New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
John 10
1
"What I'm about to tell you is true. What if someone does not enter the sheep pen through the gate but climbs in another way? That person is a thief and a robber.
Reference
3
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him. The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Reference
4
When he has brought all of his own sheep out, he goes on ahead of them. His sheep follow him because they know his voice.
Reference
5
But they will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will run away from him. They don't recognize a stranger's voice."
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 2:2
6
Jesus used this story. But the Jews who were there didn't understand what he was telling them.
Reference
7
So Jesus said again, "What I'm about to tell you is true. I am like a gate for the sheep.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ephesians 2:18
John 10:1
John 10:9
Ezekiel 34:31
Psalm 79:13
Psalm 100:3
Psalm 95:7
Isaiah 53:6
References Jesus
John 14:6
8
All those who ever came before me were thieves and robbers. But the sheep did not listen to them.
Reference
9
I'm like a gate. Anyone who enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out. And he will find plenty of food.
Reference
10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so they can have life. I want them to have it in the fullest possible way.
Reference
12
The hired man is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when the hired man sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
Reference
15
They know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I give my life for the sheep.
Reference
16
"I have other sheep that do not belong to this sheep pen. I must bring them in too. They also will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
Reference
17
"The reason my Father loves me is that I give up my life. But I will take it back again.
Reference
18
No one takes it from me. I give it up myself. I have the authority to give it up. And I have the authority to take it back again. I received this command from my Father."
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 2:9
John 10:17
Titus 2:14
John 6:38
John 10:11
Acts 2:24
Acts 3:15
Acts 2:32
Word
John 14:31
John 15:10
20
Many of them said, "He is controlled by a demon. He has gone crazy! Why should we listen to him?"
Reference
21
But others said, "A person controlled by a demon does not say things like this. Can a demon open the eyes of someone who is blind?"
Reference
Evil
Matthew 4:24
Parallel theme
Exodus 4:11
Psalm 94:9
Psalm 146:8
Proverbs 20:12
Exodus 8:19
Matthew 11:5
John 9:6
22
Then came the Feast of Hanukkah at Jerusalem. It was winter.
24
The Jews gathered around him. They said, "How long will you keep us waiting? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
Reference
25
Jesus answered, "I did tell you. But you do not believe. The kinds of things I do in my Father's name speak for me.
Reference
28
I give them eternal life, and they will never die. No one can steal them out of my hand.
Reference
Eternal Life
1 John 2:25
John 4:14
John 17:2
Parallel theme
John 6:37
Hebrews 7:25
Romans 8:29
John 18:9
Isaiah 54:17
Philippians 1:6
Romans 8:1
29
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than anyone. No one can steal them out of my Father's hand.
Reference
32
But Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many miracles from the Father. Which one of these are you throwing stones at me for?"
33
"We are not throwing stones at you for any of these," replied the Jews. "We are stoning you for saying a very evil thing. You are only a man. But you claim to be God."
Reference
34
Jesus answered them, "Didn't God say in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'?--(Psalm 82:6)
Reference
35
We know that Scripture is always true. God spoke to some people and called them 'gods.'
Reference
36
If that is true, what about the One the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why do you charge me with saying a very evil thing? Is it because I said, 'I am God's Son'?
Reference
Holy
Jeremiah 1:5
Romans 1:4
Parallel theme
Psalm 2:2
John 17:8
References God
John 3:17
John 20:31
John 6:27
Romans 9:5
Matthew 27:43
John 20:28
38
But what if I do it? Even if you don't believe me, believe the miracles. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father."
Reference
40
Then Jesus went back across the Jordan River. He went to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed.
Reference
References John
John 1:28
41
Many people came to him. They said, "John never did a miraculous sign. But everything he said about this man was true."
Chapter Summary
John 10 develops one of the most memorable images in John's Gospel as Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd, the Gate for the sheep, and the One who gives His life so that His people may have abundant and eternal life.
Jesus begins by describing a sheepfold in which the true shepherd enters through the gate while thieves and robbers attempt to enter by another way.
The sheep recognize the shepherd's voice, follow him when he leads them out, and refuse to follow strangers because they do not recognize their voices.
Jesus uses this familiar picture to explain the relationship between Himself and those who belong to Him, emphasizing that genuine followers recognize His voice, trust Him, and follow His direction.
Jesus then declares that He is the Gate, explaining that those who enter through Him will be saved and will find pasture.
In contrast, the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, while Jesus comes so that people may have life abundantly.
The central image becomes even stronger when Jesus declares that He is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep.
Unlike a hired worker who runs away when danger appears, Jesus remains with His people and willingly sacrifices Himself for them.
He knows His sheep personally, and His sheep know Him, just as Jesus knows the Father and is known by the Father.
Jesus then reveals that He has other sheep that are not yet part of the present sheepfold, and He intends to bring them into one flock under one shepherd.
This points toward the future inclusion of Gentiles within the people of God and emphasizes that Jesus' mission extends beyond one ethnic or religious community.
