John 10:8-12

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

But for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy - Those who enter into the priesthood that they may enjoy the revenues of the Church, are the basest and vilest of thieves and murderers. Their ungodly conduct is a snare to the simple, and the occasion of much scandal to the cause of Christ. Their doctrine is deadly; they are not commissioned by Christ, and therefore they cannot profit the people. Their character is well pointed out by the Prophet Ezekiel, Ezekiel 34:2 , etc. Wo be to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 10:11

I am the good shepherd - Whose character is the very reverse of that which has already been described. In John 10:7 , John 10:9 , our Lord had called himself the door of the sheep, as being the sole way to glory, and entrance into eternal life; here he changes the thought, and calls himself the shepherd, because of what he was to do for them that believe in him, in order to prepare them for eternal glory. Giveth his life for the sheep - That is, gives up his soul as a sacrifice to... 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 10:8

Verse 8 8.All who came before me. The words πάντες ὅσοι may be literally rendered, all as many as came before me They who restrict this expression to Judas the Galilean, and such persons, depart widely, in my opinion, from Christ’s meaning; for he contrasts all false doctrine, in general, with the Gospel, and all false prophets with faithful teachers. Nor would it even be unreasonable to extend this statement to the Gentiles, that all who, from the beginning of the world, have professed to be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 10:9

Verse 9 9.If any man enter by me. The highest consolation of believers is, that when they have once embraced Christ, they learn that they are out of danger; for Christ promises to them salvation and happiness. He afterwards divides it into two parts. He shall go in and out, and find pasture. First, they shall go safely wherever they find necessary; and, next, they shall be fed to the full. By going in and out, Scripture often denotes all the actions of the life, as we say in French, aller et... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 10 10.The thief cometh not. By this saying, Christ — if we may use the expression — pulls our ear, that the ministers of Satan may not come upon us by surprise, when we are in a drowsy and careless state; for our excessive indifference exposes us, on every side, to false doctrines. For whence arises credulity so great, that they who ought to have remained fixed in Christ, fly about in a multitude of errors, but because they do not sufficiently dread or guard against so many false... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 10:11

Verse 11 11.The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. From the extraordinary affection which he bears towards the sheep, he shows how truly he acts towards them as a shepherd; for he is so anxious about their salvation, that he does not even spare his own life. Hence it follows, that they who reject the guardianship of so kind and amiable a shepherd are exceedingly ungrateful, and deserve a hundred deaths, and are exposed to every kind of harm. The remark of Augustine is exceedingly... 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 10:7-9

Christ as the Door. Notice— I. THE POSITION OF CHRIST IN RELATION TO SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS . "I am the Door." 1. He is the Medium of admission to these blessings . 2. He is the only Medium of admission to spiritual blessings . II. THE CONDITION ON WHICH THESE BLESSINGS ARE TO BE ENJOYED . "By me if any man enter in." This involves: 1. Full recognition of Christ ' s authority as the medium of admission , lie is the Door,... read more

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