Bible Truth #134 - John 10:1-6

John 10:1-6
1  “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.

2  The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.

3  The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

5  But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

6  Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

1  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

6  This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Let’s apply this parable exactly as Jesus intended it. The apostles, the disciples, and Jews in general, knew exactly what Jesus was talking about. They understood the illustration but did not understand its application to the Kingdom of Heaven or to Jesus.

It was common practice in those days that shepherds, at the end of the day, would bring their sheep to a community sheep pen. Several flocks would be clustered together. The next morning the shepherd would come and call out HIS sheep. Did all the sheep hear the shepherd? Yes. Which sheep responded? His sheep and ONLY his sheep would respond. Did ALL the sheep belong to one shepherd? NO. He stood at the gate and “called” His own. His sheep responded and followed him because they know his voice. Sheep that are not his do NOT follow him, but will flee from him because to them, this shepherd is a stranger and they will NOT follow his voice. Will a sheep ever of its own volition or “free will” change flocks? NO. Will a sheep ever make a decision on its own to follow a different shepherd? NO. Quite the opposite, a sheep will flee from the voice of a stranger. (v5)

Life Application:

God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4) We were His, are His, and will forever BE His. When Jesus called we responded because we knew His voice, because we were His. Those that were NOT chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world are NOT His, they will NOT follow Him, and they will NEVER follow Him. Why? Because to them, Jesus is a stranger, He is not their shepherd. In fact, they will FLEE from Him. This is what Jesus meant when He said that those who do evil will NOT come into the Light (John 3:20).

This is what Jesus meant when He told the Pharisees they do not understand because they are NOT of God but of their father the devil (John 8:43-47). They will NEVER understand unless God gives them ears to hear and a heart to perceive. And will God give a man NOT chosen in Him before the foundation of the world ears to hear or a heart that perceives? Of course not!

Is a lost person capable of making a decision to follow Jesus? NO (John 1:13) We become children of God not by human decision (NIV), or will of the flesh (NASB, KJV, ESV).

BUT, just how DOES a sheep get into the Good Shepherd’s flock? Answer - it is born into the flock, or the Shepherd purchases it. You do the analogy on that one.

BOTTOM LINE - Just as sheep are not able to change flocks on their own, neither is a man ABLE to choose to be saved.