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Parable of the Good Shepherd

10 “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up from some other place [on the stone wall], that one is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep [the protector and provider]. The [a]doorkeeper opens [the gate] for this man, and the sheep hear his voice and pay attention to it. And [knowing that they listen] he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out [to pasture]. When he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice and recognize his call. They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.

So Jesus said again, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am [b]the Door for the sheep [leading to life]. All who came before Me [as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders] are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not hear them. I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security). 10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

11 [c]I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd [d]lays down His [own] life for the sheep.(A) 12 But the hired man [who merely serves for wages], who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away; and the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The man runs because he is a hired hand [who serves only for wages] and is not concerned about the [safety of the] sheep. 14 I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]— 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My [very own] life [sacrificing it] for the benefit of the sheep. 16 I have [e]other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voice and pay attention to My call, and they will become [f]one flock with one Shepherd.(B) 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My [own] life so that I may take it back. 18 No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I am authorized and have power to lay it down and to give it up, and I am authorized and have power to take it back. This command I have received from My Father.”

19 A division [of opinion] occurred again among the Jews because of these words [of His]. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon and He is mad [insane—He raves and rambles]. Why listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the words and thoughts of one possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Jesus Asserts His Deity

22 At that time the [g]Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. 23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple [area] in [h]Solomon’s portico. 24 So the Jews surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are [really] the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us so plainly and openly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I have told you so, yet you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name testify concerning Me [they are My credentials and the evidence declaring who I am]. 26 But you do not believe Me [so you do not trust and follow Me] because you are not My sheep. 27 The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand. 29 [i]My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].”

31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works [and many acts of mercy] from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “We are not going to stone You for a good work, but for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, make Yourself out to be God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods [human judges representing God, not divine beings]’?(C) 35 If He [j]called them gods, men to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be undone or annulled or broken), 36 [if that is true] then do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and set apart for Himself and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father [that is, the miracles that only God could perform], then do not believe Me. 38 But if I am doing them, even if you do not believe Me or have faith in Me, [at least] believe the works [that I do—admit that they are the works of God], so that you may know and keep on knowing [clearly—without any doubt] that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father [that is, I am One with Him].” 39 So they tried again to seize Him, but He eluded their grasp.

40 He went back again across the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. 41 Many came to Him, and they were saying, “John did not perform a single sign (attesting miracle), but everything John said about this Man was true and accurate.” 42 And many there believed and confidently trusted in Him [accepting Him as Savior, and following His teaching].

Footnotes

  1. John 10:3 The shepherd’s hired assistant who guarded the sheep at night when they were inside the stone enclosure.
  2. John 10:7 The third of the memorable “I am” statements. See note 6:35.
  3. John 10:11 The fourth of the memorable “I am” statements. See note 6:35.
  4. John 10:11 A reference to the atoning sacrifice Jesus was going to make to provide the way for sinners to be saved and reconciled with God.
  5. John 10:16 I.e. the Gentiles.
  6. John 10:16 Jews and Gentiles will be joined through their personal belief in Jesus. The revelation that God intended to unite the Jews and Gentiles into one body of believers was a difficult concept to accept for many in the early church.
  7. John 10:22 Now known as Hanukkah or the Feast of Lights.
  8. John 10:23 Located on the east side of the temple, this was a sheltered area consisting of a long, covered portico or colonnade. It later became a meeting place for Christians (Acts 3:11; 5:12).
  9. John 10:29 One early ms reads What My Father has given Me is greater than all.
  10. John 10:35 This statement in Ps 82:6 is addressed to the ruling judges of Israel, who were supposed to serve as God’s representatives on earth. Jesus’ argument (v 36) is that since He is in fact proving Himself to be the Father’s representative on earth, He is entitled to be recognized as the Son of God.

