John 10:1–11 Sermon

Scripture

John 10:1–11 ESV

1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “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 listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by 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.

John 10:1–21 ESV

1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “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 listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by 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 does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just 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 that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” 19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

John 10:1–6 ESV

1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

Outline

1. Introduction

2. The Metaphor (v.1-6)

3. The Explanation (v.7-11)

1. Introduction

In John chapter 9, we have the event where there was a man born blind.

Jesus healed him of his blindness and then there was series of events.

The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar brought him to the Pharisees.

The Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight. After telling them how Jesus had healed him they said about Jesus that he was not from God. Others also said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

17 So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

They called for his parents and they confirmed that he was who he said he was.

And after asking him repeatedly about his healing, getting his parents to confirm that he was who he said he was, they cast him out.

John 9:35–39 ESV

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .

John 9:35–41 ESV

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

The miracle in John chapter 9 was not that the man who was born blind from birth was healed but that he worshipped.

Which is only a work of God.

John 9:1–5 ESV

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Being blind to Jesus as the light of the world is true blindness.

37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

He saw and believed Jesus to be the Son of Man. Which meant that He believed and worshipped the Messiah promised.

After this, Jesus was questioned again by some of the Pharisees.

John 9:40–41 ESV

40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.

Their guilt remaining meant that they proved to be those that did not do what the man who was healed did. Which was believe in Jesus as the Son of Man (the Messiah) and worshipping Jesus because He was God.

Which was believe in Jesus as the Son of Man (the Messiah) and worshipping Jesus because He was God.

They thought Jesus to be a sinner. Which would mean that their approach to God did not require them to believe in Jesus as the way.

They were blind and could not see Jesus for who He was.

Our text today addresses this issue. Where Jesus uses a metaphor and then explains the metaphor.

Outline

English Standard Version Chapter 9

The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar

1. Introduction

2. The Metaphor (v.1-6)

3. The Explanation (v.7-11)

3. The Division (v.20-21)

2. The Metaphor (v.1-6)

Read Verse 1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

A metaphor is a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else.

Jesus here begins to speak of a metaphor to explain a very important point about Himself.

And notice that He begins by saying Truly, truly.

This was said to make sure that the listener is listening. Another way of saying it is: “I tell you the truth.”

Jesus does this about 25 times in the gospel of John.

It was meant to convey a strong claim to truth. It also meant that the person making the claim knew their claim first hand.

So what would follow was a point that Jesus not only would make, but one that He knew first hand.

Verse 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.”

a) he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door

The NASB says it this way,

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.

Here Jesus is speaking of a man who is not entering by the door into the fold of the sheep.

Here Jesus is speaking of a man who is not entering by the door into the fold of the sheep.

b) but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

So the man climbing into the sheepfold by another way is a thief and a robber.

A thief simply meant a person who steals.

And a robber meant a person who robbed by force and was violent.

Question: Why would a man who climbed another way into the sheep be a thief and a robber?

Proper entry into the sheep in those days was through the gate where the sheep were led in.

But a thief would climb, not where the entrance was because that is where the shepherd would be, but they were climbing in another way to avoid the gate/door because that is where the shepherd would be.

Some have pointed out that shepherds would often lie across the entrance to guard the sheep and to act as human shields to keep them safe.

Jesus in this figure of speech makes it clear that those who do not enter though the door is a thief and a robber.

They climb in another way which speaks of their intent to steal, kill and destroy.

This speaks of their intent.

Then He goes on in verse 2 to say,

Read Verse 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

So we see two people here:

The thief who is a robber

The Shepherd of the sheep

One climbs in another way with the intent to steal, kill and destroy the sheep.

The shepherd enters the door not with the intent to steal, kill and destroy but to give life.

He already owned them.

The shepherd cared for His sheep. They belonged to him.

And what this shepherd would do is what shepherds did normally with the sheep. He would call them.

Read Verse 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

a) Notice first that the sheep heard His voice.

