The theme of this chapter is the character and office of the good shepherd of God's spiritual fold, of which Christ himself is the great example. The reader should study, in connection with it, Jeremiah 23:1-6; and especially Ezekiel 34:1-31. ENTERETH NOT BY THE DOOR; the Saviour has in view men lik... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT ENTERETH IN BY THE DOOR; every true shepherd. Christ, the chief Shepherd, must not be excluded; for he is an example to all the under shepherds in this respect also, that he has entered the fold by the door. Compare chap John 8:42; John 12:49.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PORTER; the door-keeper. As he comes by God's authority, God's providence prepares the way for him, and God's Spirit sets his seal to his labors. BY NAME; an allusion to the practice of eastern shepherds, who give names to their sheep.... [ Continue Reading ]
Real Christians have spiritual discernment and relish of the great truths of the gospel. No instruction, however plausible or learned, which denies or omits the doctrine of Christ crucified, as a divine atoning Saviour, satisfies them, commends itself to their conscience, if enlightened, or meets th... [ Continue Reading ]
STRANGERS; false, irreligious teachers.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDERSTOOD NOT; the meaning of what he had been saying. He therefore proceeded to explain it, and in so doing he changed the figure somewhat, representing himself as the door.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THE DOOR; as the Father is the door to Christ, so he himself is the door to the under-shepherds and to all the sheep. Through him alone can men enter his church or the ministry which he has appointed.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME BEFORE ME; without entering the door. See note to verse John 10:1. THE SHEEP DID NOT HEAR THEM; the truly pious did not receive their false doctrines, or imitate their corrupt examples.... [ Continue Reading ]
FIND PASTURE; receive spiritual food, satisfying good.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THIEF; one who takes the emoluments of the sacred office without performing its spiritual duties, and seeks his own aggrandizement, not the salvation of souls. LIFE; spiritual, eternal life.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD; in respect to the power of admission to God's fold, Christ has declared himself to be the door; in respect to his care over those within the fold, he now, by another change of the figure, calls himself "the good Shepherd"-the Shepherd of shepherds and of the flock, and the so... [ Continue Reading ]
A HIRELING; one whose great object in preaching is his own interest. THE WOLF; the enemy of God and his people.... [ Continue Reading ]
I-KNOW MY SHEEP, AND AM KNOWN OF MINE; the knowledge of Christ and his people is mutual, and it is a knowledge of deep love and interest. The union between Christ and his people is intimate and unfailing. It resembles, in many respects, that between the Father and the Son. It is the fruit of the Spi... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT OF THIS FOLD; those who as yet knew not God, especially from gentile nations. Isaiah 56:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN TAKETH IT; no man had power to take his life till he should voluntarily surrender himself to crucifixion and death. THIS COMMANDMENT HAVE I RECEIVED; he was commissioned of God to die for the sins of men, and rise again for their justification. He had the power, disposition, and right to do... [ Continue Reading ]
IS MAD; beside himself, through the influence of an evil spirit.... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAST OF THE DEDICATION; this was a feast instituted by Judas Maccabaeus about one hundred and sixty-five years before Christ, in commemoration of the purification of the temple, and its renewed dedication to the worship of Jehovah, after it had been desecrated by idol-worship and the offering in it... [ Continue Reading ]
SOLOMON'S PORCH; a portico on the east side of the temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORKS; miracles. BEAR WITNESS; prove me to be the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT OF MY SHEEP; not my true followers. The reason why some who hear the gospel reject it and discard its fundamental truths, is, they have not the temper which the gospel inculcates, and do not perform the duties which it requires.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS GREATER THAN ALL; see note to chap John 14:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM MY FATHER; the Jews rightly understood him to call God his Father, and himself the Son of God, in such a sense that he was equal with God. Compare chap. John 5:18. ARE ONE; in nature, counsel, will and operation.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAKEST THYSELF GOD; claimest to be divine, equal with the Father.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR LAW; the Old Testament scriptures. Psalms 82:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO WHOM THE WORD OF GOD CAME; who were appointed and commissioned to act as his agents in ruling and administering justice in his stead among men. CANNOT BE BROKEN; cannot be set aside as speaking improperly when it calls magistrates gods on account of their office. The term is always used in suc... [ Continue Reading ]
SANCTIFIED; set apart to the office of the Redeemer of lost men. SENT INTO THE WORLD; to do the work of the Messiah. BECAUSE I SAID, I AM THE SON OF GOD; the argument is from the less to the greater: If mere men were called gods because the word of God came to them, how much more may he who is one... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORKS OF MY FATHER; divine works-the works of God. BELIEVE ME NOT; admit not my claim to be the Son of God. Jesus Christ, by the performance of divine works, proved himself to be divine, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Saviour of men. His claiming this character, therefore, instead of being bl... [ Continue Reading ]
BELIEVE NOT ME; that is, my declaration concerning myself. THE FATHER IS IN ME, AND I IN HIM; that we are one, as I declared to you, verse John 10:30.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SOUGHT AGAIN TO TAKE HIM; because he still claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God, truly divine-because he claimed to be what John, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, at the beginning of this gospel declared him to be, God-in the language of Paul, "over all, God blessed for ever." Romans... [ Continue Reading ]