1 "VERILY, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some 2 other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that 3 entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, 5 and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for 6 they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them; but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
7 "Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I 8 say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not 9 hear them. I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find 10 pasture. The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and may 11 have it abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd; the good 12 shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and 13 fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them; he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the 14 sheep. I am the Good Shepherd; and I know mine own, 15 and mine own know me, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the 16 sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and 17 they shall become one flock, one shepherd. Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may 18 take it again. No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father.
19 "There arose a division again among the Jews because 20 of these words. And many of them said, He hath a devil, 21 and is mad; why hear ye him? Others said, These are not the sayings of one possessed with a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?"
QUESTIONS.
How is the robber of the sheepfold to be distinguished?
How is the shepherd contrasted with the robber?
How is the shepherd recognized by the porter? By the sheep? What does he do to the sheep?
How does he direct the course of the sheep? With what success? Why?
How will the sheep act toward a stranger? Why?
Was Christ's teaching comprehended by his hearers?
How did he begin the explanation of the parable?
What did he say of those who came before him? Did the sheep respond to them?
What did Jesus declare himself to be? What would be the experience of each one who used "the door"?
What is the purpose of the thief?
What is the object of Christ's work?
What does Jesus now declare himself to be? What distinguishes the good shepherd?
What is an hireling? How does he treat the flock in time of danger? With what result?
What is the real cause of such action?
What bond of union exists between the shepherd and the sheep?
How is this mutual knowledge illustrated?
What sacrifice does the shepherd make?
Is there more than one fold? What will be the experience of the "other sheep"? With what result?
What is the basis of the Father's love for Christ?
Was the sacrifice of Christ a voluntary one? Was it in harmony with God's will?
What effect was produced by this parable?
What did one party say?
How did the other party refute their claim?
NOTES.
1. "Few images could better express the relationship between our Lord and his people than that of Shepherd and sheep, so often applied to God in the Old Testament, and appropriated by Christ himself in the New. . . . The eastern sheepfold is a mere enclosure surrounded by a palisade. The sheep are brought into it in the evening, several flocks being committed to the care of the common keeper, or porter, for the night. In the morning the shepherds return, and knock at the closely barred door of the enclosure, which the porter opens from within. Each separates his own sheep by calling to them; and the sheep respond, disentangling themselves from the rest; and when thus collected, they follow their own shepherd, wherever he may lead."
2. "He goeth before them." "This is the place ever assigned to him in the Old Testament. 'He leadeth me by the still waters.' 'Thou leadest thy people like a flock.' He permits none of his own to go along a path which he has not trodden, and in which he has not had previous experience. . . . Take heart, O trembling believer! However strange and hard your path seems to you, if you look closely at it you will detect in it the footprints of the Shepherd; and where he has preceded you, you need not fear to follow."
3. "The sheep follow him." "The utter dependence of the sheep on the master Shepherd is a beautiful emblem of our attitude toward our Lord. . . . Let Jesus Christ stand between you and everything—between you and circumstances; between you and dreaded trials; between you and temptation; between you and your attainments in the blessed life; between you and your projects of Christian usefulness. Follow him; that is, let him go first. If he does not go forward, wait for him. Every step taken apart from him, or in front of him, will have to be retraced with bitter tears."
4. THE reading of verses 14 and 15 as given in the Revised Version seems preferable: "I am the Good Shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep." "The mutual understanding between the Eternal Father and the Son is the only parallel to the mutual understanding of Christ and his people."
Suggestions for Further Study.
Who was the first shepherd mentioned in the Bible? What other leading characters in Bible history were shepherds?
Christ is the Door, the Good Shepherd, the True Vine, etc. Why is it made so definite? Compare Acts 4: 12.
Who are the "other sheep . . . not of this fold"?
How many distinct references does Christ make in this lesson to his approaching death?
How is life only in Christ taught in this lesson?
What cause is here assigned for insanity?
Sabbath School Lessons.—There will be found two Sabbath school lessons in this issue. As in the last of December there will be no paper, we are compelled to print an extra Sunday school lesson and Sabbath school lesson between now and that time, and to divide our space, we print the extra Sabbath school lesson this week. In our issue of December 24 will appear two Sunday school lessons.
