Lesson 43: John 10:1-21
John 10:1-21
1
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a
robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth
his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things
they were which he spake unto them.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the
door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did
not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go
in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy: I am come that
they might have life, and that they might have
it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the
wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my
sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold,
and one shepherd.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received
of my Father.
19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
Related Scriptures
Psalm 23:1-6
Isaiah 53:5-6 (All of Isaiah 53 would be helpful.)
Matthew 18:10-14
Matthew 24:4-5
John 14:6
Ephesians 3:2-6
Background Information
The image of Jesus as our shepherd is one of the best-known Biblical descriptions of Him. For those who
have worked with sheep and know how unintelligent and helpless they are, this word picture is especially compelling, even if it doesn’t flatter us. Shepherds
of Jesus’ day would pen their sheep for the night. One man’s job included lying across the door of the enclosure, to guarantee the safety of the sheep.
Questions
1. a. Who might be some of
the strangers who would attempt to draw us away from Jesus? b. How should we
react to those who would lead us astray? c. What does Jesus call those who
would have us follow them rather than Him?
2. a. What is the only way into the company of God’s people? b. Can we belong to God if we try some other “door”?
3. What did Jesus do to save us that no one else would do?
4. a. What was the nationality of the people to whom Jesus told these parables? b. After reading Ephesians 3:2-6, who do you think he meant when He said,
“And other sheep I have, which are
not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold,
and one shepherd”?
5. a. What did Jesus mean about taking His life again after He laid it down? b. What holiday do we celebrate in memory of Jesus’ taking His life back again?
6. Have you entered by the door into the sheepfold?
This study is in the public domain and may be copied and distributed freely.