The Door and the Shepherds
John 10:3-5
To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.…


I. THE DOOR.

1. Of the sheep — the entrance through which a soul passes into God's fold. This Christ claims to be —

(1) Personally. "I," not My teaching, example, propitiation.

(2) Exclusively. "The." As a Saviour Christ stands alone, shares His honours with no colleague, not even with a Moses, far less with a Zoroaster, Confucius, Mohammed, angel, virgin, priest, or pope.

(3) Universally — "any" (Hebrews 7:25).

(4) Certainly — "Shall be saved."(5) Completely: Salvation —

(a)  The most desirable in quality; perfect freedom.

(b)  The most abundant in quantity; ample satisfaction.

2. To the sheep — the entrance by which the shepherds find access. This also Christ claims to be, and therefore no one has a right to be shepherd who does not —

(1) Derive such an office from Christ (Ephesians 4:11).

(2) Approach men through His own personal acquaintance with Christ (2 Corinthians 4:13).

(3) Seek to lead men to a believing acceptance of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:2).

(4) Devote himself to the spiritual edification of those who have believed on Christ (Ephesians 4:12; 1 Timothy 4:6; 2 Timothy 4:2).

II. THE SHEPHERDS.

1. False.

(1)  The time they appeared - "before Christ."

(2)  Their character - "thieves, etc."

(3)  Their objects - to steal, kill, etc., for their own enrichment (ver. 10).

(4)  Their experience (ver. 3).

2. The true Shepherd.

(1)  Whence He came: from above, from heaven, from God.

(2)  When He appeared: in the fulness of the times.

(3)  What He sought: the welfare of God's flock —

(a)  That men might have life.

(b)  That believers might have it abundantly (John 1:16).

(T. Whitelaw, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

WEB: The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.




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