“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. (Jn. 10:1-11, 14-15).”
Parables keep those who are outside (whose hearts are hardened) from understanding the words of Jesus and repenting. The disciples were supposed to understand the parable, but Jesus had to explain this parable to them. The lord will bring His sheep back to good pasture (Ez. 34:1-16) and Jesus is the good shepherd who will save his sheep. The disciples were being warned that there are two ways to enter a sheepfold, as a shepherd or as a thief and robber, and they should not follow false teachers whose could harm the flock. The shepherd enters through the gate and the gatekeeper lets him in to shepherd his flock (v. 3). The flock follows the shepherd who leads them. Jesus is the gate through which all who follow him have to enter. All who seek salvation can only find it through Jesus. The Jewish leaders do not accept Jesus therefore their teaching is not life giving and cannot lead to salvation. They are thieves and robbers. Jesus came, “So that they might have life and have it more abundantly (v. 10).” Jesus is “The way and the truth and the life (Jn. 14:6).” Jesus has a close relationship with his sheep similar to the relationship he has with his Father and that is why he died to save his sheep.
Almighty God, we pray that the shepherds you send are obedient and will lead your flock to good pasture so they can feed on your word and be provided abundant life through your Son. Send down your Holy Spirit to guide them in all righteousness so that your flock will not be led astray but may attain salvation through Christ our Lord. Amen
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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