (vs. 13, 17);
even so (vs. 15); also, must (vs. 16); therefore (vs. 17,19,39); again (vs.
19); then (vs. 25,31);
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11) What
commands do you see?
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Vs.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay
it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received
of my Father.
“…believe the works that you may know and believe that the Father is in me and I in him” vs. 38 |
12) What
promises do you see?
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Vs.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go
in and out, and find pasture.
vs. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. vs. 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Vs.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to
pluck them out of my Father's hand.
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CROSS REFERENCE
CHART on JOHN Chapter 10:1
Also May Be used for INTERPRETATION answers to questions on Observation Chart |
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Cross-Reference
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Significance
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JOHN 1:51; 3:3, 5,
11; 5:19; 6:26,32; 8:34; 10:1,7; 12:24; 13:16, 38
JOHN
14:6
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Other places where Jesus says, “Verily,
verily” (double-emphasis). Statement of great importance: pay attention to
what is said!
“climbs up some other way” as opposed to
THE Way.
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JOHN
10:1-2,7,9
GEN 6:16; EXODUS 12:7,22-23 EXODUS 29:4,42 REV 3:8; 4:1 |
“The door” - Jesus is the door.
Also, the door on the ark, providing the way of salvation from the flood judgment. Blood applied on the doors of the houses in Egypt during the Exodus, saving people from the angel of death judgment. Only one door that leads into the tabernacle, where priests are cleansed, where offerings are made in sacrifice to the LORD. One door leading into the Temple of Solomon as well (1 KINGS 6:33).
The way to heaven is by the door.
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PSALM 78:70 |
“sheepfold”
– definition: a pen, shelter, corral.
He finds his servant David among the sheepfolds |
HOSEA 7:1
MATT 24:43 MATT 26:55 |
“Thief/robber”
– bringers of falsehood, wickedness, thefts.
Satan is ‘The thief!’! Jewish guard came to arrest Jesus like thieves, under cover of dark. |
CROSS REFERENCE CHART on JOHN 10:2-6
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GEN
46:34
NUMB
27:17
PSALM
23:1
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“the shepherd” - Shepherds despised by
Egypt, just as the world despises our Shepherd, Jesus.
God directs Moses to set a leader to
guide Israel, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be as sheep w/o a
shepherd (See MARK 6:34, this is
how Jesus saw the people of Israel in His day).
“Shepherd” – God the Son, Jesus is our
shepherd (See also PSALM 80:1; ISAIAH
40:11; JER 33:12; ZECH 13:7)
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MATT
13:16,43
EPH
4:21
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“My sheep hear my voice” Blessed are
those who hear Him!
His sheep hear His voice and are taught
by Him.
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2 COR 11:13-15 JER 50:6 NUMB 16th Ch.
PSALM
49:4; MATT 13:10-17; JOHN 16:25,29
2
COR 4:4
JOHN
10:26
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“a stranger they will not follow” (vs. 12-13: same with hirelings).
False ministers who can “transform as
ministers of righteousness”
Lost sheep whose shepherds have led them
astray.
Kora led Israel astray for a time in Moses’ day. Parables.
Jesus was not understood by many – they
did not “hear His voice” (vs. 6).
The god of this world has blinded them.
They do not believe in Him, His Word
because they are not His sheep.
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CROSS REFERENCE
CHART on JOHN 10:7-11
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|
PSALM 23 EZEK 34:11-16 |
Jesus
identifies Himself as the Door as well as the Good Shepherd (vs. 7,11)
|
ACTS 4:12
JOHN 8:44; MATT 13:4;
JOB 1:13-19; MATT 13:27
JOHN 11:25; COL 3:4; 2 TIM 1:10; JOHN
15:13; HEB 7:25-27
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Salvation
only by this One Door – only through Jesus (vs. 9).
Thief’s purpose – to steal, kill and destroy (vs. 10):
Satan
is a murderer. Also, a thief.
And
a destroyer (vs. 10)
Jesus
brings abundant life! He lays down His own life for His sheep! (vs. 10-11)
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CROSS REFERENCE
CHART on JOHN 10:12-13
|
|
2 PET 2:1-3;
2 COR 11:3--4
EZEK 34:1-10, 16-19; JUDE :11;
1 PET 2:12; 3:16
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Wolves,
hirelings – stealers, persecutors and abusers of God’s flock.
