1Christ declareth himself to be the door, and the good shepherd. 19Various opinions concerning him. 22He proveth to the Jews by his works that he is the Christ, and asserteth his unity with the Father. 31The Jews go about to stone him; he justifieth his doctrine; 39and escaping from them goeth beyond Jordan, where many believe on him.
1VERILY, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by 1the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up 2some other way, 3the same is a thief and a 4robber.
1 That is, by a lawful and Divine calling, accompanied with the doctrine of truth, Gal. 1:8, 9; Heb. 5:4.
2 That is, intrudes himself into the church of God by unlawful means, or brings in false doctrine, Jer. 23:21; 2 John verse 10.
3 That is, he does as thieves and murderers, who do not come to defend the sheep, but either by craft or violence to steal the same.
4 Gr. a plunderer, a freebooter, a brigand.
2But he that entereth in by the door is 5the shepherd of the sheep.
5 That is, a true and honest shepherd.
3To 6him the porter openeth; and the sheep 7hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep 8by name, and 9leadeth them out.
6 That is, the Lord God makes him by His Spirit a shepherd of His sheep, assures him thereof, and blesses his ministry, Isa. 61:1; Acts 13:2 and 20:28.
7 That is, obey and follow his doctrine.
8 That is, each in particular, 2 Tim. 2:19.
9 Namely, into a good pasture, Psalm 23:1, 2.
4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth 10before them, and the sheep follow him: for they 11know his voice.
10 Namely, with an exemplary conduct in doctrine and life, to show them the right way, and to turn away dangers from them, Heb. 12:2.
11 That is, discern, namely, by the spirit of discretion, 1 Cor. 2:15.
5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6This 12parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not 13what things they were which he spake unto them.
12 Gr. paroimia, that is, parable, whereof see Mat. 13:3.
13 That is, what Christ means by this parable. Therefore He expounds more clearly the same unto them in that which follows.
7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the 14door of the sheep.
14 Namely, through which the shepherds as well as the sheep must enter into the church and into life, John 14:6.
8All that ever came 15before me are thieves and robbers: but 16the sheep did not hear them.
15 Namely, either considering themselves to be this Door, or, showing another entrance into salvation, Acts 4:12.
16 That is, the elect and true children of God.
9 Ia am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall 17go in and out, and find 18pasture.
a John 14:6.
17 That is, live in communion with Me with a quiet conscience, Deut. 28:6; Psalm 121:6, 7, 8.
18 That is, spiritual food for the soul, Ezek. 34:14.
10The thief 19cometh 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 20abundantly.
19 Namely, unto the sheepfold.
20 Namely, of grace and of glory, here and hereafter, John 1:16; 2 Peter 1:3, 4.
11 Ib am the good 21shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his 22life for the sheep.
b Isa. 40:11; Ezek. 34:23; Heb. 13:20; 1 Peter 5:4.
21 Namely, before promised by God, Ezek. 34:23; Zech. 13:7, and elsewhere. Previously He has called Himself the Door, here He calls Himself the Shepherd; both agree very well to Him in different respect.
22 Gr. soul.
12Butc he that is 23an 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.
c Zech. 11:16.
23 That is, he who keeps the sheep, looks only or primarily at the temporal reward and not at the safety and welfare of the sheep, Ezek. 34:2, 3, 8.
13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, 24and careth not for the sheep.
24 That is, cares more for himself than for the sheep.
14I am the good shepherd, and knowd25my sheep, and am known of mine.
d 2 Tim. 2:19.
25 Namely, Mine Own, that is, My elect believers.
15Ase the Father knoweth me, 26even so know I the Father: and I lay down 27my life for the sheep.
e Mat. 11:27; Luke 10:22; John 6:46; 7:29.
26 Or, and I know the Father.
27 Gr. my soul, that is, shall shortly give up My life unto death for them, Mat. 20:28.
16And 28other sheep I have, which are not of this 29fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my 30voice; andf there shall be one 31fold, and one shepherd.
28 Namely, the elect from among the Gentiles.
29 Namely, of the Jewish church, John 11:51, 52.
30 That is, doctrine, held forth unto them by the apostles, and other faithful ministers of the Word.
f Ezek. 37:22.
31 That is, one church consisting both of Jews and Gentiles. Eph. 2:13, 14.
17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down myg life, that I might take it again.
g Isa. 53:12.
