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. Ver. 1. _Verily, verily, I say unto you_] Amen is in Holy Scripture either prefixed to a discourse, and then it is a particle of certain and earnest... [ Continue Reading ]
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. Ver. 2. _But he that entereth in by the door_] That is, called by Christ to the office of his undershepherd. _In physicis aer non faeit seipsum ignem, sed fit a superiori, _ saith Aquinas. _ Is the shepherd of the sheep_] To the whi... [ Continue Reading ]
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. Ver. 3. _To him the porter openeth_] That is, God approveth such, and usually seals to their ministry, Jeremiah 23:22, giving them a testimonial, 2 Corinthians 3:2 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. Ver. 4. _He goeth before them_] According to the custom of shepherds in that country, not to drive their sheep, but to lead them, as David shows in his divine Bucolicon, Psalms 23:2 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. Ver. 5. _A stranger will they not follow_] For they have senses exercised to discern good and evil, Hebrews 5:14; "yea, they have a spirit of discerning," 1 Corinthians 12:10; "the mind of Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Ver. 6. _But they understood not_] So thick brained and incapable we are, till that vail be rent, Isaiah 25:7. Those that have a blemish in their eye, the more wishly they look into anything... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. Ver. 7. _I am the door_] Heaven door, so Christ is pleased to call himself, because "through him we have an access by one Spirit unto the Father," Ephesians 2:18; and, "in him we have boldness and access wi... [ Continue Reading ]
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. Ver. 8. _All that ever came before me, &c._] Manes (that mad heretic) made an argument from this text against Moses and the prophets, as going before Christ. But Austin answereth, Moses and the prophets came not... [ Continue Reading ]
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. Ver. 9. _And shall go in and out, &c._] That is, shall live securely, and be fed daily and daintily, as David shows, Psalms 23:1,6, where he sweetly strikes upon the whole string through the whol... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 10. _The thief cometh not but for to steal_] However so sly heretics seek to insinuate with their pithanology and feigned humility, whereby t... [ Continue Reading ]
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Ver. 11. _I am the good shepherd_] So he is by an excellency, for he left his glory to seek out to himself a flock in the wilderness. "He feeds them among the lilies," Song of Solomon 2:16; gives them golden fleeces, and sheph... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 12. _The wolf scattereth_] To non-residents and other unconscionable ministers, Christ will say as once... [ Continue Reading ]
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. Ver. 13. _The hireling fleeth_] Yet is not every one that fleeth to be judged a hireling presently. There is a lawful flight, as when the quarrel is personal, &c. Christ fled often when persecuted; so may we. God hath mad... [ Continue Reading ]
I am the good shepherd, and know my _sheep_, and am known of mine. Ver. 14. _And know my sheep_] With a knowledge of approbation and delight. _Verba notitiae apud Hebraeos secum trahunt affectum, Psalms 1:6_ .... [ Continue Reading ]
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. Ver. 15. _I lay down my life_] Yet as man he was ζωον φιλοζωον. (Aesop, Fab.) _Quis vitam non vult?_ Who does not want life? saith Augustine; and _Quis enim vult mori? prorsus nemo, _ Indeed who wishes to die... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 16. _And other sheep I have_] viz. The elect Gentiles, whose conversion to Christ was, among other types, not obscurely foreshadowed,Leviti... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. Ver. 17. _Therefore doth my Father love me, because_] This "because" is _nota consecutionis, non causae, _ know from its consequences not from it cause, saith Beza. _ I lay down my life_] I do it even now; fo... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 18. _I lay it down of myself_] A necessity there was of our Saviour's death, but it was a necessity of immutability (because God... [ Continue Reading ]
There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. Ver. 19. _There was a division therefore, &c._] This our Saviour foresaw, and yet forbears not. God's truth must be spoken, however it be taken. Men, be they pleased or displeased, God must be obeyed, and his whole will declared... [ Continue Reading ]
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? Ver. 20. _He hath a devil, and is mad_] It was a wonder if the heavens did not sweat, the earth melt, and hell gape at the hearing of these horrid blasphemies. Tigers rage at the fragrance of sweet spices; so did these monsters at... [ Continue Reading ]
Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? Ver. 21. _These are not the words, &c._] Wisdom is ever justified of her children. They fitly argue from his oracles and miracles, both which this evangelist doth more largely relate, purposely to... [ Continue Reading ]
