This parable is often known as the parable of the good shep­herd, and certainly this shepherd is central in this parable. Yet, Christ spends considerable time speaking about Himself as not just the shepherd of this story, but also the door. He speaks at length about thieves and robbers climbing over the wall of the sheepfold. Bringing all these things together, it is better to call this the parable of the sheepfold.

Scenery⤒🔗

Context is always important, and this parable is no exception. At the end of chapter 8, Jesus declared Himself not only greater than Abraham but also claimed to be “I am” (v. 58). The divine name “I AM THAT I AM” was first used in the narrative of the burning bush in Exodus 3:14. The people properly perceived that He was claiming full divinity for Himself; in spite of this, however, they rejected Christ by taking up stones to stone Him. Jesus “hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by” (v. 59).

As Jesus left the temple, however, He continued His minis­try. He did something no mere man had ever done: He healed a man born blind (9:7). Christ not only gave the man physical sight, He brought him to confess His name and worship Him as the Son of God (v. 38). In the process, the man was cast out of the synagogue (v. 34; compare v. 22).

In this light, Christ gives us one of the loveliest depictions of Himself. He reveals Himself with two “I am” statements, both that of the “Door” (10:7) as well as “Good Shepherd” (v. 11). These two “I am” statements belong together. As the Shepherd, Christ owns, guides, and provides for His sheep. As the Door, He is the One through whom His people pass into His flock and enjoy the benefits of being one of His sheep. The Old Testament offers backgrounds of these pictures in Jeremiah 23:1-4 and Ezekiel 34, where the Lord portrays Himself as the true Shepherd who regathers His people who have been scattered by false shepherds.

Sheepfolds in Christ’s day were often enclosed fields with large walls, sometimes several feet high. At night, the shepherds would often bring their flocks to these enclosed areas. There was also a doorkeeper (porter), usually a hired servant from a nearby village, who would keep watch over the flock at night. The large wall and doorkeeper protected the flock from thieves who would often try to break in and steal sheep. Some say that the custom in those days was for the shepherd to lie down in the gate of the fold to prevent anyone or any beast from getting in or out. Others find this explanation to be incorrect, though this would give additional significance to the fact that Christ calls Himself the Door.

Christ highlights that the sheep hear the voice of the true shepherd. It was not uncommon for different shepherds to mix their flocks at night; when morning came, it would be their duty to separate their flocks. This, generally, was not a difficult thing to do. Some shepherds carried pitch pipes. Their sheep’s ears were tuned to a specific note or melody, and, when the shepherd blew it, they would separate from the fold. Likewise, shepherds would often give their sheep names and train them to respond when called. The shepherd’s job of leading his sheep out of the fold was relatively easy, and there was no worry that a sheep would respond to another’s call.

It is also important to note that the shepherd would go in front of his sheep. This was a position of guardianship. Should they run into difficult terrain, robbers, or wild beasts, the shep­herd would stand between his sheep and the situation to defend his little flock.¹ This is the scenery for this parable.

Substance←⤒🔗

Chapter 10:1-18 can be roughly divided into three sections, each with a distinct point. The first section is Jesus’ parable proper (vv. 1-6). Christ introduces Himself as the true Shepherd in contrast to the hirelings, or Pharisees. As the true Shepherd, Christ cares for the sheep, knowing each of their names. Because He is the true Shepherd, the sheep recognize His voice when He calls them, as does the porter. This allows Christ full and free access to His sheep. On the other hand, the sheep know that the hirelings have no true concern for the sheep; thus they will not follow these strangers. This is exactly what took place with the man who was healed. He could not listen to or obey these “shepherds,” for they were not true shepherds. However, he knew the voice of the true Shepherd, and followed Him “out of the synagogue” and into the “pasture” where Christ leads every one of His people.

In the second section (vv. 7-10), Christ elaborates on His role as the saving Shepherd. Imagine that the sheep in the fold need to be led out to find pasture. Without pasture, the sheep will not have nourishment and no true life. Everyone who had previously come, claiming to be the true Shepherd, only disturbed the flock and none of the sheep received what they needed. But when Christ came, He came to save and lead His sheep into abundant life. Thus, He was the “door of the sheep” (v. 7). Through true faith in Him, every true sheep passes through this door and is saved. He gives the sheep access to life.

This is a stinging condemnation of the Pharisees. In the previous chapter, they had cast the healed man out of the syna­gogue, thinking to cut him off from the worship of God and the fellowship of Israel. But Christ makes clear that, through Him, the healed man entered into fellowship with the triune God, and thus abundant life.

Finally, in verses 11-18, Christ elaborates on Himself as the self-sacrificing Shepherd. This is where He explains how He is the good Shepherd. He immediately connects this with the truth of laying down His life for the sheep (v. 11). On an earthly level, a good shepherd may give his life defending his flock, but the common shepherd does not willingly sacrifice himself for the benefit of his sheep. In fact, the death of the shepherd means danger for the whole flock. Yet, in Christ’s parable, the death of the Shepherd is necessary for the abun­dant life that the deceivers cannot offer.²

Remarkably, there are two additional matters that Christ raises when He speaks about His sacrifice. First of all, He refers repeatedly to His Father (vv. 15, 17). He does this in order to show that His ministry as Shepherd is not simply of His own initiative and for His own ends; He is the good Shepherd at the behest of His Father and in order to manifest the Father. To confirm this connection, Christ says later in the chapter, “I and my Father are one” (v. 30). The ministry of the true, saving, and self-sacrificing Shepherd was planned within the great Trinity of the Godhead.