Jesus makes clear that His death will not be an accident or something forced upon Him.
He willingly gives His life and has authority to take it up again, presenting His coming death and resurrection as part of the Father's command and His own mission.
The chapter then moves to the Feast of Dedication, or Hanukkah, in Jerusalem during winter.
The Jewish leaders surround Jesus in the Temple and demand that He plainly tell them whether He is the Messiah.
Jesus responds that His works already testify about Him, but they refuse to believe because they are not among His sheep.
He explains that His sheep hear His voice, that He knows them, and that they follow Him.
He then gives a powerful promise that His sheep have eternal life and that no one can take them from His hand or from the Father's hand.
The discussion reaches its climax when Jesus declares, “I and the Father are one.”
The Jewish leaders immediately pick up stones because they understand His statement as a claim that goes beyond that of an ordinary human teacher.
When they accuse Him of blasphemy because He, being a man, makes Himself God, Jesus responds by reasoning from their own Scriptures and then points again to His works.
He argues that even if they struggle to accept His words, they should examine His works because the works demonstrate that the Father is in Him and that He is in the Father.
The leaders again attempt to arrest Him, but Jesus escapes and goes across the Jordan, where many people remember John's earlier testimony about Him and come to believe.
John 10 therefore presents Jesus as the Good Shepherd who knows His people personally, protects them, leads them, gives His life for them, and gives them eternal life.
At the same time, the chapter emphasizes the sharp contrast between Jesus and false or self-serving leaders: the true shepherd sacrifices himself for the sheep, while the false shepherds ultimately use or abandon them.
The chapter also contains one of John's strongest statements about Jesus' divine identity, as Jesus describes His unique unity with the Father and connects His works directly with the Father's activity.
The overall message is that Jesus is not merely a teacher or religious leader but the Shepherd who gives His life for His people, the Gate through whom they receive salvation, and the Son who shares a unique unity with the Father.
Jesus begins by describing a sheepfold in which the true shepherd enters through the gate while thieves and robbers attempt to enter by another way.
The sheep recognize the shepherd's voice, follow him when he leads them out, and refuse to follow strangers because they do not recognize their voices.
Jesus uses this familiar picture to explain the relationship between Himself and those who belong to Him, emphasizing that genuine followers recognize His voice, trust Him, and follow His direction.
Jesus then declares that He is the Gate, explaining that those who enter through Him will be saved and will find pasture.
In contrast, the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, while Jesus comes so that people may have life abundantly.
The central image becomes even stronger when Jesus declares that He is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep.
Unlike a hired worker who runs away when danger appears, Jesus remains with His people and willingly sacrifices Himself for them.
He knows His sheep personally, and His sheep know Him, just as Jesus knows the Father and is known by the Father.
Jesus then reveals that He has other sheep that are not yet part of the present sheepfold, and He intends to bring them into one flock under one shepherd.
This points toward the future inclusion of Gentiles within the people of God and emphasizes that Jesus' mission extends beyond one ethnic or religious community.
Jesus makes clear that His death will not be an accident or something forced upon Him.
He willingly gives His life and has authority to take it up again, presenting His coming death and resurrection as part of the Father's command and His own mission.
The chapter then moves to the Feast of Dedication, or Hanukkah, in Jerusalem during winter.
The Jewish leaders surround Jesus in the Temple and demand that He plainly tell them whether He is the Messiah.
Jesus responds that His works already testify about Him, but they refuse to believe because they are not among His sheep.
He explains that His sheep hear His voice, that He knows them, and that they follow Him.
He then gives a powerful promise that His sheep have eternal life and that no one can take them from His hand or from the Father's hand.
The discussion reaches its climax when Jesus declares, “I and the Father are one.”
The Jewish leaders immediately pick up stones because they understand His statement as a claim that goes beyond that of an ordinary human teacher.
When they accuse Him of blasphemy because He, being a man, makes Himself God, Jesus responds by reasoning from their own Scriptures and then points again to His works.
He argues that even if they struggle to accept His words, they should examine His works because the works demonstrate that the Father is in Him and that He is in the Father.
The leaders again attempt to arrest Him, but Jesus escapes and goes across the Jordan, where many people remember John's earlier testimony about Him and come to believe.
John 10 therefore presents Jesus as the Good Shepherd who knows His people personally, protects them, leads them, gives His life for them, and gives them eternal life.
At the same time, the chapter emphasizes the sharp contrast between Jesus and false or self-serving leaders: the true shepherd sacrifices himself for the sheep, while the false shepherds ultimately use or abandon them.
The chapter also contains one of John's strongest statements about Jesus' divine identity, as Jesus describes His unique unity with the Father and connects His works directly with the Father's activity.
The overall message is that Jesus is not merely a teacher or religious leader but the Shepherd who gives His life for His people, the Gate through whom they receive salvation, and the Son who shares a unique unity with the Father.