John 10:12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - John 10:1-18

It is not certain whether this discourse was at the feast of dedication in the winter (spoken of John 10:22), which may be taken as the date, not only of what follows, but of what goes before (that which countenances this is, that Christ, in his discourse there, carries on the metaphor of the sheep, John 10:26, 27, whence it seems that that discourse and this were at the same time); or whether this was a continuation of his parley with the Pharisees, in the close of the foregoing chapter. The... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 10:11-15

10:11-15 "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. The hireling, who is not a real shepherd, and to whom the sheep do not really belong, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and runs away; and the wolf seizes them and scatters them. He abandons the sheep because he is a hireling, and the sheep are nothing to him. I am the good shepherd, and I know my own sheep, and my own sheep know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 10:12

But he that is a hireling - Or, as my old MS. Bible reads it, the marchaunt , he who makes merchandise of men's souls; bartering them, and his own too, for filthy lucre. Let not the reader apply this, or any of the preceding censures, to any particular class or order of men: every religious party may have a hireling priest, or minister; and where the provision is the greatest there the danger is most. Whose own the sheep are not - A hireling priest, who has never been the instrument of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 10:12

Verse 12 12.But the hireling. By hirelings we are to understand those who retain the pure doctrine, and who proclaim the truth, as Paul says, to serve a purpose rather than from pure zeal. Though such persons do not serve Christ faithfully, yet we ought to hear them; for Christ wished that the Pharisees should be heard, because they sat in Moses ’seat, (Matthew 23:2;) and, in like manner, we ought to give such honor to the Gospel, as not to shrink from its ministers, though they be not good... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 10:1-21

5. Christ the Shepherd of the flock of God . The discourse which now follows was the Lord's parabolic or allegoric reply to the conduct of the Pharisaic malignants. These men, claiming to be infallible guides of the ignorant, to be veritable shepherds of the flock of God, had ignored the advent of the true and good Shepherd, had opposed the Divine call and supreme claim of the Messiah, had set themselves to disturb and dislocate the relations between him and those who saw his glory... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 10:11-21

(3) The functions and responsibilities of the veritable Shepherd , and the relation of the Shepherd to the flock . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 10:11-21

Allegory of the good Shepherd. There is a progress of thought in each allegory. I. THE CHARACTER OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD . "I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." 1. He is himself " the great Shepherd of the sheep " of whom the prophets stoke . ( Ezekiel 34:23 ; Genesis 49:24 ; Isaiah 40:11 .) 2. This interest in his sheep is manifested in his throwing away his life/or their protection . Like David, he exposes his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 10:12

He £ that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth . The hireling is contrasted with the shepherd. The protector of a flock, who, though, not a thief, or robber, or alien, yet has no unselfish regard for the sheep, is guilty of cowardice, and his shameless flight from danger may do as much harm to the flock as the thief or robber. Godet would, at all events at first, limit the reference to the priestly party,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 10:12

A hireling - A man employed to take care of the sheep, to whom wages is paid. As he does not own the sheep, and guards them merely for pay, rather than risk his life he would leave the flock to the ravages of wild beasts. The word translated “hireling” is often employed in a good sense; but here it denotes one who is unfaithful to his trust; and especially those ministers who preach only for support, and who are unwilling to encounter any danger or to practice any self-denial for the welfare of... read more

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