Secondly, Christ speaks of the Gentiles. Though few were thinking of them, this Shepherd has them upon His heart. He “must bring (them), and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold” (v. 16). His cross broke down the middle wall of partition, and both Jews and Gentiles would unite in the one fold of Christ.

Savior←⤒🔗

This parable is a magnificent presentation of Christ’s marvel­ous relationship to His people.

First of all, He gives His people access. This is true in two ways. No one can access Jesus’ sheep but through Him. Every true under-shepherd comes through Him to the sheepfold. The porter, or the Holy Spirit, only grants access to the sheep to the shepherds who come through Christ, the Door. Sadly, there are many who try to come over the wall, but the true sheep of God will not follow them. Moreover, the sheep themselves will come through the Door. Through Christ they will find pasture during the day, as well as safety at night (v. 9). Outside of Christ, there is no access either to the sheep or for the sheep. Many imagine that there are doors of works or law or self-righteousness, but these are only illusions. Christ alone is His people’s access.

Secondly, He is His people’s deliverer. Unlike sheep in nat­ural life, God’s people need a Shepherd who will lay down His life for His sheep (vv. 11, 15, 17-18). Without such a sacrifice to make satisfaction, God’s people are under condemnation, reserved for slaughter.

Isaiah 53 says,

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.v. 6

Christ willingly laid down His life for His sheep. Who can fathom the love of this Shepherd?

Thirdly, He is His people’s life. Sheep are frightfully depen­dent creatures. Without their shepherd to lead them, provide for them, nurse them when sick, and fetch them when lost, they will not survive. No wonder that Christ conducts His people every step of the way. In Him is everything that is needed for His people’s lives. Through Him is a remedy from sin. Through His words and call is life and direction. Through His mediation is fellowship with the Father.

Searchlight←⤒🔗

This parable is comforting to those who are counted among the sheep of God, but it is frightening for those who are outside Christ’s flock. It is comforting for the sheep because of the mani­fold blessings that God’s sheep receive. They have One who died in their place; they are brought out into green pastures; they are held securely in the Shepherd’s hands; they receive the Father’s love; they are known by the Good Shepherd; and they shall have the abundant life. All these blessings are freely given to the sheep, but those who are not God’s sheep do not have these blessings. Left for them is the non-mediated wrath of God, death, rejection, and being “cast out” from the people of God. This parable of the good Shepherd gives several searchlights that should cause us all to consider our relationship to the Good Shepherd.

1. Have we entered into life through Christ the Door?←↰⤒🔗

The ancient Israelites left the land of Egypt through blood-sprinkled doorposts, symbolizing that the way out of Egypt is only through the God-provided means of atonement. Likewise, every true Christian enters into life through Christ the Door – through faith in Him and His salvation. The text makes clear that this is not just a one-time event; verse 9 speaks of “going out and coming in.” We ought to know the access through Him on an ongoing basis, every day.

2. Do we know the Shepherd’s voice?←↰⤒🔗

Jesus makes the startling statement in John 10:26 that the root of unbelief in those who rejected Him was that they did not belong to His flock, not vice versa. He does not say that they did not belong to the flock because of their unbelief; rather, their unbelief is because they do not belong to God’s flock. Unbelief is a sure sign of not belonging to the flock of God. We should be brought to sober self-examination to see whether we have heard and heeded the Savior’s voice. Conversely, we will not follow a “stranger’s voice” (v. 5). Obviously, that does not mean that Christ’s sheep never go astray; the lives of David and Peter and many other true sheep prove that (Ps. 119:176). Nevertheless, the Shep­herd’s own voice rings loud and clear to the wandering sheep, and they ultimately recognize it and humbly heed it.

3. Do we need this Shepherd’s death?←↰⤒🔗

John 9 proves that the life of the sheep of Christ is not an easy one in this world. The healed man was immediately beset by inquisition, inter­rogation, derision, and expulsion. Nevertheless, the Savior was more to him than everything else. The Savior’s death dealt with the root of death, and His life gives eternal and abundant life in fellowship with the triune God. When we, as God’s sheep, go through wearisome and painful times, let us consider Him, who willingly laid down His life in order that we might have life now and in full in the future.

Questions←⤒🔗

1. From the context, discuss why the concept of the door is so important to this parable. In other words, why doesn’t Christ focus only on His role as the Good Shepherd?
    
2. Gather all that Christ says about the false shepherds from this passage and discuss how they show themselves today. What implications are there from the fact that the true sheep do not follow them (v. 5)?
    
3. Find all the references to the Father in this passage. Why does Christ mention the Father so frequently in connec­tion with His sacrifice for the sheep? How does Isaiah 53:6-10 help?
    
4. What are some of the marks of true sheep of Christ that this passage gives to us? Should you despair if some or all of these do not hold true for you, or if you find them so sparingly present in your life?
    
5. Why is the question “Do we need this Shepherd’s death?” so vitally important?