10  I tell legō you hymeis the solemn amēn truth amēn, the ho one who does not enter eiserchomai the ho sheepfold aulē through dia the ho gate thura, · ho but alla climbs anabainō in by some other way allachothen, is eimi a thief kleptēs and kai a robber lēstēs. But de the ho one who enters eiserchomai by dia the ho gate thura is eimi the shepherd poimēn of the ho sheep probaton. The ho watchman thurōros allows him houtos to enter anoigō, and kai the ho sheep probaton pay attention to akouō · ho his autos voice phōnē; · kai he calls phōneō · ho his idios own sheep probaton by kata name onoma and kai leads exagō them autos out. When hotan he has brought out ekballō all pas · ho his idios own , he walks poreuō on ahead emprosthen of them autos, and kai the ho sheep probaton follow akoloutheō him autos because hoti they know oida · ho his autos voice phōnē. They will akoloutheō never ou follow akoloutheō a stranger allotrios, · de but alla will run pheugō away from apo him autos, because hoti they do not ou know oida the ho voice phōnē of ho strangers allotrios.” Jesus Iēsous told legō them autos this houtos · ho figurative paroimia story , · ho but de they ekeinos did not ou understand ginōskō what tis he was saying laleō to them autos.

So oun Jesus Iēsous said legō once again palin, · ho I tell legō you hymeis the solemn truth amēn, I egō am eimi the ho gate thura for the ho sheep probaton. All pas who hosos came erchomai before pro me egō were eimi thieves kleptēs and kai robbers lēstēs, but alla the ho sheep probaton did not ou listen akouō to them autos. I egō am eimi the ho gate thura. If ean anyone tis enters eiserchomai through dia me egō, he will be saved sōzō; · kai he will come eiserchomai in and kai go exerchomai out and kai find heuriskō pasture nomē. 10 The ho thief kleptēs comes erchomai only ei mē to hina steal kleptō and kai slaughter thuō and kai destroy apollymi; I egō have come erchomai that hina they may have echō life zōē, and kai have echō it abundantly perissos.

11  I egō am eimi the ho good kalos shepherd poimēn; · ho the ho good kalos shepherd poimēn · ho lays down tithēmi · ho his autos life psychē for hyper the ho sheep probaton. 12 The ho hired misthōtos hand , since kai he is eimi not ou a shepherd poimēn and the ho sheep probaton do not ou belong eimi to him idios, sees theōreō a ho wolf lykos coming erchomai and kai abandons aphiēmi the ho sheep probaton and kai runs pheugō away and kai the ho wolf lykos attacks harpazō the flock autos and kai scatters them. 13 He does this because hoti he is eimi simply a hired misthōtos hand and kai has no ou real concern melei for peri the ho sheep probaton. 14 I egō am eimi the ho good kalos shepherd poimēn. · ho · kai I know ginōskō · ho my emos own and kai they emos know ginōskō me egō, · ho 15 just kathōs as the ho Father patēr knows ginōskō me egō and kagō I know ginōskō the ho Father patēr; and kai I lay down tithēmi · ho my egō life psychē for hyper my ho sheep probaton. 16 · kai I have echō other allos sheep probaton which hos are eimi not ou of ek · ho this houtos fold aulē. These kakeinos too I egō must dei bring agō. · kai They will listen to akouō · ho my egō voice phōnē, and kai there will be ginomai one heis flock poimnē, with one heis shepherd poimēn. 17 Therefore dia houtos the ho Father patēr loves agapaō me egō, because hoti I egō lay tithēmi down · ho my egō life psychē in order hina that I may take lambanō it autos back again palin. 18 No oudeis one takes airō it autos away from apo me egō, but alla I egō lay tithēmi it autos down of apo my emautou own free will. I have echō the power exousia to lay tithēmi it autos down , and kai I have echō the power exousia to take lambanō it autos back again palin. This houtos · ho command entolē I received lambanō from para · ho my egō Father patēr.”

19 Once again palin there was ginomai a division schisma among en the ho Jews Ioudaios because dia of · ho these houtos words logos. 20 Many polys of ek them autos were saying legō, · de He is demon-possessed daimonion and kai out of control mainomai. Why tis are you listening to akouō him autos?” 21 Others allos were saying legō, “ These houtos are eimi not ou the ho words rhēma of a man possessed by a demon daimonizomai. Can dynamai a demon daimonion open anoigō the eyes ophthalmos of the blind typhlos?”

