Jesus said that in addition to being the Good Shepherd, He also acts as the door to the sheepfold (John 10:7, 9). It was often this way with the parables Jesus told, but on this occurrence He took time to explain it to them. They knew all about sheep and shepherds, but they failed to see Jesus’ point. The flock would recognize his voice and follow him out.Īfter hearing the parable, the Pharisees were confused. In the morning, each shepherd would stand at the open gate and call for his sheep. In Jesus’ day, many shepherds shared the same pasture and even drove their flocks together into a sheepfold at night. When he calls, his sheep respond because they know him, trust him, and follow him (John 10:3–4). Each night, the shepherd guards the door (compare John 10:12–13). In contrast to the thief, who must jump over the wall, the true shepherd uses the door to enter the fold (John 10:1). It is against the backdrop of Ezekiel’s prophecy that Jesus declares Himself to be the Good Shepherd whose care for the sheep, including His sacrificial death on their behalf (John 10:11), distinguishes Him from all who have previously come (John 10:8).
Ezekiel describes them as eating the sheep rather than feeding them they were more akin to thieves than caretakers (Ezek 34:2–10). In Ezekiel’s day, the religious leaders were more like predators than shepherds.
There are two distinguishing characteristics of the Good Shepherd: He enters through the door and is recognized by His sheep, and He will lay down His life for the sheep. Through the very simple parable in John 10:1–5, Jesus shows the difference between Himself and all the others who laid claim to religious leadership in Israel. In the Parable of the Good Shepherd in John 10:1–5, Jesus declares that He is God’s shepherd, fulfilling the prophecy of Ezekiel 34. Throughout his Gospel, John aims to show that Jesus is the Messiah long promised by the prophets. 15 I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. 14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 11 For thus saith the Lord God Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. 7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord 8 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock 9 therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord 10 Thus saith the Lord God Behold, I am against the shepherds and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them. 5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered. 4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 1 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
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