JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:1 The SHEEPFOLD was usually a courtyard near or beside a house, bordered by a stone wall, in which one or more families kept their sheep. Caves were also used. Sheepfolds might have a formal DOOR and would be guarded at the entrance by a “gatekeeper” (v. John 10:3) or by the she... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:3 THE SHEEP HEAR HIS VOICE.... THEY KNOW HIS VOICE. People who truly belong to God listen to and believe in Jesus’ words (see John 5:46; John 8:37, John 8:45, John 8:47). On Christ as the true shepherd, see note on 10:11. ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:7 I AM THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP. Jesus is the only way by which one can become part of the people of God (that is, Jesus’ flock). Compare Psalms 118:20. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:8 ALL WHO CAME BEFORE ME may refer to messianic pretenders (e.g., Acts 5:36; Acts 21:38). THIEVES AND ROBBERS. Compare Ezekiel 34:2; see note on John 10:1. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:9 DOOR. The NT elsewhere speaks of “entering” God’s kingdom as through a door (e.g., Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:13; Matthew 18:8; Matthew 25:10 and parallels; Acts 14:22). WILL GO IN AND OUT echoes OT passages about the covenant (see... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:10 Jesus’ promise of abundant life, which begins in this life, brings to mind OT prophecies of abundant blessing (e.g., Ezekiel 34:12, Ezekiel 34:25). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:11 I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. Another “I am” saying; see note on 6:35. In the OT, God is seen as the true shepherd (Psalms 23:1; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 23:1; Ezekiel 34:1; Zechariah 11:4), and David (or the Davidic Messiah) is depicted as a good shepherd ... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:16 The OTHER SHEEP THAT ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD are Gentiles (see Isaiah 56:8). ONE FLOCK, ONE SHEPHERD may refer to Ezekiel 34:23; Ezekiel 37:24 (compare Ephesians 2:11). ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:17 I LAY DOWN MY LIFE THAT I MAY TAKE IT UP AGAIN means that Jesus voluntarily gave up his life (see John 19:30) and that his divine nature enabled him to rise from the dead, all at his Father’s will. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=im... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:20 The charge of demon possession is contradicted by OT teaching that says the Lord gives sight to the blind (Exodus 4:11; Psalms 146:8). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:22 The eight-day FEAST OF DEDICATION celebrates the rededication of the Jewish temple in December 164 B.C., after Antiochus IV Epiphanes had made it unclean (see note on Dan. 8:9–10). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img;... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:23 On TEMPLE as the larger temple area, see note on 2:14. Probably because of the cold winter weather (see John 10:22), Jesus taught in the area called THE COLONNADE OF SOLOMON. It is likely the covered walkway on the eastern side of the Temple Mount. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var imag [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:26 The reason people do not believe is BECAUSE they ARE NOT AMONG Jesus’ SHEEP. God must first give them the ability to believe; then he makes them a part of his people, with a new heart (see John 1:13; John 6:44). ETERNAL LIFE (John 10:28) can never be taken away, especially si... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:30 Jesus’ claim that I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE (compare John 5:17; John 10:33) echoes Deut John 6:4, the basic confession of Judaism. Jesus’ words are a claim to deity. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:31 PICKED UP STONES AGAIN TO STONE HIM. See notes on 8:59; Acts 7:58. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:34 If human judges (Psalms 82:2) can in some sense be called GODS (for their role as representatives of God), this title is certainly much more appropriate for the one who truly is the Son of God (John 10:33, John 10:35). Jesus depends on just one word (“gods”) in the OT for his... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:36 Jesus was CONSECRATED for his mission. This echoes OT language regarding those appointed to an office, such as Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:5) or the priests (Exodus 28:41; Leviticus 8:30). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var imag [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN—NOTE ON JOHN 10:37 For Jesus’ WORKS as a witness to his deity, see chart. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]