Parable of the Good Shepherd

10 “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is (A)a thief and a robber. But the one who enters by the door is (B)a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to (C)his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and (D)leads them out. When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know (E)his voice. However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know (F)the voice of strangers.” Jesus told them this (G)figure of speech, but they did not understand what the things which He was saying to them [a]meant.

So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am (H)the door of the sheep. All those who came before Me are (I)thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. (J)I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they (K)would have life, and [b]have it abundantly.

11 (L)I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd (M)lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a (N)shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. 14 (O)I am the good shepherd, and (P)I know My own, and My own know Me, 15 just as (Q)the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and (R)I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And I have (S)other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become (T)one flock, with (U)one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I (V)lay down My life so that I may take it back. 18 (W)No one has taken it away from Me, but I (X)lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. (Y)This commandment I received from My Father.”

19 (Z)Dissension occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He (AA)has a demon and (AB)is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who is (AC)demon-possessed. (AD)A demon cannot open the eyes of those who are blind, can it?”

Jesus Asserts His Deity

22 At that time the [c]Feast of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area, in the portico of (AE)Solomon. 24 (AF)The Jews then surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long [d]will You keep us in suspense? If You are the [e]Christ, tell us (AG)plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, (AH)I told you, and you do not believe; (AI)the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because (AJ)you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep (AK)listen to My voice, and (AL)I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give them (AM)eternal life, and they will never perish; and (AN)no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 [f]My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 (AO)I and the Father are [g]one.”

31 The Jews (AP)picked up stones again to stone Him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. John 10:6 Lit were
  2. John 10:10 Or have abundance
  3. John 10:22 Now known as Hanukkah, also the Feast of Lights
  4. John 10:24 Lit do You lift up our soul
  5. John 10:24 I.e., Messiah
  6. John 10:29 One early ms What My Father has given Me is greater than all
  7. John 10:30 Or a unity; or one essence

Bible Gateway Recommends