John 10:1-6 - All about sheep

10:1-4

In the Old Testament the leaders of the people are often castigated for being bad shepherds, and God promises to shepherd the people Himself (Ezekiel 34, Zech 11, Jer 23). We now see Jesus claiming to be that good shepherd, and the Old Testament background adds poignancy to these claims.

The NIV translation is not the best here. Sheep pen and gate tend to make one think of a country side setting, but it is in fact set in a small village (Kruse). The “sheep pen” was in fact a courtyard with a wall around it, and the “gate” is a door. Each family had a few sheep and either one family member, or a hired hand, would look after several sheep folds. Each day the shepherd would take the sheep out into the fields for pasture, and then bring them back at night. The shepherd would know the sheep and the sheep would recognise his voice. Only a thief or robber would seek to enter the courtyard by some means other than the door.

The real shepherd would, of course, enter by the door. The doorkeeper opens the door for the shepherd and the sheep listen to His voice. So who is the doorkeeper? Presumably it is the Father. The sheep listen to the shepherds voice and follow him because they recognise his voice.

The picture here clearly indicates that the shepherd already knows who the sheep are. As Paul says in several of his letters, God foreknew us. We weren’t saved by chance, but on purpose. Note also that we belong to the shepherd. Again, this is no random calling, but a deliberate calling.

The shepherd then goes on ahead and the sheep follow.

10:5,6

Conversely, the sheep will not follow a stranger. In the context of the setting the sheep would only follow the shepherd they were familiar with. False shepherds, such as the Pharisees, will find that people never follow them. They may go along out of fear, or they may be bribed, but they will not willingly follow. They sense that something is wrong.

Blind as always, the Pharisees had no idea what Jesus was on about.