18No man 32taketh it from me, but I lay it down 33of myself. Ih have power to lay it down, and I have power to 34take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
32 Namely, against My will.
33 That is, willingly, Psalm 40:8; Heb. 10:10.
h John 2:19.
34 That is, to raise Myself up again from the dead, by My Divine power, John 2:19.
19¶Therei was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
i John 7:12; 9:16.
20And many of them said, Hej hath 35a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
j John 7:20; 8:48, 52.
35 Or, an unclean spirit.
21Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Cank a devil open the eyes of the blind?
k Exod. 4:11; Psalm 94:9; 146:8.
22¶And it was at Jerusalem the 36feast of the dedication, and 37it was winter.
36 Gr. egkainia, which was a feast instituted by Judas Maccabeus and the Jews, in remembrance of the dedication of the altar and the purging of the temple in the time of king Antiochus, who had defiled the temple and worship of God, to be kept yearly for eight days together. See hereof 1 Maccabees 4:59.
37 For, this feast began from the twenty-fifth day of the month chisleu, which for the most part answers to our December.
23And Jesus walked in the temple inl38Solomon’s 39porch.
l 1 Kings 6:3; Acts 3:11; 5:12.
38 That is, which was built about this second temple, in the same manner and place, as, and where Solomon had built a gallery about the first temple; in which the people used to walk. See 1 Kings 6:3; Acts 3:11, and Josephus, Antiq. lib. 8, cap. 2.
39 Gr. gallery, or, premises.
24Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou 40make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
40 Gr. take it away, that is, hold it in doubt who Thou art?
25Jesus answered them, 41I told you, and ye believed not: them works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
41 Namely, who I am.
m John 5:36.
26But ye believe not, because ye are not 42of my 43sheep, as I said unto you.
42 Gr. out of.
43 That is, of the elect, whom the Father has given Me.
27Myn sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
n John 8:47.
28And I give unto them eternal life; ando they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my 44hand.
o John 6:39; 17:12; 18:9.
44 That is, power and safekeeping, Psalm 31:5.
29My Father, which gave them me, is 45greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
45 That is, mightier.
30 Ip and my Father are 46one.
p Isa. 54:5; John 5:19; 14:9; 17:5.
46 Namely, in Essence and power; as Christ’s reason clearly entails, and the Jews also so understood it, verse 33, and Christ Himself more plainly declares in verse 36.
31Thenq the Jews 47took up stones 48again to stone him.
q John 8:59; 11:8.
47 Gr. carried.
48 Namely, the second time, as before in John 8:59.
32Jesus answered them, Many 49good works have I shewed 50you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
49 Gr. fair, good, glorious.
50 Namely, before your eyes and for your good.
33The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; butr for 51blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself 52God.
r John 5:18.
51 Namely, which God has commanded to be punished with stoning, Lev. 24:16.
52 Namely, because Thou sayest that Thou art one with the Father.
34Jesus answered them, Is it not written 53in your law, Is said, Ye are gods?
53 That is, in the Holy Scripture of the Old Testament, which you hold for God’s Word.
s Psalm 82:6.
35If he called them gods, 54unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be 55broken;
54 Or, towards whom. See Psalm 82:6.
55 Gr. unbound, or loosed, that is, loose its power and truth.
36Say ye of him, whomt the Father hath 56sanctified, and sent 57into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
t John 6:27.
56 That is, Whom the Father has separated and ordained for a Mediator and King of the church, which office cannot be assumed nor executed by any mere creature, but only by the eternal Son of God, Isa. 9:6, 7; Jer. 23:5, 6.
57 Namely, to assume the human nature for that end, Philip. 2:6, 7.
37Ifu I do not 58the works of my Father, believe me not.
u John 15:24.
58 That is, the same miraculous works which God, My Father, does.
38But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, thatv the Father is 59in me, and I in him.
v John 14:11; 17:21.
59 That is, that I and the Father are one, as verse 30.
39Therefore theyw sought again to take him: 60but he escaped out of their hand,
w Luke 4:29; John 8:59.
60 Namely, as He had done at other times before, because His hour was not yet come. See John 7:30 and 8:59.
40And went away again beyond Jordan into the place 61wherex John at first baptized; and there he abode.
61 That is, in Bethabara, where Christ was also baptized by him; see John 1:28.
x John 1:28; 3:23.
41And many resorted unto him, and 62said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
62 Namely, one to another.
42And many believed on him there.