The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.^{(A) 2} The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.^{(B) 3} The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.^(C) He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.^{(D) 4} When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.^{(E) 5} But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech,^(F) but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.^(G)

⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am^(H) the gate^(I) for the sheep.

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd;^(A) I know my sheep^(B) and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father^(C)—and I lay down my life for the sheep.^{(D) 16} I have other sheep^(E) that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock^(F) and one shepherd.^{(G) 17} The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life^(H)—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.^(I) I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”^(J)

³¹ Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him,^{(A) 32} but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

³³ “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”^(B)

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law,^(C) ‘I have said you are “gods”’^[a]?^{(D) 35} If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God^(E) came—and Scripture cannot be set aside^(F)— ³⁶ what about the one whom the Father set apart^(G) as his very own^(H) and sent into the world?^(I) Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?^{(J) 37} Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.^{(K) 38} But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”^{(L) 39} Again they tried to seize him,^(M) but he escaped their grasp.^(N)