The Fine Shepherd and the Sheepfolds

"JOHN 10:1-21

* JESUS SPEAKS OF THE FINE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEPFOLD

As Jesus continues teaching in Judea, he now draws on something that his listeners can easily picture-sheep and sheepfolds.  But he is speaking illustratively.  The Jews may recall David's words: "Jehovah is my Shepherd. I will lack nothing. In grassy pastures he makes me lie down." (Psalm 23:1, 2) In another psalm, David invited the nation:  "Let us kneel down before Jehovah our Maker.  For he is our God, and we are the people  of his pasture." (Psalm 95:6, 7) Yes, the Israelites under the Law were long likened to a flock of sheep.

These "sheep" have been in a "sheepfold" in that they were born under the Mosaic Law covenant. The Law served as fence, separating them from the corrupting practices of people not under this arrangement.  Some Israelites, however, mistreated God's flock.  Jesus states:  "Most truly I say to you, the one who does not enter into the sheepfold through the door but climbs in another way, that one is a thief and a plunderer. But the one who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep." - JOHN 10:1, 2.

The people may think of men who have claimed to be the Messiah, or Christ. These are like thieves and plunderers. The people should not follow such impostors. Rather, they should follow "the shepherd of the sheep," about whom Jehovah says: 

"The doorkeeper opens to this one, and he sheep listen to his voice.  He calls his own sheep by nae and leads them out.  When he has brought all his own out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. They will by no means follow a stranger but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." - JOHN 10:3-5. 

Next time: Continue with The Fine Shepherd and the Sheepfolds

From the jw.org publications