The Good Shepherd and the False Shepherds (John 10:1-18 ). The way that the parable opens emphasises the fact that the parable is as much about the false shepherds as it is about the true. It is a studied warning against looking to false teachers and false leaders, although having said that it at the same time contrasts and highlights the true Shepherd. read more
“I am the doorway. By me if any man enter in he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” ‘I am the doorway of the sheep’ (compare John 10:7). Jesus is both the good shepherd and the doorway. All who would come to the Father must do so through the doorway. And those who do come through Him will be saved. As mentioned very often this would be literally true of a Middle Eastern shepherd. Once his flock were safely in the sheepfold he would lie across the entrance acting as the... read more
John 10. The Close of the Ministry in Jerusalem. [85] John 10:1-Ecclesiastes : . The Good Shepherd.— The first part of this chapter records Jesus’ teaching on true and false leadership. In John 10:1-Deuteronomy : we have a close resemblance to the Synoptic parable, with one dominant idea. The true leader, wielding the authority of one sent by God, calls out the willing obedience of the led. It arises directly out of the circumstances of the case. As usual the words, “ Verily, verily”... read more
Our Saviour here lets us know, that he meant by the door, in the former verse, the door of salvation; the way by which every man must enter into life that findeth life; not the door only by which every true pastor must enter into the church, but by which every soul that shall be saved must enter into heaven; which is the doctrine which he before taught, John 3:16,John 3:18,John 3:36. And he, who so believeth in me, shall be so guided, and governed, and taught, that he shall be secure, and want... read more
EXPLANATORY AND CRITICAL NOTESJohn 10:1-21 contain a discourse on false and true leaders and teachers in reference to Christ, under the allegoric parable of the fold and the good shepherd. The enmity of the Pharisees displayed toward Jesus after the miracle of healing the man born blind led to the assertion of John 9:39. “Are we blind also?” wonderingly asked some of the Pharisees. “You boast that you are not,” is the reply. “You have the light of the divine word, etc., but are wilfully blind... read more
DISCOURSE: 1662THE GOOD SHEPHERDJohn 10:9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.THE importance of sound doctrine cannot be too strongly insisted on. Error, especially in the fundamentals of religion, is as destructive as vice. In innumerable instances, it brings both those who propagate, and those who receive it, into eternal ruin: hence St. Paul denounced anathemas against any one, even though he should be an angel from heaven,... read more
Chapter 10So chapter 10, it would seem to be as just a continuation of this whole movement here of the blind man receiving his sight, being put out by the organized religious system, being taken in by Jesus Christ. And so Jesus said,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 ( John 10:1 ).Now later on He said, "I am the door." If a man tries to come by any other system, by any other way,... read more
John 10:1 . He that entereth not by the door is a thief and a robber. After the scribes had formed a plot against the life of the good shepherd, he told them that they were not the children of Abraham, but were of the serpent’s race. He now denounces them as impostors in the sanctuary, and not “moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon them that office and ministry.” They had assumed the sacred dignities for bread, for honour, for the splendour of robes to command the respect of the people. They... read more
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James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary - John 10:9
CHRIST THE DOOR‘I am the Door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.’ John 10:9 It is an open question whether the text refers to priests only, or to priests and people alike. The latter seems preferable. I. The fullness of the Christian life.( a) Security. ‘He shall be saved.’ Salvation placed in the forefront as the very beginning of the Christian life, from which all else in it must start and find its guarantee of permanence.( b) ... read more