False
teachers who steal good, true doctrine and replace them w/false.
False
Shepherds – who don’t care for the flock
False
accusers – who bear false witness against God’s sheep
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CROSS REFERENCE
CHART on JOHN Chapter 10:14-15
|
|
Cross-Reference
|
Significance
|
MATT 19:17
JOHN 17:3;
JOHN 17:25
1 PET 2:25
HEB 10:4-7; JOHN 3:16-17
|
Jesus
is the GOOD Shepherd – there is none good but God
Eternal
life is knowing God and Jesus Christ, abundant life (JOHN 10:10).
The
Father and Son know each Other.
Jesus
is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Who we return to after we had gone
astray (ISAIAH 53:6).
He
lays His life down for the sheep with the body He was prepared with for the
sacrifice.
|
CROSS REFERENCE
CHART on JOHN 10:16
|
|
ISAIAH 56:8; JOHN 17:20;
ACTS 15:7-9;
EPH 2:11-19
|
“other
sheep” – Gentiles who will be saved.
The
LORD will gather “others” as well as “outcast Israel”
The
LORD prayed for “them also which shall believe on Him through their word”
Peter
reminds the Jerusalem Council how God used him to preach to the Gentiles and
they believed, and received the Spirit.
Of
the Jews and Gentile believers, God has made “one new man”
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~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
INTERPRETIVE
QUESTIONS From Observation Chart ANSWERED
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|
JOHN 10:1
|
What does the thief want to steal?
A: He is entering into the sheepfold, so it’s sheep the thief is after.
What is this door?
A: The way into the Sheepfold. Jesus ID’s Himself as the Door in vs. 7.
What is the sheepfold?
A: They are the sheep of the LORD’s pasture (PSALM 23:1-2).
Why does the thief climb up some
other way, and not go through the door? A: He will get caught for his wrong
doing – it is unlawful for one to take the sheep that belongs to another!
|
JOHN 10:2-4
JOHN 10:2-4 cont’d
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Who is this shepherd? A: Jesus ID’s
Himself as the “good shepherd” JOHN
10:11.
What is the job of a shepherd? A: to
feed, tend to and protect the sheep.
Who is the porter that opens to the
Shepherd? A: Strong’s Concordance ID’s the porter as a “gate-keeper,
guardian” – The Father? JOHN 17:11.
Where does the shepherd lead His
sheep? He leads them out from the corral – into pastures to feed vs. 9.
How does the sheep recognize the
voice of the shepherd? A: They are familiar with Him, they hear and know Him
just as He knows them vs. 14. JOHN 17:3,8; We know Him PHIL 3:10; 1 JOHN 5:20; EPH 4:21.
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JOHN 10:4-5
|
Who is this shepherd? A: Jesus! Vs. 11
And
who are the sheep? A: His
disciples, His saved souls that He has redeemed; Jewish believers. Vs. 26-27
Why does the shepherd “go before”
(lead from the front) of the sheep?
So that the sheep will follow Him. It is the nature of sheep to follow the leader, not be driven from behind. PSALM 23:2,4; JOHN 10:27. |
JOHN 10:6
|
Why
did Jesus speak in parables? A: MATT
13:10-17; only those who truly seek the truth would understand them, no
one else will, note vs, 14-15.
What is a parable? A: Strong’s definition in Hebrew (4912) “a
maxim (a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct),
of a metaphorical nature; a simile, proverb” and Greek (3850) “s fictitious narrative of common life conveying a moral
lesson, something in the physical, observable life that parallels the
spiritual life and conveys a truth.” See EZEK
17:2; MATT 15:10-20.
Why
did “they” not understand? A: It’s as ISAIAH
6:9-10 stated.
Who
are “they”? A: Those who are not His sheep (vs. 26)
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JOHN 10:7-9
JOHN 10:7-9 cont’d
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How
is Jesus like a door? A: A door
provides access, whereas the walls around the door keep people out, so the
door must be used to go into the next room or in or out of the house. JOHN 14:6. There is no other way.
