Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 34:1-10

“The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.’  Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: ‘As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep’, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.’” (Ezekiel 34:1–10, ESV)

New Testament Reading: John 10:1-21

“‘Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.’ This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.’ There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, ‘He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?’ Others said, ‘These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’” (John 10:1–21, ESV)

Introduction

This saying of Jesus has been a most wonderful comfort to the people of God throughout the ages. By it we are moved to think of our Savior as a shepherd – a shepherd who loves his sheep. He leads them to green pastures. He knows his sheep intimately; and his sheep know him. He calls them by name, and they know his voice and follow. He is the good shepherd. He defends his flock from predators, even to the point of laying down his own life for them. It is no wonder then that this image of Christ as the good shepherd has warmed the hearts of the people of God from generation to generation.

Christ as the good shepherd is certainly the predominant theme in this passage. All things eventually point this, that Christ Jesus our Lord is the good shepherd. But it is important to see that there is more to this figure of speech, or wise saying, than a simple presentation of Christ as the good shepherd. The gospel of John never ceases to amaze me in its ability to be at once utterly simple and at the same time deep and complex. We will eventually come to set our attention upon Christ as the good shepherd, it is true. But it would be unwise to go straight there and, in so doing, to pass over the nuances of this wonderful passage.

Notice that Jesus does not explicitly reveal himself as the good shepherd until verse 11. It is there that Jesus utters those most famous words, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Up to that point the emphases is upon something else. Notice verse 7: “Jesus again said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.’” And in verse 9 Jesus again says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” So notice that in this figure of speech Jesus makes not one, but two declarations concerning himself. He first says, “I am the door”, and then he says, “I am the good shepherd”. 

Today we will set our attention upon Jesus as “the door”. Next week we will consider his as the “good shepherd”. It is understandable that thinking of Jesus as the “good shepherd” warms the heart more than thinking of him as “the door”, but both of these sayings of Jesus are of great importance.

The Figure of Speech 

Both of these “I am” sayings of Jesus find their source in the figure of speech uttered by Jesus in verses 1-5.

Keep in mind (and this is very important) that Jesus uttered these words in the presence of the man who was born blind whom had healed, the Pharisees who had cast that man out of the synagogue because he would not renounce Jesus, and before whoever else happened to be gathered around. In other words the audience that surrounded Jesus at the end of chapter nine is the same audience in chapter 10:1-21.  It is to them – the healed man, the Pharisees, and others –  that Jesus says,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (John 10:1–5, ESV)

We need to be careful in our interpretation of this saying of Jesus. One mistake that students of the Bible have made in the history of interpretation is to treat this saying as if it were an allegory – as if it were a story where each and every figure represents someone or something in a very exact and specific way. For example, some have labored to figure out who exactly the gatekeeper of verse 3 represents, or who exactly the thief and robber represent, as if they were two separate and very particular people. This kind of interpretation goes to far. This is not an allegory, but a figure of speech, or wise saying whereby Jesus makes comparisons between himself and his opponents. Some of the figures in this saying are not meant to represent something in particular, but they add detail to the image that Jesus is proving so that we might have in our minds a vivid picture concerning the point that Jesus is making.

The Sheepfold

Notice that Jesus uses the image of a sheepfold in order to tell us something about himself and how we relate to him. This is similar to what we will see in John 15 where Jesus famously uses he the image of a vine, saying,  “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Here were are to picture, not a vine, but a sheepfold, which might be a bit more difficult for us, given the modern world in which we live.

When we think of a sheepfold we are to envision an area enclosed by a wall, open to the sky, with one door through which the shepherds would be able to lead their sheep out to pasture and back in again. Sometimes a sheepfold will be attached to a house as if a courtyard; sometimes they will be detached and freestanding. Some are large; some small. It would seem, from the details given in this passage, that we are to imagine a large sheepfold – one capable of holding multiple flocks for multiple shepherds. The usefulness of a sheepfold is obvious – the sheep are brought in from the pastures at night and kept in these so that they might more easily be protected from predators – thieves and wolves and such.