22 At that time tote the ho festival of Dedication enkainia was taking ginomai place in en · ho Jerusalem Hierosolyma. It was eimi winter cheimōn, 23 and kai Jesus Iēsous was walking peripateō · ho in en the ho temple hieron area , in en · ho Solomon’ s Solomōn Portico stoa. · ho 24 The ho Jews Ioudaios surrounded kykloō him autos and kai asked legō, “ How much longer heōs will you provoke airō us hēmeis to airō · ho anger psychē? If ei you sy are eimi the ho Christ Christos, tell legō us hēmeis plainly parrēsia.” 25 Jesus Iēsous answered apokrinomai them autos, · ho I did tell legō you hymeis, yet kai you do not ou believe pisteuō. The ho works ergon that hos I egō am doing poieō in en · ho my egō Father’ s patēr name onoma · ho speak martyreō on my egō behalf peri. 26 But alla you hymeis do not ou believe pisteuō because hoti you are eimi not ou part ek of ho my emos flock probaton. · ho 27 · ho My emos sheep probaton · ho listen to akouō · ho my egō voice phōnē, and kagō I know ginōskō them autos. · kai They follow akoloutheō me egō, 28 and kagō I give didōmi them autos eternal aiōnios life zōē. · kai They will never ou mē perish apollymi, and kai no ou one tis will ever snatch harpazō them autos out ek of · ho my egō hand cheir. 29 · ho My egō Father patēr, who hos has given didōmi them to me egō, is eimi more powerful megas than all pas, and kai no oudeis one can dynamai snatch harpazō them out ek of my ho Father’ s patēr hand cheir. · ho 30 I egō and kai the ho Father patēr are eimi one heis.”

31 The ho Jews Ioudaios again palin brought bastazō stones lithos to hina stone lithazō him autos. 32 Jesus Iēsous said apokrinomai to them autos, · ho I have shown deiknymi you hymeis many polys noble kalos works ergon from ek the ho Father patēr; for dia which poios one ergon of them autos do you intend to stone lithazō me egō?” 33 The ho Jews Ioudaios answered apokrinomai him autos, “It is not ou for peri a noble kalos work ergon that we intend to stone lithazō you sy but alla for peri blasphemy blasphēmia; · kai it is because hoti you sy, a mere man anthrōpos, are making poieō yourself seautou God theos.” 34 Jesus Iēsous answered apokrinomai them autos, · ho Is it eimi not ou written graphō in en · ho your hymeis law nomos, ‘ I egō said legō, you are eimi gods theos’? 35 If ei the scripture called legō them ekeinos gods theos to pros whom hos the ho word logos of ho God theos came ginomai and kai scripture graphē cannot ou dynamai be annulled lyō · ho 36 do legō you hymeis say legō regarding the one whom hos the ho Father patēr consecrated hagiazō and kai sent apostellō into eis the ho world kosmos, ‘ You are blaspheming blasphēmeō,’ because hoti I said legō, ‘ I am eimi the Son hyios of ho God theos’? 37 If ei I am not ou doing poieō the ho works ergon of ho my egō Father patēr, then do not believe pisteuō me egō; 38 but de if ei I am doing poieō them, even kan if you do pisteuō not believe pisteuō me egō, believe pisteuō the ho works ergon, that hina you may come to know ginōskō and kai be certain ginōskō that hoti the ho Father patēr is in en me egō and kagō that I am in en the ho Father patēr.” 39 So oun once again palin they tried zēteō to arrest piazō him autos, but kai he escaped exerchomai out ek of · ho their autos grasp cheir.

40 · kai He went aperchomai away again palin across peran the ho Jordan Iordanēs to eis the ho place topos where hopou John Iōannēs had been eimi baptizing baptizō at an · ho earlier prōton time , and kai there ekei he remained menō. 41 · kai Many polys people came erchomai to pros him autos and kai were saying legō, “ John Iōannēs performed poieō no oudeis miraculous sēmeion sign , but de everything pas he Iōannēs said legō about peri this houtos man was eimi true alēthēs!” 42 And kai many polys in that place ekei came to believe pisteuō in eis Jesus autos.