Because
the sheep don’t know the voice of strangers or hear the thieves or robbers: What’s
similar about strangers/thieves/robbers? A: None of them want what’s good for
the sheep. The sheep avoid them.
How
are they different? A: A stranger simply doesn’t care about them; but the
thieves and robbers intend on bringing harm to the sheep.
Where
do the sheep go, when they “go in and out”? what is this pasture? A: It is
where the sheep feed; we feed on God’s Word – bread, meat, milk: 1 COR 3:2; HEB 5:12; MATT 4:4.
How is a man saved? ROM 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
What does it mean to
“be saved”? ROM 5:8-9 “8 But God
commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through him.”
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JOHN 10:12-13
|
How are the shepherd and the
hireling different?
A:
The shepherd gives his life for the sheep (vs. 11; HEB 9:28; 10:5), but the hireling doesn’t care (like the
stranger; but is willing to tend for a
price!) The hireling is like the false shepherds of EZEK 34th ch.
Why doesn’t the hireling care for
the sheep and flee from the wolf, leaving sheep defenseless? A: Only in it
for the money (“I didn’t sign up for this wolf business!”).
What is a hireling? A: a hired
worker; hourly laborer.
What is a wolf? A: false
teacher/prophet MATT 7:15; ACTS 20:29-30
When does the wolf catch and scatter
the sheep? A: When a hireling is attending the sheep fold, not the Shepherd.
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JOHN 10:14-15
|
Why is the Shepherd considered
“Good”? A: He lays His life down for the sheep.
Why does He lay down His life for
the sheep? A: He loves them – JOHN
3:16; ROM 5:8. Obedient to the Father (vs. 17); bringing glory to God JOHN 12:27-33.
How does He know His sheep and the
sheep know Him? A: By His divine power 2
PET 1:2-3
How does the Father know the Good
Shepherd and He the Father? A: They are One (vs. 30)
|
JOHN 10:16
|
Who are these other sheep? A: Gentiles EPH 2:11-13
What
is the “fold” spoken of here? A: the church EPH 2:14-16
Why
are these “other sheep” not of the first fold? There is a difference between
Jews and Gentiles – a wall of separation that is removed in the Person of
Christ, whereby we are “made one new man” EPH 2:11-22
Why
must the shepherd bring the other sheep? Prophecy states that He will be a
light to the Gentiles, and they also will be saved. IS 11:10; 42:1; 49:6; 60:3; Jesus commissions His disciples to do
this work: MATT 28:19
How
do these other sheep hear the voice of the shepherd? The same way as the
Jews, by faith – ROM 9:30; GAL 3:14;
ACTS 15:11.
When
will there be one-fold? When Gentiles receive the Gospel of Christ and become
members of the church, the body of Christ as are the Jewish disciples ACTS 10:25-48; 15:7-9.
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The FINISHED PRODUCT – A BIBLE STUDY on JOHN Chapter TEN: The GOD SHEPHERD
JOHN 10:1-2
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
The LORD Jesus Christ, He is the DOOR and also the SHEPHERD of His sheep. The LORD is emphatic when He states that if anyone comes into the sheepfold any other way (other than through Him), that one is a thief and a robber and is opposed to THE only Way into the sheepfold, Christ Himself!
JESUS the ONLY DOOR TO LIFE, and the FATHER
We read the same thing in JOHN 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
He doesn’t just say, “I say unto you” or even “verily, I say unto you” but rather “verily, verily”! That’s a strong statement! He says this elsewhere to Nathaniel concerning the prophetic proofs that this disciple will witness in the ministry of the LORD, that He is indeed the Messiah (JOHN 1:51) – healing the blind, the maimed, the deaf, casting out demonic spirits, raising the dead, and even the resurrection of the LORD Himself.
He used this phrase “verily, verily” in His conversation with Nicodemus, referring to the necessity of the spiritual rebirth that one must experience in order to see and enter into the Kingdom of God (JOHN 3:3-5).
He used this in twenty-five other places in Scripture – interestingly enough, all within the Gospel of John and no other Gospel! He said “Verily, verily” to the Pharisees and the disciples referring to the necessity of His own death and resurrection in JOHN 12:24,27.
