The Sheepfold Parables in John chapter 10 contrast the Shepherd first to a stranger, then to a thief, and lastly to a hireling, and show how we must ensure that we follow him and not them.
John chapter ten contains parables that liken the kingdom of God to a sheepfold.
Christ is that Shepherd, and the sheep hear his voice. He is also the door (or gate) of the sheepfold, and only through him can one enter God’s kingdom. It is a great mistake to follow any other shepherd or try to enter heaven by any other gate.
John 10:1-30
The Good Shepherd
Jhn 10:11
The key verse in our study passage (John 10:1-30), is verse 11 where Jesus says, "I am the good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Jesus compares the good shepherd to a stranger, to a thief, and to a hireling, and we shall note these comparisons shortly. The main idea is that only the shepherd has a full commitment to the sheep, and consequently has their full trust. The good shepherd will even lay down his life for the sheep, so much does he care about them.
Three times Jesus repeats the statement"I lay down my life for the sheep"(verses 11,15,17). This indicates that it is the point of emphasis in the sheepfold discourse. The third time Jesus elaborates on this statement. He tells us that he has the authority, a commandment from the Father, to lay down his life --and not only to lay it down but to take it up again.
Christ purchased the church with his own blood(Acts 20:28). He gave his all for the flock (the church). That is why the sheep will follow no one else, and why the sheep belong to him, and why he alone is entitled to call them "my sheep", and to call himself "the good shepherd".
Outrage at the statement
The Jewish leaders incensed at the statement, "I am the good shepherd". The rest of the chapter (John 10:31-39) shows that they "took up stones again to stone him". What was making them so angry? Well, Psalm 23 was one of their favourite Psalms, just as it is one of ours. The Psalm begins, "The Lord is my shepherd...". By calling himself the good shepherd Jesus was making himself out to be God, and he was not denying it, but rather clarifying it, because he ended his discourse with the plain statement, "I and my Father are one"(Jhn 10:30).
Having noticed the tenor of the sheepfold parables, now let us observe the comparisons that we mentioned before.
The Comparisons
The Stranger
Jhn 10:4-6
A stranger cannot lead the sheep because the doorkeeper (God) will not admit a stranger to the sheepfold (the church). Should the stranger climb into the sheepfold other than by the door, the sheep will not follow him because they do not recognize his voice (false doctrine). The stranger does not know the sheep by name like the shepherd does. The sheep do not know the stranger and do not trust him.
The Thief
Jhn 10:1-2,8,10,28
The thief comes to steal the sheep. Jesus calls the stranger "a thief and a robber". There were such thieves and robbers before Jesus came. He predicted that there would continue to be thieves and robbers after his departure. "Many false prophets will arise and mislead many"(Mtt 24:11). Thieves do not have the welfare of the sheep in mind. They come only "to steal, and to kill, and to destroy". But Jesus came to give abundant life to the sheep. Only he can "give eternal life to them" the thief brings nothing but death.
The Hireling
Jhn 10:12-13
A hireling is neither a stranger nor a thief. He is a legitimate carer. But he is in it only for the money. He is not the shepherd, and does not own the sheep, therefore they are not his life. He puts his own life ahead of them. If a wolf comes, the hireling runs away to protect himself. He is not willing to endanger his life for the sake of the sheep. Jesus is here making reference to the Jewish religious leaders who had some legitimacy since they were appointed by the law. They however did not have their hearts in the right place and put their own lives ahead of the welfare of the people they served. The people were consequently "like sheep without a shepherd"(Mrk 6:34).
The Door of the Sheep
Jhn 10:7,9
Jesus is both the shepherd and the door. He is the true shepherd to whom the doorkeeper opens the door (Jhn 10:1-3). He is also the door itself (Jhn 10:7). The parable "I am the door of the sheep" is a second likeness embedded in the larger parable, "I am the good shepherd". Only one door or gate leads to the green pasture of eternal life. That door is Jesus. Enter by him and you will be saved. Enter by another door and you will be lost.
The Seven Themes
Jhn 10:1-30
The sheepfold parables contain all seven themes that we noted in our first lesson on the parables. It is fitting that as we close our series on the parables of Christ, that we review those seven themes here in John chapter 10.
The grace and mercy of God (Jhn 10:10-11) Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. To this end the Son of God was willing to lay down his life for us. Such is the wonderful love and mercy and grace of God.
The severity of God (Jhn 10:24-28) Jesus says, "I give eternal life to my sheep and they shall never perish" after saying to the Jewish leaders "You are not my sheep". The clear implication here is, "You shall perish. There will be no eternal life for you". On those who enter by Jesus the door, and follow Jesus the shepherd God will bestow grace, but those who refuse will know God’s wrath.
The importance of obedience (Jhn 10:3-4,17-18)"The sheep hear his voice... and they follow him". Jesus spoke of laying down his life for the sheep, and he said, "This commandment I received from my Father". It was necessary that Jesus obey his Father’s commandment. Surely it is necessary that we also hear and obey the voice of the Son, the good shepherd who was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Php 2:8).
The value of the kingdom (Jhn 10:9,27-28) The sheepfold in these parables is the kingdom of God, and in this kingdom there is salvation and eternal life. To "be saved" to be given "eternal life" is of far greater value than anything else, even life itself. We must be in that kingdom.
A spiritual kingdom for all mankind (Jhn 10:16) There is one statement in the sheepfold parables that we have not noticed until now, but it is extremely important. Jesus said, "Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and they shall become one flock with one shepherd." Here Jesus is pointing to the gospel of the kingdom which would be preached all over the world, and the Gentiles who believe will be welcomed into the kingdom along with the Jews who believe. The church of Christ will be a worldwide kingdom not a single earthly nation.
A kingdom in which the weak are strong (Jhn 10:27-29) The very image of the sheep protected in a sheepfold and guarded by a shepherd against the wolves or against thieves, suggests weakness and vulnerability. A flock of sheep survives by the strength of their shepherd. They themselves are weak and lowly --a fitting picture for us who follow Jesus. Yet though we have no strength of our own, we are made strong in Christ and the Father. "He is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch [the sheep] out of the Father’s hand."
God looks on the heart (Jhn 10:25) The Jews were always plying Jesus with questions. Here we find them doing it again. "Tell us plainly --are you the Christ?". They were not genuine enquirers, but were trying to trap Jesus. Jesus said, "I told you, and you do not believe." That is what it comes down to in the end. It’s not what recognition and status you have among men, but what recognition and status you have with God. Does he know you? God does not know people according to their earthly status. He knows them according to their hearts. And that simply means that he knows you only if you have in your heart a true faith in his Son. There is no reason at all why you cannot have such faith. Make him your Shepherd, hear his voice and follow him..