Gospel of John
Chapter X

King James Bible Text

Study Notes Commentary

1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Verses 1 – 5 This is a parable (story) explaining to you that you need to have a "connection" to God, through knowing His Word, so that you can follow Him! Trust Jesus to help you – He’s your answer!

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

Try reading it out loud!

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

Read it with a friend!

 

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Read it by yourself!


 

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

It’s Jesus’ gift to you!

Thank you, Jesus!

6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Verse 6 "they understood not what things..."! This is not so with you now, because of your willingness to "hear" and understand Jesus! Thank you!

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Verse 7 Jesus is your savior – He can lead you out of the hell of your own mind right now! Get down on your knees!
 

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

Verse 8 Jesus continues to tell the story through "sheep, thieves and robbers!" Lighten up – it’s a story that will help you understand the Love of God through Jesus’ parables!

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Verse 9 Jesus is speaking! Listen to the Voice for God through Him! It’s not difficult – it’s just different!
 

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Verse 10 Abundance means plentiful supply! Thieves come to steal, kill, and destroy! Jesus comes to give everlasting life in the Name of God! This is really, really, GOOD NEWS!

 

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Verse 11 A good shepherd is one who gives his all! Jesus gives everything that He is, and Jesus is Life!

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

Verse 12 A hireling is a person who works for pay! He runs away when the going gets tough, because he doesn’t own the sheep!


 

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
 

Verse 13 Until you take full responsibility for "the world" as you see it, you will get caught up in the "dangers of the world!" It is your world and you are responsible!

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Verse 14 Jesus knows you, and you do know Jesus! Why? Because you are reading this book of John!

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Verse 15 Jesus will lay down His life for you – not through death but through life everlasting! Read on!
 

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Verse 16 Fold means flock! Jesus knows He has a "job" given to Him by God the Father! He is gathering the sheep up into one fold – the Fold of God! Guess who is His sheep?

 

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

Verse 17 To lay down your life and follow God is to be "born again" in the Spirit! You will be brand new!

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Verse 18 Heaven is a decision you can make now and must make, because you belong to God, your Father! Everyone belongs to God! Yet, you still have to choose for yourself!
 

19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.

Verse 19 Here they go again – fighting and arguing because of what Jesus says! How long must this go on?

20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

Verse 20 Some are saying Jesus is taken over by an evil spirit and is crazy! They ask, "Why listen to him?"

21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

Verse 21 Others are saying, "How can he be a devil – can a devil open a blind man’s eyes?"
 

22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
 

Verse 22 Just setting the scene for another story of Jesus’ teaching! You learn by stories because they stay with you until you realize the story is about you!

23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.

Verse 23 Solomon’s porch was right in the middle of the temple!

24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

Verse 24 The Jews question Jesus again! "How long are you going to keep us in the dark? If you are the Christ, then tell us!"
 

25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

Verse 25 Jesus reminds the Jews that He has already told them Who He is, and that the miracles that He does in God’s Name show He is of God!
 

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
 

Verse 26 They don’t believe because they don’t want to! You know it isn’t about sheep – it’s about Jesus’ Love for you! Read on, and you will understand!

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Verse 27 You hear Jesus’ voice, and He knows you, and you follow Him!

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Verse 28 Once you give your life to Jesus, you cannot die! And no one can ever take you away from Jesus! Yes!

 

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

Verse 29 Count yourself in as God’s Son and be happy! No one can take that away from you! And no one can take you away from God!

 

 

30 I and my Father are one.

Verse 30 "Know thyself," says Jesus!

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

Verse 31 Whoa! Now the Jews are really out to get Jesus! So why is that?

32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

Verse 32 A reasonable question! Which one of the miracles are they stoning Jesus for?

 

33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Verse 33 To blaspheme is to speak of God without proper respect! The Jews say, "We’re not stoning you for the good works, but because making yourself the same as God is contempt!"

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

Verse 34 Jesus asks the crowd, "Isn’t it written in your law that you are all gods?"

35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

Verses 35-36 In the Old Testament, God speaks through the Psalmist and the Prophet, Isaiah, saying, "Ye are Gods!" (Check out Psalms 82:6!) Why then, are they saying Jesus blasphemes?

36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

Verse 37 Jesus says, if He does not do God’s work – then don’t believe Him!

38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. Verse 38 Jesus says, "But I do God’s works! And even though you don’t believe in me, you can believe the works, and then you will believe in God!" Jesus doesn’t need your belief to know Who He is – you need it!

39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

Verse 39 Jesus "split the scene!"
 

40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

Verse 40 He’s gone back to the Jordan river where John first baptized people! He stayed awhile.
 

41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

Verse 41 The people recognized that John the Baptist didn’t do any miracles, but everything he foretold about Jesus was true!

42 And many believed on him there.
 

Verse 42 Many people know that Jesus is the Messiah! They believe in Him! Now, do you?

 

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