John 10:1-3a 1“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the gatekeeper opens.
John makes an abrupt shift of topic in his recounting of Jesus’ teaching. Everything John wrote has the purpose of revealing the person of Jesus. Readers are invited to picture the images in their minds, believe the truth of Jesus’ words, apply them to their faith, and commit themselves to him as the Son of God. As far as the narrative goes, Jesus continues to speak to the Pharisees but uses a new topic and metaphor to warn against their teachings. He begins with another timeless truth, but this one uses the image of a sheepfold where sheep are kept safe at night against wild animals. Sheep herding was a common scene in Israel at that time, like dairy farming might be today. Most people, even the urbanites, could picture in their minds a sheepfold.
Although the next section is not told specifically as a parable, it has the same effect as one. The Jesus of John does not so much speak in parables as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels but in metaphors and teachings that have deeper meanings like parables. John seems to weave Jesus’ original parables into broader sayings that reveal who Jesus is and what he came to do. John hints at Jesus’ method of teaching in verse 6 in the comment that he was using a figure of speech, maxim, or proverbial statement in order to speak to the Jews who would not believe in him.
The next saying is connected to the previous section with the image of a thief and robber with the implied comparison to the Pharisees from 9:40. They were trying to climb into God’s kingdom by way of legalistic obedience to the law. A thief and robber try to sneak in at night when the shepherd is sleeping. They would try to climb over the wall to grab or injure the sheep. A possible biblical background to this image could be Ezekiel 34, which is a prophecy against the shepherds or spiritual leaders of Israel. Israel is called God’s sheep, and the leaders must care for them like a shepherd cares for his sheep. This image continues in the New Testament in application to the spiritual leaders in the church. The spiritual leaders of Israel in the first century were acting like thieves and robbers and were taking advantage of the people.
The shepherd enters the sheepfold through the correct way. A gatekeeper keeps watch over the sheep to make sure no robbers or wild animals try to harm the sheep. He only lets in the shepherd. This character is only a prop in the story, though there may be some implied connection to God the Father who is the ultimate gatekeeper to his kingdom. He only lets the legitimate caregiver of the sheep enter and exit the safety of his care. The opening of this chapter serves as a warning to the sheep to watch out for people who try to sneak in or promote false teachings. Jesus is the only truth and revelation of God’s way of salvation.
For older posts, click here.
