John 10:3-5 To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.… I. THE DOOR. 1. Of the sheep — the entrance through which a soul passes into God's fold. This Christ claims to be — (1) Personally. "I," not My teaching, example, propitiation. (2) Exclusively. "The." As a Saviour Christ stands alone, shares His honours with no colleague, not even with a Moses, far less with a Zoroaster, Confucius, Mohammed, angel, virgin, priest, or pope. (3) Universally — "any" (Hebrews 7:25). (4) Certainly — "Shall be saved."(5) Completely: Salvation — (a) The most desirable in quality; perfect freedom. (b) The most abundant in quantity; ample satisfaction. 2. To the sheep — the entrance by which the shepherds find access. This also Christ claims to be, and therefore no one has a right to be shepherd who does not — (1) Derive such an office from Christ (Ephesians 4:11). (2) Approach men through His own personal acquaintance with Christ (2 Corinthians 4:13). (3) Seek to lead men to a believing acceptance of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:2). (4) Devote himself to the spiritual edification of those who have believed on Christ (Ephesians 4:12; 1 Timothy 4:6; 2 Timothy 4:2). II. THE SHEPHERDS. 1. False. (1) The time they appeared - "before Christ." (2) Their character - "thieves, etc." (3) Their objects - to steal, kill, etc., for their own enrichment (ver. 10). (4) Their experience (ver. 3). 2. The true Shepherd. (1) Whence He came: from above, from heaven, from God. (2) When He appeared: in the fulness of the times. (3) What He sought: the welfare of God's flock — (a) That men might have life. (b) That believers might have it abundantly (John 1:16). (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. |
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