A Distinction Between Sheep and Sheep

It is clear that the sheep in this figure of speech represent people in general. At first all of the sheep in the sheepfold represent all of the people of Israel. As the figure of speech develops the sheep will also come to represent all of the people of the world.

The interesting thing is that a distinction is made between the sheep in general and those particular sheep that belong to the good shepherd who eventually takes center stage. The sheepfold is filled with many sheep belonging, apparently, to many shepherds, but there are some particular sheep who belong to the shepherd, who will eventually be called the good shepherd, who is Jesus. These sheep clearly represent, not all of the people of Israel, not all of the people of the earth, but the elect of God.

There are two characteristics that set these particular sheep off from the rest. One, notice that the shepherd calls these particular sheep by name. And two, notice that these particular sheep hear and recognize the voice of their shepherd, and therefore follow him.

In the West we think of shepherds driving their flock using sheep dogs, don’t we? But in the Near East the custom was, and still is, different. The shepherds lead their sheep. They call their sheep, and the sheep follow, because they recognize the voice of their shepherd. Evidently experiments have even been conducted where strangers will dress like the shepherd, even wearing the shepherds own clothing, and will try to lead the sheep, but they will not follow because they do not hear the voice of their shepherd.

Notice how the voice of the shepherd is emphasized in verses 3 and 4. We are told that, “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”

The meaning is this: that of all the people of Israel (and later in this passage it will become clear that this same principle is true of all the peoples of the earth (see v. 16)) there are some who belong to Christ, the good shepherd. A distinction is made here. Some belong to Christ, whereas others do not. Some belong to Christ’s flock, whereas others do not. These are the ones that scriptures in other places call the elect. And how do we know who the elect are? They are the ones who Christ calls by name. He personally, specifically, and effectively calls them; they in turn recognize his voice and follow him as their shepherd king.

So a distinction is made between the sheep of the fold and the sheep of the good shepherd.

A Distinction Between Robbers and the Shepherd of the Sheep 

But notice also that a distinction is made between the thieves and robbers (also called strangers)  and the legitimate shepherd of the sheep.

This distinction will be developed more fully in the following passage, which we will consider in detail next week. For now simply notice that there are thieves and robbers and strangers who threaten the sheep. They do not care for the wellbeing of the sheep. They are only concerned to devour the sheep. They are only concerned to make use of their wool and meat and fat.

And how do we distinguish between the true shepherd specifically – or true shepherds in general – and those who are strangers and thieves?

Two things are mentioned in verses 1-5. The first thing mentioned is rather objective and verifiable, the second thing more subjective, having to do with spiritual discernment.

Let’s look at the second thing first. It actually has already been mentioned. We are told time and again in verses 3 and 4 that the sheep who belong to the good shepherd hear his voice. They recognize his voice. Verse 5: “A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This is subjective and spiritual, it’s true. It has to do with the ability that those within God’s flock have to distinguish between the voice of the good shepherd and the voice of counterfeit thieves and robbers. This principle can, of course, be pressed to far. Those who are young and immature in Christ will obviously have less of a refined ability to discern between the voice of the good shepherd and the voice of thieves. As it is with sheep, so it is with the people of God – their are some who are more wise and discerning than others. But the general principle is certainly true. Those who belong to Christ – the elect – are abel to recognize the voice of the good shepherd. They hear his voice – they hear the truth of his word – and they say, yes! That is my shepherd king. That is my Lord! And they follow. 

Let us now consider the first thing mentioned. How do distinguish between true shepherds and those who are strangers and thieves? The objective and verifiable test is this: are they found entering through the door of the sheepfold, or do they climb in another way?

If you are driving down the street and you see someone break the window of a house and begin to climb through, there is good reason for concern. Owners tend to use the door. If you are walking through the parking lot and you see someone break the window of a car and begin to climb in there is reason for concern. The owner would most likely be using the door. And so it is with true shepherds and the sheep of God.  If they are true, they themselves will enter and exit the sheepfold by way of the door, and they will lead the sheep in and out of the door as well.

Christ, The Door Of the Sheep

And so the all important questions becomes, what does the door represent in this illustration?