They hear the voice of the shepherd who had entered through the gate.

He enters where He was supposed to in order to call to them.

But the thief doesn’t call them. They rob them. They steal them by climbing in another way.

The thief does not know the name of the sheep. But the shepherd does.

b) he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

The shepherd in this metaphor was one who knew the sheep individually and carefully. Which spoke of his care and love for the sheep.

He was their owner and guide. He was truly a shepherd. Calling them out by name. Individually.

He called his own sheep by name and He would then lead them out.

We as belei\\vers in Jesus

They are led out by the shepherd. But the thief does not lead them out. They are stolen and taken out.

Read Verse 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

a) he goes before them

In bringing the sheep out, the shepherd goes before them and He leads them.

And the reason for them following Him is that they know His voice.

But would they follow someone else?

for they know his voice.

They do say that sheep are dumb. Would they follow another?

Read Verse 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

The voice of strangers are those who have climbed in another way.

They are those who do not know the sheep by name.

They are foreigners who come with the intent to steal, kill and destroy.

So this was a metaphor used by Jesus.

Read Verse 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Jesus goes on to explain this because they did not understand what He was saying.

He was making a point about who He was.

John 20:31 ESV

31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

A point that would again speak of

Jesus would go on to explain in verses 7-11..

3. The Explanation (v.7-11)

Read Verse 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

Notice again Jesus saying Truly, truly.

Remember that:

It was meant to convey a strong claim to truth. And the person making the claim knew their claim first hand.

The door to the sheep was the proper way of entering the sheep. The sheep being the people of God.

Jesus said to them, “I am the door of the sheep.”

The sheep being the people of God..

Remember also what Jesus said in verse 1.

John 10:1 ESV

1 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

John

So Jesus is saying that any other way into the sheepfold (climbing in by another way) proves that those who do this, are thieves and robbers.

We know that a thief and a robber are used in the New Testament to describe those who are criminal.

There were two robbers who were crucified with Christ ()

Judas was called a thief proving that he didn’t care about the poor ()

Jesus in the parable of the good samaritan began with a man who fell among robbers who stripped him, beat him and left him half dead ()

So we know from description and use in the New Testament that being called a thief and a robber was descriptive for men who were criminal and sinful.

Specifically, in our text today it is speaking of those who tried to enter the sheepfold another way.

This is talking about those who enter in the sheepfold for evil intentions which has happened before.

Verse 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

Read Verse 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.

An example of what Jesus is talking about here can be found in .

The rebuke here in Ezekiel was to kings, priests, and prophets who took advantage of the flock for personal gain.

Kings and leaders were often referred to as shepherds.

Ezekiel 34:1–10 ESV

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; 6 they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. 7 “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.

Ezekiel 3

The MacArthur Study Bible Chapter 34

34:2 prophesy against the shepherds. The reference was to preexilic leaders such as kings, priests, and prophets, i.e., false ones who fleeced the flock for personal gain (vv. 3, 4) rather than fed or led righteously (as 22:25–28; Jer. 14, 23; Zech. 11). This stands in contrast to the Lord as Shepherd in Pss. 23; 80:1; Is. 40:11; Jer. 31:10; Luke 15:4, 5; John 10:1ff.

The rebuke here in Ezekiel was to kings, priests, and prophets who took advantage of the flock for personal gain.

They fed themselves while starving the people of God (the sheep).

34:2 prophesy against the shepherds. The reference was to preexilic leaders such as kings, priests, and prophets, i.e., false ones who fleeced the flock for personal gain (vv. 3, 4) rather than fed or led righteously (as 22:25–28; , ; ). This stands in contrast to the Lord as Shepherd in ; ; ; ; , ; .

, i.e., false ones who fleeced the flock for personal gain (vv. 3, 4) rather than fed or led righteously (as 22:25–28; , ; ). This stands in contrast to the Lord as Shepherd in ; ; ; ; , ; .

