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. ⁸ All who have come before me^(J) are thieves and robbers,^(K) but the sheep have not listened to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,^(L) and have it to the full.^(M)

The Wise and Foolish Builders^(A)

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice^(B) is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things,^(C) the crowds were amazed at his teaching,^{(D) 29} because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Ask, Seek, Knock^(A)

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you;^(B) seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;^(C) and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts^(D) to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,^(E) for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.^(F)

The Narrow and Wide Gates

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate.^(G) For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

True and False Prophets

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets.^(H) They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.^{(I) 16} By their fruit you will recognize them.^(J) Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?^{(K) 17} Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.^{(L) 19} Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^{(M) 20} Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’^(N) will enter the kingdom of heaven,^(O) but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.^{(P) 22} Many will say to me on that day,^(Q) ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’^{(R) 23} Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’^(S)

⁹ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; ¹⁰ for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,^[a](A) just as God did from his.^{(B) 11} Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.^(C)

¹² For the word of God^(D) is alive^(E) and active.^(F) Sharper than any double-edged sword,^(G) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.^{(H) 13} Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.^(I) Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest^(J) who has ascended into heaven,^[b](K) Jesus the Son of God,^(L) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.^{(M) 15} For we do not have a high priest^(N) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are^(O)—yet he did not sin.^{(P) 16} Let us then approach^(Q) God’s throne of grace with confidence,^(R) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.