John Chapter 10 — Jesus the Good Shepherd
Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep and lays down His life for them, eventually declaring His oneness with God the Father.
1“Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.”
6Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.
7Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door.
8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.
9I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture.
10The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
11“I am the good shepherd.✡Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:11-12,15,22 The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.
13The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care for the sheep.
14I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own;
15even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
16I have other sheep which are not of this fold.✡Isaiah 56:8 I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.
17Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, ✡Isaiah 53:7-8 that I may take it again.
18No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”
19Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words.
20Many of them said, “He has a demon and is insane! Why do you listen to him?”
21Others said, “These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?”✡Exodus 4:11
22It was the Feast of the Dedication*The “Feast of the Dedication” is the Greek name for “Hanukkah”, a celebration of the rededication of the Temple. at Jerusalem.
23It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.
24The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me.
26But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.
27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
30I and the Father are one.”
31Therefore the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
33The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
34Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?✡Psalms 82:6
35If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken),
36do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
37If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me.
38But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
39They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand.
40He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and he stayed there.
41Many came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true.”
42Many believed in him there.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
John 10:10
“The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.”
This verse contrasts the destructive nature of false leaders with Jesus' purpose of providing a flourishing life.
John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Jesus uses this title to emphasize His sacrificial role and care for His followers.
John 10:30
“I and the Father are one.”
This is a pivotal declaration of Jesus' unique relationship and unity with God.
Chapter Summary
In John 10, Jesus uses the metaphors of a sheepfold door and a good shepherd to describe His relationship with His followers. He contrasts Himself with thieves who destroy and hired hands who flee from danger, stating He came to give life abundantly. Jesus explains that He has authority to lay down His life and take it up again, and that His mission includes other sheep outside the immediate fold. During the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, the people challenge Jesus to state plainly if He is the Christ. Jesus points to His works and declares, 'I and the Father are one.' This claim leads to an attempt to stone Him for blasphemy. Jesus defends His words by referencing the Law and His divine works before departing to the region beyond the Jordan, where many believe in Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jesus uses the metaphor of a door to explain that He is the only legitimate way for people to enter into salvation and find spiritual pasture. He contrasts this with thieves and robbers who try to lead the sheep through unauthorized ways.
The Feast of Dedication, also known as Hanukkah, is the setting where Jesus is questioned by Jewish leaders in Solomon’s porch. They ask Him to tell them plainly if He is the Christ, leading to His declaration of oneness with the Father.
Jesus refers to sheep that are not of this fold, indicating that His mission extends beyond the immediate Jewish audience to include others. He states that these different groups will eventually hear His voice and become one flock under one shepherd.
Study Note
The 'Feast of Dedication' mentioned in verse 22 is Hanukkah, marking the rededication of the Second Temple after the Maccabean Revolt.
Related Chapters
Psalm 23
This famous psalm also uses the imagery of God as a shepherd caring for his sheep.
Ezekiel 34
This prophetic chapter critiques false shepherds and promises that God will personally seek out and care for His flock.
John 14
In this later chapter, Jesus expands on His relationship with the Father and being the way to salvation.
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