The Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:1-18)

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. 2 But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. 5 But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” 6 Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. 7 So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. 13 This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.

In ancient Palestine, the sheepfold served as a secure enclosure where the sheep could rest safely at night or seek refuge from predators during the day.  It often housed multiple flocks belonging to different shepherds.  Each shepherd's sheep were distinguishable from one another, allowing for easy identification and separation within the fold. This facilitated the process of leading the sheep out to pasture and ensuring that they returned to the correct owner at the end of the day.  The shepherd held the primary responsibility for the well-being and care of the sheep under their charge. They led the sheep to pasture, provided them with food and water, protected them from harm, and guided them along safe paths.  The sheep recognized the shepherd’s voice and he knew each one of his sheep.

Jesus used the image of a sheepfold to explain access to salvation to his disciples.  The sheepfold represents the Kingdom of God, the Gatekeeper is God, and Jesus is both the Shepherd and the Gate.  Those who do not enter through the gate but try to gain access another way are like thieves and robbers.  Jesus is the true shepherd who cares for and leads his sheep.  God allows Jesus access to the kingdom and Jesus’ followers hear his word, recognize his voice, and obediently trust and follow him.  His followers will not listen to false teachers and religious leaders who do not teach the truth from God.  

Initially, the disciples did not understand what Jesus told them.  Jesus then explained the meaning of the parable.  He was the gate through which the sheep passed and all who came before him, the false prophets,  scribes, and Pharisees, were thieves and robbers, and the sheep did not listen to them (Mt. 9:36). His followers rejected their false teaching.  Jesus warned the disciples that they should not follow false teachers who could harm them.  He is the gate to salvation and those who enter through him will find salvation and abundant life.  

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.  Jesus told his disciples that he was the gate through which all who followed him had to enter.  A thief comes to destroy but Jesus came to give abundant life.  The Jewish leaders did not accept Jesus therefore their teaching was not life-giving and could not lead to salvation.  All who seek salvation can only find it through Jesus.  He is the good shepherd who knows his sheep and would willingly sacrifice his life to save his sheep (Heb. 13:20), but a person hired to look after someone else’s sheep would not.  False teachers would abandon them in times of trouble because they are paid.  The intimacy and unity between Jesus and his followers is similar to the intimacy and unity between the Father and the Son.  That is why Jesus will lay down his life for those the Father has given to him.  

Jesus’ mission was to gather all believers whom he must lead, not only the Israelites, and he will call them and make one flock, the Christian Church, out of all who respond to his call.  The Father loves Jesus who was obedient unto death (Phil. 2:8) and willingly gave up his life of his own volition in order to take it up again in the resurrection by his Father’s will.  

Almighty God, send down your Holy Spirit upon our shepherds so that they are obedient to the Good Shepherd and lead their flocks to abundant life.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

                Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.