And these thieves and robbers: what are they interested in, what they are intent on stealing is obvious; that since they are climbing up the wall to get into the sheepfold, the thing that they are after, are the sheep! Satan is intent on stealing from us, killing and destroying us – more on this in vs. 10.
JESUS THE SHEPHERD, KNOWN BY HIS VOICE
JOHN 10:3-5
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth 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 will they not follow but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
The Shepherd is allowed in by the porter who guards the sheep – that was the job of a porter, or ‘gate-keeper’: to watch over the sheep in the sheepfold and to stand watch at the gate and allow no one in except for the shepherd.
And Jesus identifies Himself not just as “the shepherd” – of all the things for God to be identified as: a “shepherd” a profession that was despised by Egyptians (GEN 46:34), and just as Egypt (a type of the world) despised shepherds, so too does this world despise our Shepherd; but He is “the good shepherd” (in vs. 11), just as He identified Himself as the Door (in vs. 7).
God the Father called Moses to lead His people so that they would not be as sheep without a shepherd (NUM 27:17), and yet this is exactly how Jesus saw people, and had compassion of them (MARK 6:34)! For verses on God as our Shepherd, see PSALM 80:1; ISAIAH 40:11; JER 33:12; ZECH 13:7.
So, we know who the shepherd is – that’s Jesus. But who is this porter then? Perhaps it’s the Father?
JOHN 17:11
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
He calls His sheep by name – He knows them all personally, and they know Him, they recognize His voice. It’s the job of any shepherd to 1) feed His sheep, 2) to protect and defend them, and also 3) to tend to their needs. And this, the LORD Jesus does with excellence! Certainly, the sheep know the One Who takes such good care of them and loves them. And who are His sheep? Of course, His disciples – His followers! These are precious ones that the porter (the Father) and the shepherd (Jesus) keep and protect (as seen below: JOHN 10:27-29):
JOHN 10:26-29
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
It’s interesting that the shepherd “goes before” His sheep who “follow [Him]”– he doesn’t walk behind them and drive them: that’s how goat herders guide their flocks, but not with shepherds: they go in front and lead their sheep – and it’s the nature of sheep to follow the one who leads them (see PSALM 23:2,4). He is the Shepherd who leads us in our Christian life as our example that we follow. The sheep hear the voice of their shepherd (MATT 13:16,43; EPH 4:21).
“A stranger they will not follow” (vs. 5): false apostles are dangerous strangers to the sheep (2 COR 11:13-15); Korah was not a shepherd to Israel as was Moses (NUMBERS 16); lost sheep without a true shepherd will be captured by abusive strangers, false shepherds (JER 50:6).
JESUS, the PARABLE TELLER
JOHN 10:6
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Why did Jesus speak in parables anyway?
The POINT OF PARABLES: A Word Study
What is a parable? STRONG’s definition in Hebrew (4912) “a maxim (a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct), of a metaphorical nature; a simile, proverb” and Greek (3850) “s fictitious narrative of common life conveying a moral lesson, something in the physical, observable life that parallels the spiritual life and conveys a truth.” See NUM 23:7,18; EZEK 17:2; MATT 15:10-20. It was prophesied that the LORD would speak in parables:
PSALM 78:1-4
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
WHY DID JESUS SPEAK IN PARABLES?
The disciples asked this question of the LORD (vs. 10) and He provided the answer (vs. 11-13) and then related this phenomenon to a prophecy from ISAIAH 6:8-10. He then explained to His disciples that they will see and understand spiritual matters that the prophets and righteous men of the OT wanted to understand but didn’t; reason being, the Messiah Who would reveal such deep truth was not yet revealed Himself.
MATT 13:10-13
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because, it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing, see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
The disciples were privileged to have “mysteries” revealed to them that explained what the kingdom of heaven is all about; but the religious leaders of Israel would be blinded (2 COR 4:4) to their significance and wouldn’t understand.
“the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” – mustérion in the Greek: anything hidden, a mystery; a mystery, secret, of which initiation is necessary; in the NT: the counsels of God, once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation. A mystery is not something unknowable. Rather, it is what can only be known through revelation, i.e. because God reveals it. See 1 COR 2:7.
