John 10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:4

And when he putteth forth his own sheep ,.... The Ethiopic version reads, "when he leads them all out"; in order to bring them into proper pastures: he goeth before them ; in allusion to the eastern shepherds, who when they put out their flocks, did not, as ours do, drive them before them, and follow after them, at least not always, but went before them: so Christ, the great shepherd, goes before his flock, not only to provide for them, but by way of example to them; in many instances he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:5

And a stranger will they not follow ,.... One that knows not Christ, is not sent by him, and who does not preach him: but will flee from him ; shun him and his ministry, as not only disagreeable, but dangerous: for they know not the voice of strangers : they do not approve of their doctrine, nor take any delight in it, or receive any profit from it. The Persic version, as before, reads, "neither will the lambs ever go after strange sheep, and if they see them , they will flee from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:6

This parable spake Jesus unto them ,.... To the Pharisees, who were with him, John 9:40 ; but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them ; the things spoken by him being delivered in a parabolical way, though in lively figures, and in terms plain and easy to be understood; yet what through the blindness of their minds, and the hardness of their hearts, and their prejudices in favour of themselves, and against Christ, they did not understand what were meant by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:7

Then said Jesus unto them again ,.... By way of explanation of the above parable, since they did not understand it: verily, verily, I say unto you ; this is certainly truth, and what may be depended on as such, whether it will be believed or not: I am the door of the sheep ; and of none but them; not of goats, dogs, or swine; none but sheep enter at this door; and all the sheep do sooner or later: Christ is the door to them, by which they enter into a visible church state, and are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:8

All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers ,.... This must be understood with some restrictions, not of every individual person, nor of every individual prophet or shepherd; not of Moses, nor of the prophets of the Lord, nor of John the Baptist, who came immediately before Christ, was his harbinger, and prepared his way; but of those prophets who came, and were not sent of God, and so did not come in by the door; of the shepherds of Israel, who fed themselves, and not the flock,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:9

I am the door ,.... Of the sheep, as before, see John 10:7 . The Ethiopic version reads, "I am the true door of the sheep"; which is repeated for further confirmation, and for the sake of introducing what follows: by me if any man enter in ; into the sheepfold, the church, he shall be saved ; not that being in a church, and having submitted to ordinances, will save any, but entering into these, at the right door, or through faith in Christ, such will be saved, according to Mark... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:10

The thief cometh not but for to steal ,.... That is his first and principal view; to steal, is to invade, seize, and carry away another's property. Such teachers that come not in by the right door, or with a divine commission, seek to deceive, and carry away the sheep of Christ from him, though they are not able to do it; and to steal away their hearts from him, as Absalom stole the hearts of the people from their rightful lord and sovereign, David his father; and to subject them to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:11

I am the good shepherd ,.... A shepherd of his Father's appointing, calling, and sending, to whom the care of all his sheep, or chosen ones, was committed; who was set up as a shepherd over them by him, and was entrusted with them; and who being called, undertook to feed them; and being promised, was sent unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel; and under the character of a shepherd, died for them, and rose again, and is accountable to his Father for everyone of them; the shepherd, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:12

But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd ,.... That is, who is not the owner of the sheep, though he keeps them, yet only for reward: by whom are meant, not the faithful ministers of the word, who live upon the Gospel, as Christ has ordained, and who are worthy of their reward, and are not to be called hirelings by way of reproach; since they teach not for hire and reward, but for the good of souls, and the interest of the Redeemer; but such who seek only their gain, from their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:13

The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling ,.... And has no propriety in the sheep; had he, he would abide by them, and defend them; but because he has not, he will not expose himself to any danger, but leaves them: and careth not for the sheep ; what becomes of them, providing only for his own safety. Abarbinel F25 Mashmia Jeshua, fol. 20. 4. has a note on Isaiah 40:11 which may serve to illustrate this passage: ""he shall feed his flock like a shepherd"; not as he that... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:13

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands