1._Verily, verily, I say to you. _As Christ had to do with scribes and priests, who were reckoned pastors of the Church, it was necessary that they should be divested of the honor of this title, if he wished his doctrine to be received. The small number of believers might also diminish greatly the a... [ Continue Reading ]
3._To him the porter openeth. _If by the word _Porter _(282) any one choose to understand God, I do not object; and Christ even appears expressly to contrast the judgment of God with the false opinion of men in approving of pastors, as if he had said, “There are others, indeed, whom the world genera... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Because they know his voice. _Though he speaks here of ministers, yet, instead of wishing that they should be _heard_, he wishes that God should be _heard _speaking by them; for we must attend to the distinction which he has laid down, that he alone is a faithful _pastor _or _shepherd _(283) of t... [ Continue Reading ]
6._This parable. _This is the reason why, proudly vaunting of their wisdom, they rejected the light of Christ; for in a matter not very obscure they are exceedingly dull of apprehension. _But they did not understand what things they were which he spoke to them. _In this clause the Greek manuscripts... [ Continue Reading ]
7._I am the door. _If this explanation had not been added, the whole discourse would have been allegorical. He now explains more clearly what was the chief part of the parable when he declares that _he is the door _The amount of what is stated is, that the principal point of all spiritual doctrine,... [ Continue Reading ]
8._All who came before me. _The words πάντες ὅσοι may be literally rendered, all as many as _came before me _They who restrict this expression to Judas the Galilean, and such persons, depart widely, in my opinion, from Christ’s meaning; for he contrasts all false doctrine, in general, with the Gospe... [ Continue Reading ]
9._If any man enter by me. _The highest consolation of believers is, that when they have once embraced Christ, they learn that they are out of danger; for Christ promises to them salvation and happiness. He afterwards divides it into two parts. _He shall go in and out, and find pasture. _First, the... [ Continue Reading ]
10._The thief cometh not. _By this saying, Christ — if we may use the expression — pulls our ear, that the ministers of Satan may not come upon us by surprise, when we are in a drowsy and careless state; for our excessive indifference exposes us, on every side, to false doctrines. For whence arises... [ Continue Reading ]
11._The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. _From the extraordinary affection which he bears towards the _sheep, _he shows how truly he acts towards them as a _shepherd; _for he is so anxious about their salvation, that he does not even spare his own life. Hence it follows, that they who re... [ Continue Reading ]
12._But the hireling. _By _hirelings _we are to understand those who retain the pure doctrine, and who proclaim the truth, as Paul says, to serve a purpose rather than from pure zeal. Though such persons do not serve Christ faithfully, yet we ought to hear them; for Christ wished that _the Pharisees... [ Continue Reading ]
13._The hireling fleeth. _The reason is, _because he careth not for the sheep_, which means, that his heart is not moved by the scattering of the flock, because he thinks that it does not at all belong to him. For he who looks to the _hire_, and not to the flock, though he may deceive others, when t... [ Continue Reading ]
14._And I know my sheep, and am known by mine. _In the former clause, he again holds out his love towards us; for _knowledge _proceeds from love, and is accompanied by care. But it means also that he utterly disregards all who do not obey the Gospel, as he repeats in the second clause, and confirms... [ Continue Reading ]
15._As the Father knoweth me. _It is unnecessary, and is not even expedient, that we should enter into those thorny questions, How is it that the Father knows his Wisdom? For Christ simply declares that, so far as he is the bond of our union with God, he is placed between Him and us; as if he had sa... [ Continue Reading ]
16._And I have other sheep. _Though some refer this indiscriminately to all, both Jews and Gentiles, who were not yet disciples of Christ, yet I have no doubt that he had in his eye the calling of the Gentiles. For he gives the appellation _fold _to the assemblage of the ancient people, by which the... [ Continue Reading ]
17._On this account the Father loveth me. _There is, indeed, another and a higher reason why _the Father loveth the Son_; for it was not in vain that a voice was heard from heaven, This is my beloved Son, in whom the good-pleasure of God dwells, (Matthew 3:17.) But as he was made man on our accoun... [ Continue Reading ]
18._No man taketh it from me. _This is another consolation, by which the disciples may take courage as to the death of Christ, that he does not die by constraint, but offers himself willingly for the salvation of his flock. Not only does he affirm that men have no power to put him to death, except s... [ Continue Reading ]
19._A division therefore arose again. _The advantage gained by Christ’s discourse was, that it procured him some disciples; but as his doctrine has also many adversaries, hence arises _a division_, so that they are split into parties, who formerly appeared to be one body of the Church. for all, with... [ Continue Reading ]
20._He hath a devil. _They employ the most offensive reproach which they can devise, in slandering Christ, that all may shudder at the thought of hearing him. For wicked men, that they may not be forced to yield to God, in a furious manner, and with closed eyes, break out into proud contempt of him,... [ Continue Reading ]
21._These are not the words of a demoniac. _It is as if they demanded that men should judge from the fact itself; for the truth, as we have said, is strong enough to maintain itself. And this is the only protection of our faith, that wicked men will never be able to hinder the power and wisdom of Go... [ Continue Reading ]
22._And it was the feast of Dedication. _The Greek word ( ἐγκαίνια) which we have translated _dedication_, (298) properly signifies _renovations_; because the temple, which had been polluted, was again consecrated by the command of Judas Maccabaeus; and at that time it was enacted that the day of th... [ Continue Reading ]
23._And Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. _The Evangelist gives to _Solomon’s porch _the designation of_the temple_; not that it was the sanctuary, but only an appendage to_the temple _Nor does he mean the ancient _porch _which was built by _Solomon_, which had been altogether des... [ Continue Reading ]
24._The Jews therefore surrounded him. _This was undoubtedly a cunning attack on Christ, at least on the part of those with whom the scheme originated. For the common people might, without any fraud, desire that Christ would openly declare that God had sent him to be a deliverer; but a few persons,... [ Continue Reading ]
25._I have told you. _Our Lord Jesus (299) does not conceal that he is the Christ, and yet he does not teach them as if they were willing to learn, but rather reproaches them with obstinate malice, because, though they had been taught by the word and works of God, they had not yet made any progress.... [ Continue Reading ]
26._Because you are not of my sheep. _He assigns a higher reason why they do not believe either in his miracles or in his doctrine. It is, because they are reprobate. We must observe Christ’s design; for, since they boasted of being the Church of God, that their unbelief may detract nothing from the... [ Continue Reading ]
27._My sheep hear my voice. _He proves by an argument drawn from contraries, that they are not _sheep_, because they do not obey the Gospel. For God effectually calls all whom he has elected, so that the _sheep _of Christ are proved by their faith. And, indeed, the reason why the name of _sheep _is... [ Continue Reading ]
28._And they shall never perish. _It is an inestimable fruit of faith, that Christ bids us be convinced of our security when we are brought by faith into his fold. But we must also observe on what foundation this certainty rests. It is because he will be a faithful guardian of our salvation, for he... [ Continue Reading ]
30._I and my Father are one. _He intended to meet the jeers of the wicked; for they might allege that the power of God did not at all belong to him, so that he could promise to his disciples that it would assuredly protect them. He therefore testifies that his affairs are so closely united to those... [ Continue Reading ]
31._Then the Jews again took up stones. _As true religion, in maintaining the glory of God, burns with its own zeal which the Spirit of God directs, so unbelief is the mother of rage, and the devil hurries on the wicked in such a manner, that they breathe nothing but slaughter. This result shows wit... [ Continue Reading ]
32._Many good works I have shown you. _Here Christ not only says that they have no reason for their cruelty, but accuses them of ingratitude, in making so unjust a requital for God’s favors. Nor does he only state that he has done them a service by one or two works, but that in many ways he has been... [ Continue Reading ]
33._We stone thee not for a good work. _Though wicked men carry on open war with God, yet they never wish to sin without some plausible pretense. The consequence is, that when they rage against the Son of God, they are not content with this cruelty, but bring an unprovoked accusation against him, an... [ Continue Reading ]
34._Is it not written in your Law? _He clears himself of the crime charged against him, not by denying that he is the Son of God, but by maintaining that he had justly said so. Yet he adapts his reply to the persons, instead of giving a full explanation of the fact; for he reckoned it enough for the... [ Continue Reading ]
35._To whom the word of God was addressed. _For Christ means that they were authorized by an undoubted command of God. Hence we infer that empires did not spring up at random, nor by the mistakes of men, but that they were appointed by the will of God, because he wishes that political order should e... [ Continue Reading ]
36._Whom the Father hath sanctified. _There is a _sanctification _that is common to all believers. But here Christ claims for himself something far more excellent, namely, that he alone was separated from all others, that the power of the Spirit and the majesty of God might be displayed in him; as h... [ Continue Reading ]
37._If I do not the works _Lest the Jews might reply that it was in vain for him to boast of_sanctification_, and of all that depended on it, he again draws their attention to his miracles, in which there was a sufficiently evident proof of his Divinity. This is in the shape of a concession, as if h... [ Continue Reading ]
38._But if I do. _He shows that they are held plainly convicted of unbelieving and sacrilegious contempt, because they render no reverence or honor (304) to what are undoubtedly the works of God. This is a second concession, when he says, “Though I allow you to doubt of my doctrine, you cannot deny,... [ Continue Reading ]
39._Therefore they sought again to seize him. _This was undoubtedly that they might drive him out of the temple, and immediately stone him; for their rage was not at all abated by the words of Christ. As to what the Evangelist says, that _he escaped out of their hands, _this could not be accomplishe... [ Continue Reading ]
40._He went away beyond Jordan. _Christ passed _beyond Jordan, _that he might not have to fight continually without any advantage. He has therefore taught us, by his example, that we ought to avail ourselves of opportunities, when they occur. As to the place of his retreat, the reader may consult th... [ Continue Reading ]
41._And many came to him. _This large assembly shows that Christ did not seek solitude, in order to cease from the discharge of his duty, but to erect a sanctuary of God in the wilderness, when Jerusalem, which was his own abode and dwelling-place, (306) had obstinately driven him out. And indeed th... [ Continue Reading ]