Verse 2. He that entereth by the door. This was the way in which a shepherd had access to his flock. In Joh 10:7 Jesus says he is the door. In this place he refers to those who by him -- that is, in accordance with his spirit and law -- become ministers of religion.

Is the shepherd of the sheep. Christ does not here refer to himself, for he is the way or door by which others enter; but he refers to all the ministers of the gospel who have access to the church by him. In the original, the article "the" is wanting before the word shepherd -- "is a shepherd." By his entering in this manner he shows that he is a shepherd -- one who cares for his flock, and does not come to kill and destroy.

{b} "the door is the shepherd" Joh 10:7,9