Geneva Study Bible 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. Verily, {1} 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.
(1) Seeing that by Christ alone we have access to the Father, there are no true shepherds other than those who come to Christ themselves and bring others there also, neither is any to be thought to be in the true sheepfold but those who are gathered to Christ. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. To him the {a} porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
(a) In those days they used to have a servant always sitting at the door, and therefore he speaks after the manner of those days. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. This {b} parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
(b) This word parable, which the evangelist uses here, signifies a hidden type of speech, when words are not used with their natural meaning, but are used to signify another thing to us. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. {2} All that {c} ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
(2) It does not matter how many false teachers there have been, neither how old they have been. (c) These terms must be applied to the matter he speaks of. And therefore when he calls himself the door, he calls all those thieves and robbers who take upon themselves this name of door, which none of the prophets can do, for they showed the sheep that Christ was 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. {3} I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall {d} go in and out, and find pasture.
(3) Only Christ is the true Pastor, and those only are the true Church who acknowledge him to properly be their only Pastor: opposite to him are thieves who do not feed the sheep, but kill them: and hirelings also, who forsake the flock in time of danger, because they feed it only for their own profit and gains. (d) That is, will live safely, as the Jews used to speak (see De 26:6-10), and yet there is a special reference to the shepherd's office. The thief cometh 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 abundantly. The thief cometh 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 abundantly.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
But he that is an 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. But he that is an 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.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. As the Father {e} knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
(e) Loves me, allows me. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. {4} And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be {f} one fold, and one shepherd.
(4) The calling of the Gentiles. (f) The distinguishing mark of the Christian Church throughout all the world, is that it has only one head, that is Christ, the only keeper, and only shepherd of it. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. {5} Therefore doth my Father love me, because {g} I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
(5) Christ is by the decree of the Father the only true shepherd of the true Church, for he willingly gave his life for his sheep, and by his own power rose again to life. (g) He uses the present tense because Christ's whole life was as it were a perpetual death. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. {6} There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
(6) The gospel uncovers hypocrisy, and therefore the world must necessarily rage when the gospel comes forth. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the {h} dedication, and it was winter.
(h) The feast of the dedication was instituted by Judas Maccabeus and his brethren after the restoring of God's true religion, by the casting out of Antiochus' garrison. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. {7} And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
(7) The unbelievers and proud men accuse the gospel of darkness, and this very darkness is indeed within themselves. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. {8} Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
(8) The doctrine of the gospel is proved from heaven by two witnesses: both by the purity of the doctrine and by miracles. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. {9} But ye believe not, {i} because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
(9) It is no marvel that only a few believe, seeing that all men are by nature untamed beasts: yet nonetheless God has his own, which he turns into sheep, and commits them unto his Son, and preserves them against the cruelty of all wild beasts. (i) He gives a reason why they do not believe, that is, because they are not his sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
I and my Father are one. I and my Father are one.
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. {10} Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
(10) Christ proves his dignity by divine works. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my {k} Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
(k) Through my Father's authority and power. The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be {l} broken;
(l) Void and of no effect. Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, {11} Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
(11) Christ flees danger, not because of mistrust, nor for fear of death, nor that he would be lazy, but to gather a Church in another place. And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
And many believed on him there. And many believed on him there. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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