John 10 NIV

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The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

1 “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.

2 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 to 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 run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.

8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.

9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They 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 to the full.

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 does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.

13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing 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 sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only 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 command I received from my Father.”

19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 

20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

22 Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 

23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 

24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,

26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will 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 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 

32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods” ’?

35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—

36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’?

37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.

38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 

41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 

42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.

In John 10, Jesus Christ describes Himself as the “Good Shepherd” who lovingly cares for His sheep. He explains that His sheep recognize His voice and follow Him because they know and trust Him. Jesus contrasts Himself with thieves and hired workers who do not truly care for the flock, while He willingly lays down His life for the sheep. He teaches that He came to give abundant life and that He knows His followers personally, just as the Father knows Him. Jesus also says He has “other sheep” not yet gathered, pointing to the future inclusion of believers from all nations.

Later, during the Festival of Dedication in Jerusalem, religious leaders question Jesus about whether He is the Messiah. Jesus explains that His works already testify about who He is, but many refuse to believe. He assures His followers that no one can snatch them from His hand or the Father’s hand. When Jesus declares, “I and the Father are one,” the leaders accuse Him of blasphemy and attempt to stone Him. Despite growing opposition, many people continue believing in Him after hearing His teachings and witnessing His works.

In these verses, Jesus uses the picture of a shepherd and sheep to describe His relationship with His followers.

Jesus explains that the true shepherd enters through the gate, and the sheep recognize and follow his voice. A stranger’s voice, however, is unfamiliar to them, and they will not follow it.

Jesus is the true Shepherd who leads His people with care, truth, and protection.
His followers learn to recognize His voice through faith and relationship with Him.

The sheep listening to the shepherd symbolizes believers trusting and responding to Jesus. The voice of the Shepherd represents His truth, guidance, and teaching.

The strangers and thieves represent false voices that try to lead people away from God. Jesus teaches that believers should discern truth carefully and follow the voice of God rather than deception.

This passage also reflects the personal nature of faith. A shepherd knows his sheep individually, and the sheep know their shepherd.

John 10:1–5 reminds us that Jesus lovingly leads His people, and those who know Him learn to follow His voice in truth and faith.

In this passage, Jesus describes Himself as both “the gate” for the sheep and “the good shepherd.”

🌿 “I am the gate.”

Jesus teaches that He is the way through which people enter into salvation, safety, and life with God. Just as sheep entered through a gate for protection, believers come to God through faith in Christ.

Jesus contrasts Himself with thieves and robbers who come to steal and destroy. False leaders seek selfish gain, but Jesus came to give life.

🌿 “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

This abundant life refers not only to earthly blessings, but also to spiritual life, peace, truth, hope, and eternal relationship with God.

Jesus then says,
🌿 “I am the good shepherd.”

A good shepherd protects and cares for the sheep, even at great cost. Jesus explains that He would lay down His life for the sheep, pointing toward His future sacrifice on the cross.

Unlike a hired worker who abandons the sheep in danger, Jesus remains faithful because He truly loves His people.

Jesus also says that He knows His sheep and they know Him, describing a personal relationship between Christ and believers.

Finally, Jesus speaks about taking up His life again, revealing His authority over death and pointing to His resurrection.

John 10:7–18 reminds us that Jesus is the true Shepherd who lovingly guides, protects, sacrifices Himself for His people, and gives eternal life to those who follow Him.

In these verses, Jesus responds to people who accused Him of blasphemy after He spoke about His unity with the Father.

Jesus refers to the Scriptures and says,
🌿 “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are gods’?”

Here, Jesus quotes Psalm 82, where human judges or leaders were called “gods” in the sense that they had received authority and responsibility under God. Jesus uses this argument to show that His listeners were applying an inconsistent standard against Him.

Jesus was not denying His divine authority.
Instead, He was pointing out that if Scripture could use such language for human representatives, then it should not seem impossible for the One truly sent by the Father to call Himself the Son of God.

Jesus then points to His works:
🌿 “If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works.”

The miracles, healings, and teachings of Jesus revealed that God was working through Him. 

His works testified to His relationship with the Father.

The passage ends with Jesus declaring that:
🌿 “the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”

This expresses the deep unity between Jesus and the Father in purpose, nature, and work.

John 10:34–38 reminds us that Jesus revealed the Father through both His words and His works, calling people to recognize Him through the truth and power of God displayed in Him.