And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. Ver. 22. _The feast of the dedication_] viz. Of the temple newly purged from the pollutions of Antiochus, that little antichrist. Εγκαινια, _initialia, sive renovalia._ So when the Christian temple, the Church, was purged from... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Ver. 23. _And Jesus walked in the temple_] Taking the opportunity of that public meeting to do good, as the bee is abroad as soon as the sun ariseth. The Greeks were great walkers, as the Stoics in their porch, &c. But the Turks wonder to see a man... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 24. _How long dost thou make us to doubt?_] They lay the blame upon him as if (Heraclitus-like) he were a dark doctor; when themselves were blind, and did shut th... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 25. _I told you, and ye believed not_] _q.d._ Your malice lies in the way, that neither mine oracles nor miracles can work upon your hearts. Therefore also Christ enlargeth t... [ Continue Reading ]
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. Ver. 26. _Ye believe not, because ye are not, &c._] Reprobates cannot believe, yea, they cannot but resist the external offers of God's grace. The word, sacraments, and all God's common temporal favours, are, in respect of exte... [ Continue Reading ]
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Ver. 27. _My sheep hear my voice_] Buxtorf in his "Tiberius" noteth, that theJeremiah 21:7; consisteth of 42 words and of a 160 letters. I am not at leisure to count the words and letters of this and the following verses; but it is easy t... [ Continue Reading ]
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any _man_ pluck them out of my hand. Ver. 28. _They shall never perish_] This is the good Shepherd's promise: is he now as good as his word, if he suffer his sheep to wander and perish, whom by promise he was tied so to k... [ Continue Reading ]
My Father, which gave _them_ me, is greater than all; and no _man_ is able to pluck _them_ out of my Father's hand. Ver. 29. _No man is able to pluck them_] Impostors seek to thrust us from God, Deuteronomy 13:5, and to drag disciples after them, with such violence, as if they would pluck them limb... [ Continue Reading ]
I and _my_ Father are one. Ver. 30. _I and my Father are one_] Both for nature or essence, and for one consent, both in willing and working. Out of the harbour of Goodwin's Sands the pilot cannot make forth, they say, without sinking in those sands, unless he so steer his ship, that he bring two st... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Ver. 31. _Then the Jews took up stones_] This is the world's wages to faithful ministers. Many conceit discharge of their duty without persecution; they would pull a rose without pricks. _Non decet, ut sub capite spinis coronato vivant membra in deli... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? Ver. 32. _From my Father_] _i.e._ _Eius authoritate fretus._ (Beza.) All our works must be done in God, and for God; then they are of the right stamp, and carry heaven in them, Hebrews 6:... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 33. _But for blasphemy_] These were holy persecutors, in pretence at least. So Maximinian thought the blood of Christians would be an acceptable sacrific... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? Ver. 34. _In your law_] So he calls it, to show that there was no necessity on his part to prove what he delivered by any Scripture, since he was to be believed on his bare word, αυτοπιστος; but for their sakes only he did it.... [ Continue Reading ]
If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Ver. 35. _Unto whom the word of God came_] That have their authority from God, whose substitutes and viceregents princes are, and of whom they have their patent. With what face then can the schoolmen defend... [ Continue Reading ]
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? Ver. 36. _Hath sanctified and sent_] Sanctified, that is, anointed, and that in both his natures, as whole Christ. For his anointing imported, 1. His consecration or ordin... [ Continue Reading ]
If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. Ver. 37. _If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not_] Thus said Christ, but so saith not Christ's vicar, as the pope will needlessly be called, His _placita_ pleasing must be obeyed, not examined; and though by his evil example he draw th... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 38. _But if I do, though ye, &c._] _q.d._ Stumble not at the meanness of my person, condition, followers, &c. When it was sometimes disputed among the Romans in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, Ver. 39. _Therefore they sought again to take him_] They could not answer his arguments, they turn them therefore to a course of violence, wherein they doubted not but to be too hard for him. Thus they dealt with Ridley and... [ Continue Reading ]
And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. Ver. 40. _And went again beyond Jordan_] The farther from Jerusalem the safer. Jerusalem was then as Rome is now, the saints' slaughterhouse. _Roma radix omnium malorum._ Rome is the root of all evils... [ Continue Reading ]
And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. Ver. 41. _John did no miracle_] Lest he should be mistaken for the Messiah. But how got he then so much credit? By his mortified conversation especially. "Holy and reverend is God's name... [ Continue Reading ]
And many believed on him there. Ver. 42. _And many believed on him there_] Place is no prejudice to the powerful operation of the word, when by the Spirit it is made prolific and generative.... [ Continue Reading ]