NLT Study Bible - Gospel of John - Flipbook - Page 30
John 10:12
1791
9:41
John 15:22
10:2
Acts 20:28
10:4
Ps 80:1
John 10:27
10:6
John 16:25
10:7
John 14:6
10:8
Jer 23:1-2
Ezek 34:2-3
10:9
Ps 118:20
John 14:6
10:10
John 5:40
Acts 20:29
2 Pet 2:1
10:11
Isa 40:11
Ezek 34:11-16, 23
Heb 13:20
1 Pet 2:25
1 Jn 3:16
Rev 7:17
hpoimen (4166)
John 10:12
36The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I
want to believe in him.”
37“You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he
is speaking to you!”
38“Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And
he worshiped Jesus.
39Then Jesus told him, “I entered this
world to render judgment—to give sight to
the blind and to show those who think they
see that they are blind.”
40Some Pharisees who were standing
nearby heard him and asked, “Are you say
ing we’re blind?”
41“If you were blind, you wouldn’t be
guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty
because you claim you can see.
Jesus and the Festival of Dedication (10:1-42)
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
“I tell you the truth, anyone who
sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold,
rather than going through the gate, must
surely be a thief and a robber! 2But the one
who enters through the gate is the shepherd
10
of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the
gate for him, and the sheep recognize his
voice and come to him. He calls his own
sheep by name and leads them out. 4After
he has gathered his own flock, he walks
ahead of them, and they follow him because
they know his voice. 5They won’t follow a
stranger; they will run from him because
they don’t know his voice.”
6Those who heard Jesus use this illust ra
tion didn’t understand what he meant, 7so
he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth,
I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came
before me were thieves and robbers. But
the true sheep did not listen to them. 9Yes,
I am the gate. Those who come in through
me will be saved. They will come and go
freely and will find good pastures. 10The
thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and de
stroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and
satisfying life.
11“I am the good hshepherd. The good
h
shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.
12A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf
10:1-21 This illustration of a shepherd
Jesus reverence due only to God (9:38;
and his sheep assumes a Middle Eastern
cp. 20:28).
understanding of shepherding and
9:35 Son of Man: Some manuscripts
draws on OT tradition deeply embedread the Son of God. “Son of Man” is
ded in first-century Jewish culture. God
a title Jesus used for himself (1:51;
was the shepherd of Israel (Gen 49:24;
3:13, 14; 5:27; 6:27, 53, 62; 8:28). The
Greek translates a Hebrew and Aramaic Ps 23; 78:52-53; Isa 40:10-11). Spiritual
phrase meaning “human being.” People and political leaders of Israel were also
shepherds of God’s people, the flock of
were not completely sure what Jesus
God (Isa 56:9-12; Jer 23:1-4; Ezek 34).
meant by it (see 12:34). However, it
Jesus’ sermon builds on the occasion
signifies Jesus’ identity as both human
of Hanukkah (see 10:22) to address the
and as the Messiah (cp. Dan 7:13-14).
theme of shepherds, using this festival
9:38-39 Some manuscripts do not
as an opportunity to reflect on Israel’s
include “Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man
leaders (“shepherds”) in light of Ezek 34.
said. And he worshiped Jesus. Then
Jesus presents himself as the only good
Jesus told him.
shepherd (10:11-14).
9:39 those who think they see: Literally 10:1 A wilderness shepherd would
those who see.
build a sheepfold, a pen with low stone
walls topped by thorny branches to
9:40-41 Are you saying we’re blind?
Jesus answered that those who claim to hold his sheep at night and protect
hold all religious truth will discover that them from danger. The pen had one
gate (or opening in the wall) that was
they are blind, while those who recognize their spiritual poverty will find true closed with branches. Any invasion of
the pen was a threat to the flock. A
sight. In the story, the blind man and
bad shepherd was like a thief and a
his family frequently confessed that
robber. He exploited the sheep for his
they did not know, while the Pharisees
own interests and did not care for or
repeatedly stated their confidence
nurture them. Bad shepherds took the
and remained guilty because of their
sheep’s milk and wool for themselves
religious pride. If they had confessed
and butchered the sheep without
their ignorance and admitted their
spiritual blindness, they would be guilt- providing for the animal’s safety (Ezek
less. Instead, their conscious and willful 34:3; see Isa 56:11; Jer 23:1-4). This was
rejection of Jesus established their guilt. Jesus’ most stinging indictment of the
Jewish leaders.
10:1-42 Chapter 10 continues the
series of festival sermons (see note on
10:3 the sheep recognize his voice: The
5:1–10:42). Jesus now moves to HanukMiddle Eastern shepherd is well known
kah (the Festival of Dedication), the tim- for having intimate knowledge of the
ing of which is crucial to understanding sheep. Sheep are led with flute tunes,
the story (see note on 10:22).
songs, or verbal commands.
10:4 A good shepherd always leads his
sheep; he never drives them. When
they recognize his voice, they trust his
leadership and follow him.
10:7 I am: See note on 6:35. A good
shepherd is known for guarding the
sheep at the gate as a sentry.
10:8 Some manuscripts do not include
before me.
10:9 will be saved (or will find safety):
As gatekeeper, Jesus keeps away those
who might harm his sheep, keeping
his sheep inside the pen where they
are safe.
10:10 Jesus’ followers must be wary of
bad shepherds who desire to steal and
kill and destroy. As the Hanukkah story
was told to the Jewish people (see note
on 10:22), they were reminded about
false religious leaders whose failures
had led to the loss of God’s Temple in
Jerusalem.
10:11-14 I am: See note on 6:35. The
good shepherd leads his sheep, finds
food and water, and locates paths in
the wilderness (see Ps 23). The good
shepherd stands between his sheep
and danger (10:11) and fights to protect
them. The OT describes God as Israel’s
shepherd (Ps 23; 80:1; Isa 40:10-11).
The leaders of God’s people should
shepherd their flock as God does (Ezek
34:23). However, the leaders of Israel in
Jesus’ time were bad shepherds.
10:11-13 Small villages often created
communal flocks and employed a hired
hand to tend the sheep. However, an
employee lacked the commitment of a
true shepherd. The wilderness of Judea
