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Scripture Mapping

John 10

World English Bible

WEB

1“Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them. 7Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door. 8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture. 10The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. 13The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. 17Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.” 19Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words. 20Many of them said, “He has a demon and is insane! Why do you listen to him?” 21Others said, “These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?” 22It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem. 23It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me. 26But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.” 31Therefore the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?” 33The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken), 36do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand. 40He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and he stayed there. 41Many came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true.” 42Many believed in him there.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

John Chapter 10 presents a profound teaching of Jesus, where He identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd. This chapter begins with Jesus using the metaphor of a shepherd to illustrate His relationship with His followers. He states that the sheep hear His voice and follow Him, emphasizing the intimate connection between Him and His flock. The imagery of the shepherd is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where God is often depicted as a shepherd of His people (#Psalm 23, #Ezekiel 34). Jesus contrasts Himself with the hired hand, who does not care for the sheep, highlighting His sacrificial love and commitment to protect and guide His followers, even to the point of laying down His life for them. This act of self-sacrifice is central to the Christian faith, as it points to His impending crucifixion and the ultimate act of love for humanity (#John 3:16).

The chapter further reveals Jesus' divine authority and unity with the Father. He declares, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30), affirming His divine nature and the intimate relationship He shares with God. This statement incites controversy among the Jewish leaders, who accuse Him of blasphemy. Jesus responds by referencing the Scriptures, reminding them that even the law refers to certain individuals as 'gods,' thus reinforcing His claim to divinity. The chapter concludes with a powerful invitation for all to believe in Him, as He offers eternal life to His sheep, assuring them that no one can snatch them out of His hand. This promise of security and belonging is a cornerstone of the Christian faith, providing hope and assurance to all who follow Christ.

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Referenced by

  1. Genesis 7:16v9Genesis 7:16 notes that God shut Noah in the ark, ensuring his safety. John 10:9 speaks of Jesus as the door, through whom salvation and safety are assured, drawing a parallel to divine protection.
  2. 1 Samuel 22:23v11David offers protection to Abiathar, paralleling Jesus as the Good Shepherd in John 10:11, who lays down His life for the sheep, showing care and protection.
  3. Psalms 23:1v11Psalm 23:1 describes the Lord as a shepherd, a metaphor that Jesus uses to describe Himself as the Good Shepherd in John 10:11, emphasizing His care and guidance.
  4. Psalms 82:6v34Psalm 82:6 states, 'I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.' Jesus references this verse in John 10:34-36 to defend His claim of being the Son of God, highlighting the use of 'gods' to refer to those who received God's word.
  5. Psalms 95:7v27Psalm 95:7 speaks of God's people as the sheep of His pasture, which is mirrored in John 10:27 where Jesus describes His followers as His sheep who hear His voice.
  6. Song of Solomon 1:7v14Song of Solomon 1:7 asks where the beloved pastures his flock, paralleling John 10:14 where Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep.
  7. Song of Solomon 2:10v3In Song of Solomon 2:10, the beloved calls to arise and come away, which parallels John 10:3-4 where the shepherd calls his sheep by name and leads them out, symbolizing guidance and intimate relationship.
  8. Isaiah 40:11v11Isaiah 40:11 portrays God as a shepherd caring for His flock, a theme Jesus applies to Himself in John 10:11 as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.
  9. Isaiah 56:8v16Isaiah 56:8 speaks of God gathering others besides Israel, which Jesus echoes in John 10:16, referring to other sheep not of the Jewish fold, indicating the expansion of God's people.
  10. Ezekiel 34:11v11Ezekiel 34:11 speaks of God Himself searching for His sheep, which is echoed in John 10:11 where Jesus declares Himself the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.
  11. Ezekiel 34:23v16Ezekiel 34:23 promises a single shepherd, David, over the people, which is fulfilled in Jesus as He speaks of having one flock and one shepherd in John 10:16.
  12. Ezekiel 37:15-22v16Ezekiel 37:15-22 speaks of the reunification of Israel and Judah into one nation. In John 10:16, Jesus speaks of bringing together His sheep into one flock, symbolizing unity among believers.
  13. Micah 5:4v11Micah 5:4 describes the ruler from Bethlehem as a shepherd who will lead His flock, which parallels Jesus' declaration in John 10:11 where He identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd.
  14. Zechariah 9:16v11Zechariah 9:16 describes the Lord saving His people as a shepherd saves his flock, which parallels John 10:11 where Jesus declares Himself the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.
  15. Zechariah 11:7v11Zechariah 11:7 describes the shepherd with two staffs, one named Favor and the other Union, symbolizing guidance and unity. In John 10:11, Jesus identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for the sheep, fulfilling the role of the true shepherd.
  16. John 17:11v30In John 17:11, Jesus prays for His disciples to be one as He and the Father are one, reflecting the unity expressed in John 10:30 where Jesus states, 'I and the Father are one.'
  17. John 18:4v17In John 18:4, Jesus steps forward to meet those who came to arrest Him, demonstrating His willingness to lay down His life, as He previously stated in John 10:17-18.

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