The
Door Of The Sheep
John 10:1 “Verily, verily, I say unto
you, He that entereth not by the door into the
sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same
is a thief and a robber.
2 But
he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of
the sheep.
3 To him the porter
openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he
calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own
sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow
him: for they know his voice.
5
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee
from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto
them: but they understood not what things they were
which he spake unto them.
7 Then
said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8
All that ever came before me are thieves and
robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man
enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and
out, and find pasture.
10 The
thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and
to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and
that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good
shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the
shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the
wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and
the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he
is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.”
1. The Sheepfold
2. Thieves and
Robbers
3. The Door
4. The Shepherd
5. The
Porter
6. The Sheep
7. The Wolf
8. The
Stranger
9. The Hireling
1. The Sheepfold
Verse one: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold,”
There is no safer place in the whole universe than this sheepfold found in verse one.
This sheepfold is the place of SAFE KEEPING … for all who dwell therein.
Something else about this sheepfold!
All those who are in this sheepfold … are SAFE from all the dangers found in this life.
Something else!
This sheepfold is the place of REST.
What is more, this sheepfold is the place where nourishment is found for both the body and the soul. Finally this sheepfold is the place where the sheep are collected or confined [PROTECTED].
Here is a question you may have. What is this sheepfold that we see here [in John ten verse one]?
The answer found in your King James Bible is five-fold:
• First, the sheepfold is a HOUSEHOLD.
Ephesians 2:19, Galatians 6:10.
• Second, a
sheepfold is a HOUSE. 1 Peter 2:5,
1 Peter 4:17 Hebrews 10:21
• Third, a sheepfold
is a BUILDING. 1 Corinthians 3:9,
Ephesians 2:21
• Fourth, a sheepfold is a
VINE. John 15:1-5
• Fifth, in
this age, the sheepfold is the BODY OF
CHRIST, and particularly and visibly, it’s
the local independent Baptist church. Romans 12:5, 1
Corinthians 12:7, Colossians 2:17
2. Thieves And Robbers
Last part of verse one: “but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”
There are many ways into the sheepfold. In this matter concerning entry into the sheepfold, there is, however, only one right way [the door] into the sheepfold. All the other ways are illegal. Something else.
The owner of the sheepfold sets the rules. If anyone gains entry into the sheepfold by climbing over the wall, he is a THIEF and a ROBBER. The illegal entry will all be to no avail. For in the end ... the thief and the robber will only hear these words [in Luke 13:27] from the owner of the sheepfold: “But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”
They will be thrown out of the sheepfold. This is scary stuff!
3. The Door
First, verse two: “But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” Now, verse nine: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
HE that enters in by the door [verse two] is the same person WHO is THE DOOR [verse nine]. Both are the same person … Jesus Christ. You say, that is impossible!
How can HE be the ONE who goes in the door, and at the same time, be THE DOOR? Friend, you can go right ahead, and question that [DOUBT], but I plead with you to consider this TRUTH, which is in [Luke 1:37]:
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
Jesus Christ enters in by THE DOOR, and at the same, Jesus Christ is THE DOOR. Amen!
4. The Shepherd
Verse two: “But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” Now, verse eleven: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
A shepherd is one who is looked down upon in this old world. What do you mean by this, you say? Let me explain.
Those who are of a HIGH EDUCATION think shepherds are of a lowly profession, or “trade”.
Now, let me re-word this answer in a different way ... and come straight to the chase.
Somehow, my friend, those who live in this HI-Tech world look upon those who work with sheep as being of an abominable profession.
How do I know this to be the case?
Well I know this to be the case, because the very first instance of the word “shepherd” in the Bible [The Law of First Instance] was used to trash the “trade” of the shepherd.
Now who would do such a thing like that?
Read [Genesis 46:34]. It is the enemies of God’s people [Israel].
“That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.”
Israel’s national occupation … was shepherding … taking care of the sheep.