The Ten Mysteries: The mystery of God’s will (EPH 1:9); the mystery of Christ (EPH 3:4,9; COL 1:27; 4:3; and of God the Father and Christ: COL 2:2); the mystery of the Gospel (EPH 6:19); the mystery of iniquity (2 THESS 2:7); mystery of the faith (1 TIM 3:9); mystery of godliness (1 TIM 3:16); the mystery of the seven stars (REV 1:20); the mystery of God (REV 10:7); mystery of the Mother of Harlots (REV 17:5,7).
The mystery of the kingdom of heaven is one that Christ Himself revealed to His disciples because “whoever has, to them it shall be given, and he shall have more abundance” and to those “who have not, what little they have, it shall be taken away” but what is “it”? I believe it is not only the truth, but the love for the truth – the disciples had it, the religious leaders didn’t.
For those who have no love for the truth, the truth hidden inside of the parables that Jesus taught would remain hidden, and whatever little truth such as these had, they would eventually lose. The disciples loved Jesus, loved the truth (JOHN 14:6) and He called them His friends, and to His friends (not servants) a person shares everything (JOHN 15:14-15).
MATT 13:14-17
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
A parable therefore is a means of revealing and conveying truth to those who truly desire truth and want to understand God (“he that has ears to hear, let him hear [understand]” MARK 4:9).
It is also a judgment and a mercy at the same time: on those who truly do not want the truth, nor care to understand God. It is a judgment because it reveals their dullness of understanding and of their insensitive heart and their blind eyes; it is also a mercy, because had they understood these deeper truths that they would reject anyways, they would be responsible for rejecting it which would bring even greater, more severe judgment!
There are seven kingdom parables that the LORD spoke of in MATTHEW 13. Each of these parables examines different aspects of the kingdom of heaven – as they relate to the LORD, His Word, His love for souls, Satan and his mission to destroy God’s work, true and false believers, corruption and judgment.
1) The parable of the sower of the seed – MATT 13:3-9; the Word as the seed, four different soils representing four different heart conditions, only one bore lasting fruit. We see the enemy at work as well as rebellious human nature in quenching spiritual birth and growth in the fowls of the air, the stony ground, the thorns and thistles.
2) The parable of the wheat and the tares – MATT 13:24-30; here we see the contrast between the wheat (true believers) and the tares, and how they are indistinguishable until the wheat bares fruit. We see that the tares planted (false believers) is a work of the enemy. We see the ultimate end of both.
3) The parable of the mustard seed – MATT 13:31-32; here is where we understand how the church will mutate, and grow unnaturally large, becoming something that it was never intended to be – becoming overwhelmed with the unconverted, apostates, and false teachers – that would eventually have demonic influences inhabiting it – i.e., the Mother of Harlots (REV 17 & 18).
4) The parable of the leaven in the dough – MATT 13:33; this elaborates the truth of the professing church, that it would become corrupted with leaven, a type of sin, pride and false teaching.
5) The parable of the treasure hidden in the field – MATT 13:44; this expresses God’s passion and heart for lost souls, that He would spend the blood of His only begotten Son, to purchase all of the world, to gain the treasure it contains – those who have and will embrace Christ as LORD.
6) The parable of the pearl of great price – MATT 13:45-46; this is a beautiful picture of the bride of Christ: pearls are not kosher but prized among the Gentiles, and so the church is primarily Gentile, not Jewish. The pearl is a thing of beauty, initially created by an irritant that the oyster coats with mother of pearl, until it develops into a wondrous ornament suitable for a bride to wear. It is created by ‘persecution and suffering’, developed in secret, not seen, brought up to become a thing of glory – much like the bride of Christ.
7) The parable of the catch of fish in the net – MATT 13:47-50; signifies the time of judgment between the righteous and the damned.
The religious leaders didn’t understand the LORD’s parable about the shepherd and the sheep in JOHN 10:1-6. They were simply not His sheep, and they did not hear His voice – nor understand the Shepherd. They were those not interested in the Word of Truth, the Word of the LORD as described in ISAIAH 6:9-10.
JESUS, the DOOR of SALVATION:
JOHN 10:7-9
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Jesus is the Door to the Father, the Door to Truth, and to Life; this Door is the only Way to eternal life (JOHN 14:6). Doors are means of access – you can’t get from one room to the other without them (unless you have a sledgehammer! But that’s a LOT of work, and messy!).
