Learning DAILY

 

John 10:1-3, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”  Jesus

 

When I taught government we would discuss the various responsibilities of the President’s Cabinet, one of the departments is the Treasury Department.  I would begin the discussion by asking students how treasury agents knew the difference between a real bill and a counterfeit bill.  The answer is that the agents would study the real bill in order to know the counterfeit when they saw it. I bet you already know where our discussion went from there.

 

In the time of Jesus, the sheepfold was a place where sheep could be put for the night.  They would enter and leave through a gate and were kept safe by a night guard.  The sheepfold often held sheep belonging to more than one shepherd.  When the shepherd came the next day, he would call his sheep by name; the sheep knew his voice and would leave only with him 

 

It is important for us to understand the role of the shepherd.  He was to watch over the flock making sure they did not wander off and get into danger.   He was to guide them to green pastures so they had plenty of water and food.  And he was to protect them from predators and thieves.  In the process he got to now the sheep to the point of giving them names and the sheep depended on him. 

 

Obviously the shepherd in John 10 is Jesus Christ and the sheep refer to those who have given their life to Him.  Matthew Henry refers to the Church of God in the world as the sheepfold.  His commentary states this, “This sheepfold lies much exposed to thieves and robbers; crafty seducers that debauch and deceive, and cruel persecutors that destroy and devour; grievous wolves; thieves that would steal Christ's sheep from him, to sacrifice them to devils, or steal their food from them, that they might perish for lack of it; wolves in sheep's clothing.”  The Good Shepherd takes care of His sheep, calling them by name.

 

When I first began this blog, I spent time writing about false Christs and deception.  John 10 is about the Good Shepherd, Jesus, as the true shepherd and ruler of His people in contrast to all the false shepherds.  Jesus portrays the Pharisees and other religious leaders as thieves and robbers who are stealing the joy and security of God’s people through false teaching.  They try to get into the sheepfold through deception not the gate; they do not have the best interests of the sheep in their minds.  The true shepherd will enter through the gate and call his sheep by name.  They respond to him because they know him.  That is the character of the true shepherd, he enters through the gate with authority and with the idea he is going to do good to his flock.  All others try to enter through some other way and mislead the sheep.

 

How do you know the Good Shepherd from the false ones?  Study Him and His Word; know Him and His Word so well that you know the real from the false. The more you study and obey the more clearly you will hear His voice when He calls you by name.  He is going to protect you from predators and false shepherds, lead you to green pastures and keep you from wandering off into danger.  Study Him in order to be protected from the false teachers and those who would deceive you.  Study the One who is true in order to protect you from those who are false! The Good Shepherd is willing to die and did die for His flock.  Allow Him alone to be your guide, protector and comfort.

 

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