John 10:1-10

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone 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 one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 The gatekeeper 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 the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.

8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.

9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Cross References

• 1. ver 8,10
• 2. ver 11,14; Mark 6:34
• 3. ver 4,5,14,16,27
• 4. ver 4,5,14,16,27
• 5. S ver 3
• 6. S John 16:25
• 7. S Mark 9:32
• 8. S John 6:35
• 9. ver 9
• 10. Jeremiah 23:1,2; Ezekiel 34:2
• 11. ver 1
• 12. S John 1:4; John 3:15,16; John 5:40; John 20:31
• 13. Psalms 65:11; Romans 5:17

Footnotes

• [a] Or "kept safe"