There was only one door into the ark, where one could be saved from the flood judgment (GEN 6:16); The blood that God instructed the Hebrews to shed when they were slaves in Egypt, to avoid the angel of death coming and killing their first born was to be applied to the door – not the windows, or the roof, or a wall – but the door (EXOD 12:7, 22-23); likewise there was only one door that led into the tabernacle as God instructed Moses in its building and dimensions, where the priests were cleansed and sacrifices made (EXOD 29:4,42).
These are all types or examples of how Jesus is the Ultimate Door of Salvation.
One cannot enter into eternal life, that is, the kingdom of God without Jesus, Who alone enables us to be saved (ACTS 4:12), born again of the Spirit (JOHN 3:3,5), thereby becoming a child of God (JOHN 1:12-13) and thus, having access to God as the Father, access to the throne of grace (HEB 4:16), and the right of entry into heaven as a citizen of such (PHIL 3:20).
Where do the sheep “go in and out and find pasture”? What is this pasture? It is where the sheep are fed, and we feed upon the Word of God, upon Jesus Who is our spiritual nourishment: He is our bread, our milk and our meat – 1 COR 3:2; HEB 5:12; MATT 4:4.
How is one saved?
ROM 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
What does it mean to be saved?
ROM 5:8-9
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
1 PET 2:9-10
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
The GOOD SHEPHERD vs. The Thief, Hireling and Wolves:
JOHN 10:10-15
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
See how these are the very opposites, the Shepherd and these thieves (and robbers and wolves): The Shepherd is all about serving the sheep, giving to them, imparting life to them (JOHN 11:25; COL 3:4)), laying His very own life down for them – He repeats this in vs. 10, 11, 15, 17 and 18. He saves them (HEB 9:28; 10:5) – whereas the thieves are all about stealing the sheep, destroying and killing them; or at the least, profiting off them.
Strangers don’t want anything to do with them; hirelings are also indifferent to the sheep and only interested in monetary gain (these are described perfectly in EZEK 34th Chapter!); thieves, robbers and wolves all seek to harm the sheep, to prey upon them, to destroy them and kill them.
Those who come up “some other way” – these are the same that are the thieves and robbers, who don’t want to get noticed; so, they try to sneak in to the sheep covertly (not through the door way where they will be spotted and stopped). The sheep don’t hear them nor know the voice of strangers because none of these wants what’s good for the sheep – the sheep avoid them.
Who is the ultimate example of the thief who steals, kills and destroys?
Our chief adversary, Satan! Other things can steal from us as well however: laziness, idleness can steal our time; worry can steal our peace; not counting our blessings can steal our joy; allowing our conscience to condemn us after Christ has forgiven us can steal our experiencing God’s love for us.
~ He is a thief that steals the Word of God from people (MATT 13:4).
~ He is also a destroyer that wants to ruin through deception (JOHN 8:44b) and by devouring (JOB 1:13-19; MATT 13:27; 1 PET 5:8).
~ He is also a murderer that wants to kill off our spiritual life (JOHN 8:44a).
Satan is identified as one who seeks to “steal” (JOHN 10:10) as well as to “kill” and “destroy”; he is identified as a “murderer” and a “[father of lies] liar” (JOHN 8:44) – two things that thieves are prone to do to get what they want.
1) “steal” – klepto: the act of a thief, to steal; we get the word kleptomaniac from this Greek word. The compulsion to steal things that have no value or worth personally, and often discarded afterwards. We have no value or worth to Satan, but he is compelled by his evil nature in desiring to remove us from God and His beneficence and discards us as trash afterwards once his use of us is finished.
2) “kill” – thuo: to sacrifice, (by fire); to slaughter, slay a victim. Satan is a bully, and he is intent on victimizing us, willingly sacrificing us to fulfill his agenda of interfering with and disrupting the Kingdom of God.
3) “destroy” – apollumi: to ruin, with a sense of loss, spiritual destitution; not a loss of being, but of well-being. While Satan cannot steal salvation from us, he can deceive us, lure us into the carnal appetites, enslave us and bring us to spiritual ruin.
