Study Desk

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

"Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.^(a)

The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.^(b)

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.^(c) He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.^(d)

When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.^(e)

But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice."

Jesus used this figure of speech,^(f) but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.^(g)

Therefore Jesus said again, "Very truly I tell you, I am^(h) the gate⁽ⁱ⁾ for the sheep.

All who have come before me^(j) are thieves and robbers,^(k) but the sheep have not listened to them.

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,^(l) and have it to the full.^(m)

"I am⁽ⁿ⁾ the good shepherd.^(o) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.^(p)

The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.^(q) Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.

The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

"I am the good shepherd;^(r) I know my sheep^(s) and my sheep know me—

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father^(t)—and I lay down my life for the sheep.^(u)

I have other sheep^(v) that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock^(w) and one shepherd.^(x)

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life^(y)—only to take it up again.

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.^(z) I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."^(aa)

The Jews who heard these words were again divided.^(ab)

Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed^(ac) and raving mad.^(ad) Why listen to him?"

But others said, "These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon.^(ae) Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"^(af)