Who is this SHEPHERD in John chapter ten that the world looks down upon? This is an easy answer!
This SHEPHERD is Jesus Christ.
• The GREAT SHEPHERD
[Hebrews 13:20] “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.”
• SHEPHERD and BISHOP
[1 Peter 2:25] “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
• CHIEF SHEPHERD
[1 Peter 5:4] “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
5. The Porter
Verse three: “To him the porter openeth.”
The porter … in all six instances of this word in the Bible … is a gate keeper.
Check it out! 2 Samuel 18:26, 2 Kings 7:10, 1 Chronicles 9:21, 2 Chronicles 31:14, Mark 13:34, and here in verse three. The gate keeper, or porter, works with a watchman.
They guard the gate [THE DOOR] to the SHEEPFOLD.
A good porter listens to the SHEPHERD.
In the New Testament Baptist church, the PORTER is the bishop or pastor.
The PASTOR is the under-shepherd to the great shepherd.
The porter’s job is a good work or noble “trade”. [1 Timothy 3:1]
“This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.”
6. The Sheep
Verse three and four: “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”
There is no other animal [SHEEP] in this world so timid in nature and so dependent on the care of the shepherd.
What is more. All through the Scripture, the people of God have been likened to SHEEP. Psalm ninety-five depicts this constantly recurring theme in the BOOK.
“For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice.” [Psalm 95:7]
7. The Wolf
Verse twelve: “But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.”
Now the enemy of the sheep is the WOLF.
The wolf is a natural predator of the sheep. The wolf looks for his opportunity to catch his victim whether it is young, or old, or weak, or a stray sheep … a sheep not safely contained in the sheepfold. These are the vulnerable sheep. The wolf targets those sheep, and intends to “do them in” for his next meal [DESTROY].
Now, there is a particular WOLF, [who I have in mind] who is a predator and a dire enemy to the Christian for all these last two thousand years.
Furthermore, the BIBLE reveals that this predator has been known to attire himself with the skins of sheep, so as to appear as a sheep, to the sheep ... for the purpose of doing “an inside job” [or a carving job] on the sheep inside the sheepfold.
The DEVIL is a WOLF, and many times he [THE DECEIVER] comes into the sheepfold dressed, or [TRANSFORMED] disguised, in the skin of a sheep to do his dastardly work on the brethren.
Turn to [2 Corinthians 11:13-15] to see this operation performed within the New Testament local churches.
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
8. The Stranger
Verse five: “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”
A stranger is someone who does not belong within a group, whether it is in a marriage, in a family, in a church or in a nation.
A stranger is not to be trusted with the password for an entry by the door into those relationships.
Here, in verse five, the STRANGER is an OUTSIDER to the sheepfold. He has no allegiance or attachment to the sheep in the sheepfold.
LESSON!
A stranger cannot be trusted to have the best interests in mind for the sheep. Therefore, the stranger is a threat and offers a particular danger to the sheep in the sheepfold.
9. The Hireling
Verse twelve again: “But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.”
A hireling is someone whose primary interest is GAIN for himself. In general: the hirelings loyalty to his employer [and to his job] only extends this far ... for REWARD.
Take away the reward [or money] and the hireling will be gone in a flash. He was in it for himself.
Turn to the book of Job and see. [Job 7:2] “As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work.”
A TRUE shepherd has, as his primary goal, the GOOD of the sheep. He has no driving interest in money, or for the things of this world. His primary desire is to the SHEEP'S GOOD. He just loves and cares for the sheep!
A shepherd is one who will naturally care for the sheep’s state.
To sum this up, an under-shepherd, or pastor, is not to be SELF serving. His reward … is not the reward of a hireling. His reward is laid up in heaven.
For proof of this turn to [Philippians 2:19-21]
“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send
Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of
good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no
man likeminded, who will naturally care for your
state. For all seek their own, not the things which
are Jesus Christ's.”