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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conflict - The Clash of Belief and Unbelief, The discourse on the Good Shepherd, Part XXXI, John 10:7,8 - Lesson 78
Read Verses John 10:1-6, for review: 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. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
And pick up our lesson at John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
Of a truth, of a truth, Jesus proclaims a truth that enlightens his sheep.
Not only does he call his sheep and they hear his voice but he tells them that he is the door of the sheep.
He is not the door of the sheepfold, but he is the door of the sheep.
His sheep!
He is the door that secures, the door that opens and gives access to wonderful things.
He is the way out of the fold of dead religion into life everlasting.
He is the way to green pastures, he is the way to still waters.
He is the way to paths of righteousness and he is the way to goodness and mercy.
He affirms that he is the way, there is not a way, some proven steps or procedure that men may take, but he, he personally is the way, the door of the sheep.
The sheep must go through him to access life, true spiritual God centered life.
John 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
Jesus continues to use strong language. He does not couch terms in order to gain friends and supporters.
All that ever came before Jesus Christ includes false Messiahs and self appointed teachers, Pharisees and scribes.
These were not interested in the welfare of the sheep.
Sons of the first thief, the devil, who climbed into God's fold.
They were motivated by self interest.
They were thieves and robbers.
For example the rabbis substituted tradition for truth; the Talmud for the Torah; the oral law for the inspired written law.
The stole the key of knowledge and not only did not come in themselves but hindered others from coming to God.
They entered intrusively, clandestinely, under the mask of religion. But they are ravening wolves.
The true sheep would not hear them.
The true sheep hear the shepherds voice but will not hear the voice of the false shepherds.
How often we find severe denunciations of false teachers in the scriptures.
John the Baptist: Mat 3:7, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Our Lord: Mat 23:14, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Mat 23:24, Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Mat 23:33, Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
The Apostle Paul: 2 Cor 11:13, For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
The Apostle Peter: 2 Pet 2:17, These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
Jude: Jude 1:12, These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
This ought to tell us how God feels about those that teach falsely and lead many astray.
This ought to tell us how important it is to faithful teach and preach God's word.
What a responsibility those have who teach and preach.
God will hold us accountable. |