John 10:18

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 10:17-18

10:17-18 "The reason why my Father loves me is that I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have full authority to lay it down, and I have full authority to take it again. I have received this injunction from my Father." Few passages in the New Testament tell us so much about Jesus in so short a compass. (i) It tells us that Jesus saw his whole life as an act of obedience to God. God had given him a task to do, and he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 10:18

No man taketh it from me ,.... It was indeed taken away at the instigation of the Jews, and by the order of Pilate, and by means of the Roman soldiers, who crucified him; and the former of these are often charged with slaying him, and killing him, the Prince of life; and it is expressly said, "his life is taken from the earth", Acts 8:33 ; and yet no man could, nor did take it away, without his Father's will, and determinate counsel and knowledge, by which he was delivered up into the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 10:18

I have power - Or, authority, εξουσιαν . Our Lord speaks of himself here as man, or the Messiah, as being God's messenger, and sent upon earth to fulfill the Divine will, in dying and rising again for the salvation of men. This commandment have I received - That is, I act according to the Divine commandment in executing these things, and giving you this information. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 10:18

Verse 18 18.No man taketh it from me. This is another consolation, by which the disciples may take courage as to the death of Christ, that he does not die by constraint, but offers himself willingly for the salvation of his flock. Not only does he affirm that men have no power to put him to death, except so far as he permits them, but he declares that he is free from every violence of necessity. It is otherwise with us, for we are laid under a necessity of dying on account of our sins. True,... 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 10:16-18

(a) The continuity of the Shepherd-activity , notwithstanding the laying down of his life . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 10:17-18

The death of Christ. I. IT INVOLVES THE GREATEST SACRIFICE . 1. It was a sacrifice of life . "I lay down my life." It was his own life, and not that of another. Thousands of lives are sacrificed during war by the existing government; but these are the lives of others, and not their own. But the death of Christ involved the sacrifice of his own life. It was personal. 2. It was a sacrifice of the most precious life . Every life is very precious—that of the flower... read more

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