Joh 10 | BSB | STEP | “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.

‏ John 10

Jesus the Good Shepherd

1 “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 But the [one who] enters by the gate is [the] shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens [the gate] for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls [his] own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all [his] own, he goes on ahead of them, and [his] sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize [his] voice.” 6 Jesus spoke to them [using] this illustration, but they {did} not understand what He was telling them. 7 So [He] said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have [it] in all its fullness. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not [the] shepherd, [and] the sheep are not his own. [When] he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters [the flock] . 13 [ The man runs away ] because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know My [sheep] and My [sheep] know Me, 15 just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock [and] one shepherd. 17 The reason the Father loves Me [is] that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” 19 Again there was division among the Jews because of [Jesus’] message. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?” 21 [But] others replied, “These are not the words of [a man] possessed by a demon. Can a demon open [the] eyes of [the] blind?”

The Unbelief of the Jews

22 At that time the Feast of Dedication ^{▼▼That is, Hanukkah, also called the Feast of Lights} took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 “I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf. 26 But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe. 27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father who has given [them] to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch [them] out of [My] Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him. 32 [But] Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?” 33 “vvv We are not stoning You for [any] good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.” 34 Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’? ^{▼▼Psalm 82:6} 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came— and the Scripture cannot be broken— 36 [ then what about the One ] whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then {can} you accuse [Me] of blasphemy for stating that I am [the] Son of God? 37 If I am not doing the works of My Father, [then] {do} not believe Me. 38 But if I am doing [them] , even though you do not believe Me, believe the works [themselves] , so that you may know and understand that the Father [is] in Me, and I am in the Father.” 39 At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.

John's Testimony Confirmed

40 Then [Jesus] went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there. 41 Many came to Him and said, “Although John never performed a sign, everything [he] said about this [man] was true.” 42 And many in that place believed in [Jesus] .