(vv. 3, 4) rather than fed or led righteously (as 22:25–28; , ; ). This stands in contrast to the Lord as Shepherd in ; ; ; ; , ; .

The reference was to preexilic leaders such as kings, priests, and prophets, i.e., false ones who fleeced the flock for personal gain (vv. 3, 4) rather than fed or led righteously (as 22:25–28; , ; ). This stands in contrast to the Lord as Shepherd in ; ; ; ; , ; .

This is who the thieves and robbers were before Jesus (the Good Shepherd) appeared. And they were those who the sheep did not listen to.

And they were those who the sheep did not listen to.

Their voices were foreign to them.

They did not know the sheep. They could not call them by name because they did not care for them.

There are thieves and robbers today.

They speak of another gospel

They feed themselves while starving the people of God

They do not know the Good Shepherd

They lead people astray with a false gospel

They believe that one can enter the fold another way

But there in no other way. There is only one way. There is only one door.

Read Verse 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

If someone believes and teaches another way other than the door (Jesus Christ) this proves that one has not come to saving faith.

So any other way other than Jesus Christ proves that one has not come to saving faith.

In fact, our text would call out their intentions. Which is that they want to steal, kill and destroy.

They call themselves shepherds but are in fact thieves and robbers.

Jesus said, I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

It is very important to note that this is talking specifically about a person and not the devil. Even though the devil is a liar and a murderer, the Scriptures never directly call Satan a thief and a robber.

Here in our context

Read Verse 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

This is not speaking of Satan but of those who:

do not enter the sheepfold by the door but climb in by another way

are strangers to the fold of God

who’s voices are not known

who’s desire is destroy the people of God

Those who come to steal, kill and destroy are those who try to come into the fold of God by another way.

They come with another gospel. Another way they say that one can get to God.

But Jesus being the only way to God the Father came to give abundant life.

Which meant more than enough life. Which would be eternal life.

This is what the thieves and robbers are trying to steal by climbing in another way into the fold and ravaging people with a false gospel. Another way.

The evidence of a stranger to the people of God can be seen in what these thieves and robbers are saying.

Are they speaking of Jesus Christ as the door?

Are they feeding themselves and self indulgent?

Are they teaching strange doctrines that are contrary to what is written in Holy Scripture?

Are they doing what Jesus did for His people?

Are they tethered to the word of God?

Question: What did Jesus do?

English Standard Version Chapter 10

he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way

Read Verse 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Verse 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

Verse 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

Verse 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

Verse 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Verse 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Verse 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.

Verse 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Verse 19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.

19 There was again a division among the Jews because of these words.

3. The Division (v.20-21)

20 Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?”

21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Notes

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Opening Up John’s Gospel Bad Shepherds (10:1–10)

Some commentators point out that shepherds would often lie across the entrance to these pens, thus acting as human shields.

5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

The evidence of a stranger to the people of God can be seen by their self indulgent message and lifestyle where they feed themselves and are lovers of self.

But the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Question: How did He lay down His life for His sheep?

ESV / 37 helpful votes

1 John 4:9–10 ESV

9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Propitiation: the removal of wrath by the offering of a gift.

Jesus willingly laid His life down.

John 10:18 ESV

18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

L. Morris, “Propitiate; Propitiation,” ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 1004.

By doing this Jesus set the example for us to follow.

1 John 3:16 ESV

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

There are many who are trying to steal and rob the people of God with a false gospel which can be seen in how they live and in what they believe and preach.

But we who are His sheep and know His voice. We are those who have been drawn by the Father to the Son so that we can rejoice and find encouragement for our souls by seeing Jesus as the door and the only way to eternal life.

Which is the point. Jesus the Good Shepherd laid down His life for His sheep. And those who are blind, whom the Father draws, will see Him and worship Him and have eternal life.

But those who say they see and yet reject Jesus will be left their guilt and they will be left with eternal ruin and destruction.

So believe and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. Believe that He rose again on the third day and you will be saved!