But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
John 10:26 belongs to Jesus' portrayal of Himself as the good Shepherd and His people as His sheep, setting forth His relation to believers as their Shepherd and theirs to Him as a helpless, dependent flock. The verse teaches that the Jewish leaders and hearers, the Jews, did not believe because they were not Christ's sheep, so unbelief reveals not belonging to His flock and belonging is connected with believing Him. Those who do not believe are not His sheep, and their refusal to believe reflects that they are not among them. The leaders proved they were not His sheep because the Pharisees had just driven from the fold the man who bore witness to Christ's power, cutting off a soul whom the true Shepherd was drawing to Himself, an act showing ignorance of the work committed to them and unfitness for trust as shepherds of the flock. In the verse Christ sets the contrast between those unfaithful leaders and Himself as the good Shepherd and the real keeper of the Lord's flock.
His sheep hear His voice, are known by Him, and follow Him, and He gives them eternal life and keeps them secure in His hand. His works bore witness that He was sent by the Father, but the unbelievers did not respond to His voice as His sheep do. In presenting Himself as the good Shepherd the verse applies to Himself the prophecies that the Messiah would feed His flock like a shepherd, gather the lambs, seek the lost, bring back the driven away, bind up the broken, strengthen the sick, and make a covenant of peace so they dwell safely. Hearing and following Christ's word distinguishes His people from those who reject it. The verse is a test for distinguishing truth from error.
John 10:26 belongs to Jesus' portrayal of Himself as the good Shepherd and His people as His sheep, setting forth His relation to believers as their Shepherd and theirs to Him as a helpless, dependent flock. The verse teaches that the Jewish leaders and hearers, the Jews, did not believe because they were not Christ's sheep, so unbelief reveals not belonging to His flock and belonging is connected with believing Him. Those who do not believe are not His sheep, and their refusal to believe reflects that they are not among them. The leaders proved they were not His sheep because the Pharisees had just driven from the fold the man who bore witness to Christ's power, cutting off a soul whom the true Shepherd was drawing to Himself, an act showing ignorance of the work committed to them and unfitness for trust as shepherds of the flock. In the verse Christ sets the contrast between those unfaithful leaders and Himself as the good Shepherd and the real keeper of the Lord's flock.
His sheep hear His voice, are known by Him, and follow Him, and He gives them eternal life and keeps them secure in His hand. His works bore witness that He was sent by the Father, but the unbelievers did not respond to His voice as His sheep do. In presenting Himself as the good Shepherd the verse applies to Himself the prophecies that the Messiah would feed His flock like a shepherd, gather the lambs, seek the lost, bring back the driven away, bind up the broken, strengthen the sick, and make a covenant of peace so they dwell safely. Hearing and following Christ's word distinguishes His people from those who reject it. The verse is a test for distinguishing truth from error.