Indeed, Jesus is the Good Shepherd as the LORD is portrayed in PSALM 23 as well as EZEK 34:11-16. He brings abundance of life that is eternal in nature; He is able to impart this abundant life through the Holy Spirit (ROM 8:2,6,10; 2 COR 3:6) and those who possess it shall never perish and no one can pluck us out of God the Father and God the Son’s hands:
KEY PASSAGE of the CHAPTER: A Portion to Commit to Memory
JOHN 10:27-29
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
This life is resurrected life as well (COL 3:4; JOHN 11:25; 2 TIM 1:10); He lays His own life down for us as our Friend (JOHN 15:13; HEB 10:4-7); this sacrifice He offered freely and once for all time (HEB 7:25-27) and is all sufficient (HEB 10:10-12).
Wolves and hirelings are stealers, persecutors and abusers of God’s flock; these are false teachers that steal the good and true doctrine and replace them with false (ACTS 20:29-30; 2 PET 2:1-3; 2 COR 11:3-4; false shepherds (EZEK 34 as already mentioned); and false accusers and abusers JUDE 11; 1 PET 2:12; 3:16). Those who are under a hireling must expect wolves to enter in; therefore, it’s in one’s spiritual best interest to be under a genuine shepherd that truly loves the sheep!
The GOOD SHEPHERD is the SHEPHERD WHO IS GOD
At the beginning of this chapter, Jesus identifies Himself as the Shepherd, but later He refers to Himself as “the Good Shepherd” – just as the rich young ruler once called Him “Good Master”, to which Jesus responded with “There is none good but God” (MATT 19:16-17a), thus He rightly claims Deity for Himself as The GOOD SHEPHERD Who is GOD (JOHN 10:30 – “I and the Father are one (“echad” or a unified one, or unit). “The LORD (YHWH) is my shepherd” (PS 23:1).
Still, the religious leaders are divided among themselves because of Jesus – some disregard Him, while others are not quite so quick to doubt Him, and none of them are prepared to accept His Deity (See vs. 20-24) even though He had shown them such miraculous signs that only the Messiah would do (vs. 25-26).
This life that He imparts as the GOD SHEPHERD is eternal, and this is by the knowing God personally as our Father and Jesus Christ as well; just as the Father and Son know each other (JOHN 17:3,25). As we know Jesus, He knows us intimately (EPH 4:20-21; REV 3:8-9); this life is abundant (JOHN 10:10). Jesus is the Shepherd and Bishop (“over seer”) of our souls (1 PET 2:25) Who we return to after we had gone astray (ISAIAH 53:6).
The SHEPHERD’s SACRIFICE For His SHEEP – AND OTHER SHEEP BESIDES
JOHN 10:16
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one-fold, and one shepherd.
Who are these “other sheep”? These are Gentiles who will be saved (JOHN 17:20).
ISAIAH 56:8
8 The Lord God, which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
The LORD prayed for “them also which shall believe on Him through their (apostles) word.” Both Jews and Gentiles. Peter reminded the Jerusalem Council how God used him to preach to the Gentiles (Cornelius the Roman Centurion and his household in ACTS 10) and they believed and received the Spirit (ACTS 15:7-9). Paul the apostle states that God created a singular new man that was neither Jew nor Gentile, but members of the body of Christ – the church:
EPH 2:13-15
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace (see vs. 11-19 for the entire context).
“…this fold…” – the Jewish believers as opposed to the “other sheep” – Gentiles. Why are these other sheep not of this fold? Because of a “wall of separation” that is removed in the Person of Christ, and thus we are made “one new man”.
Why will the shepherd bring these other sheep? Because He loves them as much as He does “this fold” for one; also, because it’s a fulfillment of prophecy:
ISAIAH 11:10
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. See also IS 42:1; 49:6; 60:3. The LORD Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into ALL nations to do this work of the Gospel (MATT 28:19).
How do these other sheep hear the voice of the Shepherd? The same as the Jews: by faith:
ROMANS 9:30
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. See also ACTS 15:11; GAL 3:14.
When will there be a single sheepfold? When the Gentiles come to salvation and are baptized into the body of Christ (ACTS 10:25-48; 15:7-9).
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