Jesus as the Good Shepherd

10:1 “I tell you the solemn truth,1 the one who does not enter the sheepfold2 by the door,3 but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 10:2 The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 10:3 The doorkeeper4 opens the door5 for him,6 and the sheep hear his voice. He7 calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.8 10:4 When he has brought all his own sheep9 out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize10 his voice. 10:5 They will never follow a stranger,11 but will run away from him, because they do not recognize12 the stranger’s voice.”13 10:6 Jesus told them this parable,14 but they15 did not understand16 what he was saying to them.

10:7 So Jesus said to them again, “I tell you the solemn truth,17 I am the door for the sheep.18 10:8 All who came before me were19 thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.20 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out,21 and find pasture.22 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill23 and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.24

10:11 “I am the good25 shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life26 for the sheep. 10:12 The hired hand,27 who is not a shepherd and does not own sheep, sees the wolf coming and abandons28 the sheep and runs away.29 So the wolf attacks30 the sheep and scatters them. 10:13 Because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep,31 he runs away.32

10:14 “I am the good shepherd. I33 know my own34 and my own know me—10:15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life35 for36 the sheep. 10:16 I have37 other sheep that do not come from38 this sheepfold.39 I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice,40 so that41 there will be one flock and42 one shepherd. 10:17 This is why the Father loves me43—because I lay down my life,44 so that I may take it back again. 10:18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down45 of my own free will.46 I have the authority47 to lay it down, and I have the authority48 to take it back again. This commandment49 I received from my Father.”

10:19 Another sharp division took place among the Jewish people50 because of these words. 10:20 Many of them were saying, “He is possessed by a demon and has lost his mind!51 Why do you listen to him?” 10:21 Others said, “These are not the words52 of someone possessed by a demon. A demon cannot cause the blind to see,53 can it?”54