John 10:4

when he putteth forth his own sheep Better, when hehath put forth all his own. Most of the best MSS. have -all" for -sheep:" -there shall not an hoof be left behind" (Exodus 10:26). The word for -put forth" is remarkable; it is the same as is used in John 9:34-35 of the Pharisees -casting out" the man born blind. This is perhaps not accidental: the false shepherds put forth sheep to rid themselves of trouble; the true shepherds put forth sheep to feed them. But even the true shepherds must sometimes use a certain amount of violence to their sheep to -compel them to come" (Luke 14:23) to the pastures. But note that there are no -goats" in the allegory: all the flock are faithful. It is the ideal Church composed entirely of the elect. The object of the allegory being to set forth the relations of Christ to His sheep, the possibility of bad sheep is not taken into account. That side of the picture is treated in the parables of the Lost Sheep, and of the Sheep and the Goats.