Just as we are not left wonder about who the shepherd represents, for Jesus tells us, “I am the good shepherd”, so too we are not left to wonder about who the door represents, for in verse 7 Jesus says,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:7–10, ESV)

Some have puzzled over how Jesus can be both the good shepherd who enters through the door and the door itself all at the same time. Again, we should remember that this is not an allegory or a parable, strictly speaking, but figure of speech or wise saying. Jesus is painting a picture for us and illustrating certain truths concerning himself using that picture. He points to the shepherd and says, that is me. And he also point to the door of the sheepfold and says, that is me.

When Jesus says that he is the door of the sheep he is saying something very similar to what is said in John 14:6: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus says in verse 9, that “If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” Salvation, the forgiveness of sins, life eternal is found in and through Christ. We must partake of these things through him – that is, through faith in him.

He also says, “If anyone enters by me, he… will go in and out and find pasture.” Here Jesus promises not only save his people, but to provide for them. He promises to feed our souls.

In verse 10 he contrasts his purpose to save and feed the sheep with the intent of the thief: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” The heart of our Lord is to save his sheep, to feed them, and to give them, not merely life, but life abundant – a life that is full and overflowing.

And so how do we distinguish between the good shepherd (and his good and true under-shepherds) and those who are thieves and robbers? True shepherds lead the sheep through the door of the sheepfold, who is Christ. Thieves and robbers prefer to some other way.

Christ, the good shepherd, leads his sheep through himself – Christ who is the door.

Those who are good and true under-shepherds of Christ – that is the good and true priests and prophets before Christ, and good and true pastors and elders after Christ – are only good and true so long as they lead the sheep through Christ, who is the door of the sheep.

Thieves and robbers – though they may claim to be shepherds – are recognizable by the fact that they come and go, not through Christ, and not according to the word of Christ, but by some other way.

These are are the ones that Christ refers to in verse 8 saying: “All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.” It is not that all who came prior to the time of Christ were thieves and robbers. If that were the case then what are we to say of Abraham, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and John the Baptist? No, this is a reference to those false shepherds, false prophets, and false messiahs who – just like the false shepherds in Jesus days and in ours – refused to lead the sheep humbly and through Christ.

A Most Direct Condemnation of the Unbelieving Pharisees 

As we move towards a conclusion I would ask you to think with me for a moment about how this saying of Jesus would have applied to his original audience. This figure of speech was first and foremost a condemnation of the so-called shepherds of Israel – the Pharisees.

Jesus had just healed a man blind from birth. He looked upon him with tender compassion. He anointed his eyes and sent him away and he was healed. And what did the Pharisees do with all of this? They disregarded the miracle, they rejected Jesus as the Christ, and they cast the man out when he refused to renounce Jesus. In other words, they were behaving more like thieves and robbers than true shepherds of Israel. They were treating the sheep brutally and they refused to lead them through the door, who is Christ our Lord.

In other words, they were worthy of the condemnation of Ezekiel 34:1-10 which I read at the beginning of this sermon.

In contrast to this, Christ is the good shepherd. He is tender with his sheep. He called the blind man, he touched the blind man, he healed the bland man, and he pursued him after he had been cast out of the synagogue by the Pharisees. He called the man and the man recognized the voice of the true shepherd king.

Application

So what does this figure of speech mean to us?

To Shepherds Of Christ’s Flock 

It ought to speak powerfully to those who are under-shepherds within Christ’s church. The ears of pastors and elders ought to perk up when they hear this saying of Jesus. We pastors and elders should ask our selves, do we resemble the chief shepherd – the good shepherd himself – or do we resemble the thieves and robbers? Are we tender and compassionate with Christ’s flock? Are we diligent in the defense of Christ’s flock? And do we speak Christ’s words, so that when the sheep hear our voice they in fact hear the voice of Christ himself? The question is this: Are we faithful under-shepherds who come and go ourselves through the door, and who lead the sheep in our of the door, who is Christ our Lord?

To All Christians 

As Christians we must ask ourselves if we are indeed following the good shepherd out to green pastures and back into the fold again. He came that we might have life and have it abundantly.

To Those Not Yet Trusting In Christ

If you are not yet trusting in Christ I would only say to you that there is but one door through which we are able to lay ahold of life eternal.