John 10:4 NIV

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 10:1-6

10:1-6 Jesus said: "This is the truth I tell you; he who does not enter the sheepfold through the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. But he who comes in through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The keeper of the door opens the door to him; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Whenever he puts his own sheep out, he walks in front of them; and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. But they will not... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 10:1-6

The Palestinian shepherd had different ways of doing things from the shepherds of our country; and, to get the full meaning of this picture, we must look at the shepherd and the way in which he worked. His equipment was very simple. He had his scrip, a bag made of the skin of an animal, in which he carried his food. In it he would have no more than bread, dried fruit, some olives and cheese. He had his sting. The skill of many of the men of Palestine was such that they "could sling a stone... read more

John Gill

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 10:4

He goeth before them - A sixth mark of a true pastor is, he gives them a good example: he not only preaches, but he lives, the truth of the Gospel; he enters into the depths of the salvation of God; and, having thus explored the path, he knows how to lead those who are entrusted to his care into the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel of peace. He who does not endeavor to realize in his own soul the truths which he preaches to others will soon be as salt without its savor; his preaching... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 10:4

Verse 4 4.Because they know his voice. Though he speaks here of ministers, yet, instead of wishing that they should be heard, he wishes that God should be heard speaking by them; for we must attend to the distinction which he has laid down, that he alone is a faithful pastor or shepherd (283) of the Church, who conducts and governs his sheep by the direction of Christ. We must attend to the reason why it is said that the sheep follow; it is, because they know how to distinguish shepherds from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 10:1-6

(1) The parable of the fold and flock , the door and the porter , the robber and the shepherd . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 10:1-6

The allegory of the shepherd. Our Lord contrasts the religious guidance of the Pharisees, as the shepherds of the Jewish fold, with that afforded by himself in respect of loyal devotion and obedience. I. THE SHEEPFOLD . This is the Jewish theocracy. 1. The Lord represented himself to the old prophets as the Shepherd of Israel . ( Isaiah 11:11 ; Ezekiel 35:1-15 .) 2. He had isolated Israel from all the nations of the earth that he might train her for himself. 3.... 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 10:3-4

The Shepherd and the sheep. By anticipation the Lord Jesus laid down in this allegory the relations which should obtain between himself and his people unto t tie end of time. I. THE DIVINE SHEPHERD 'S TREATMENT OF THE FLOCK . 1. He goes before them. Like an Oriental shepherd, Christ does not drive his flock from him; he draws them to him. This he has done in the whole tenor of his human life—in his circumstances , his character, his toils, his sufferings and... read more

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

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 10:1-6

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 10:1-6

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 10:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 10:4

The Pulpit Commentary - John 10:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - John 10:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - John 10:1-21

The Pulpit Commentary - John 10:3-4

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