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Bible verses about Parable of the Good Shepherd

(From Forerunner Commentary)

John 10:1-5

In the illustration many sheep are in an enclosure where several flocks come together for the
night. The shepherd comes in the morning to lead them to their pasture, and he calls to his sheep
by name. Though the individual flocks had become hopelessly intermixed during the night, the
shepherd's sheep hear his voice and separate themselves from the larger flock.

Notice how often Christ emphasizes the voice of the shepherd in this short section: "The sheep
hear his voice" (verse 3); "The sheep follow him, for they know his voice" (verse 4); "They do not
know the voice of strangers" (verse 5). When the shepherd speaks, the sheep go to him
immediately.

When "voice" is used in the New Testament, the writers all chose the Greek word phone, meaning
"sound" or "spoken word." But phone can also mean "an address as to a group of people, a
speech." Phone derives from phaino, meaning "to enlighten" or "to shine." From this root meaning
springs the fact that phone can mean "disclosure" or "revelation" through an address or speech—a
message!

This is its figurative meaning in John 10. The true and faithful shepherd will be preaching a
message which his sheep will hear and immediately follow!

Mike Ford
The Shepherd's Voice

John 10:3

Unlike other animals, sheep rarely find their own way safely. Since sheep go astray, their guidance
and safety lies in the Shepherd's leadership (Psalm 23:1-2). A thief, a robber, or a stranger may
call the sheep by name and try to imitate their Shepherd's voice, but through long usage and
intimacy, the sheep can discern a strange voice and become alarmed. We know the Shepherd's
voice because the Holy Spirit gives us discernment; the result is that we turn and flee from any
unfamiliar, misleading voice.

Often the unfamiliar voice is a religious-sounding one. Just as the Pharisees' voices confused and
misled Jews, so do many religious leaders' voices today. Since the truth is not in them (I John
1:8; 2:4), they lead foolish sheep away from the truth. It is vital for us to seek to live according
to the Good Shepherd's will, known from His voice. His positive guidance leads us "in the paths of
righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:3).

Martin G. Collins
Parable of the Good Shepherd (Part Two)

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 John 10:4

A sheep pen often held several flocks, with each flock having its own shepherd. When the time
came to take his flock to its pasture, each shepherd separated his sheep from the others by
making a unique call. Instead of driving them, he led them, and they followed him as one unit.
The shepherd always went before them to guide them to the most beneficial pasture and to
protect them from danger.

Jesus' references to the sheep are personal: "His own sheep" (verse 4), "My sheep" (verse 14),
and "other sheep I have" (verse 16). Everyone is owned by the Creator God. The Father is the
"Author of Creation" (Isaiah 40:28; 43:15), and the One who later became known as the Son,
Jesus Christ, is the Word, through whom Creation was brought into existence and the work done
(Psalm 102:25; John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16-19; Hebrews 1:2, 10; Revelation 4:11). As such, His
sheep are very familiar to Him and bear the mark of ownership—unconditional obedience and
submission.

Martin G. Collins
Parable of the Good Shepherd (Part One)

John 10:10

As the Good Shepherd, Jesus died for earth's sinners, who like sheep have gone astray. Good, as
used here, means more than having goodness in a physical sense but also having an excellent
nature (Exodus 33:19-20). It signifies what is morally beautiful, noble, and true (Exodus 34:6-7).
Christ's use of the word in this parable implies that He perfects all godly attributes in others; He is
the Good Shepherd who manifests the characteristics of perfect goodness. He guides and supports
His sheep, and sacrifices Himself for them. His benevolence exceeds all others (Psalm 31:19).

Martin G. Collins
Parable of the Good Shepherd (Part One)

John 10:14

Jesus says, "I know My sheep, and am known by My own." Both the Shepherd and the sheep are
aware of this, and it enables the Shepherd to lead His sheep in the best possible way, helping
them to learn what He teaches and to do what He commands. Being known by and knowing the
Shepherd implies that, not only do they know His voice, but they have an intimate understanding
of the way He thinks and are inclined to reflect His way of doing things. Their imitation of the
Shepherd becomes automatic because the sheep anticipate his will. They become one with the
Shepherd, as the Shepherd is one with the Father (John 10:15, 30). Just as full knowledge exists
between the Father and the Son, the Shepherd has a complete knowledge of each of His sheep.

Martin G. Collins
Parable of the Good Shepherd (Part Two)

John 10:15

When Jesus came in the flesh, He emphasized that He had been sent by the Father, and that His
authority, offices, purposes, plans, and power were received from Him. All this was done with
Jesus' complete acceptance and agreement (Philippians 2:5-8); He did not come reluctantly but
with purpose and zeal. As the Great Shepherd, He sacrificed Himself, rose from the grave, and

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 ascended to heaven, where He now intercedes for His sheep (Hebrews 7:25; 10:5-10; 13:20-21).
Both the Father and His Son are one in Their love for the sheep, and so the Son came to seek and
to save those who were lost.

Martin G. Collins
Parable of the Good Shepherd (Part One)

John 10:15

Jesus says several times, "I lay down My life for the sheep," or "I lay it down." It is significant that
of His own will, He gave Himself up to die. The Romans did not take it from Him—He gave it
voluntarily for His sheep (verse 11). He made it clear that Pilate was not condemning Him, but
that He was accepting death (John 19:10-11). Jesus lived His life as an act of obedience to God,
His Father. Moreover, when He died He became the propitiation (expiatory or atoning sacrifice) for
the whole world, not just for our sins (I John 2:2). God's graciousness is justified by the sacrifice
of the Shepherd.

In the Old Testament, the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies was symbolic of God's throne, where
He sat in judgment (Hebrews 9:5). When the Good Shepherd gave His life in bloody sacrifice for
sinners once for all (verses 12, 24-28), the Mercy Seat became a "throne of grace" (Hebrews
4:16). It was God's will that Jesus' sacrifice apply to all sinners for all time, but Jesus' phrase "My
sheep" in this parable refers only to His followers—the saints, the members of His flock—
highlighting His special, intimate relationship with them.

Martin G. Collins
Parable of the Good Shepherd (Part Two)

John 10:27-28

As the Ruling Shepherd, Jesus will return to reward His under-shepherds who were faithful in their
care of the flock (I Peter 2:25; 5:2, 4). The shepherd is the symbol of the king, and in this regard,
it is interesting to note how many of Israel's kings, patriarchs, and prophets began as shepherds.

Jesus does not mix His metaphors when He exhorts His disciples, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is
your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). Three figures of speech
combine to form the ideal kingship familiar in ancient times: the perfect king was shepherd of his
flock, the loving father of his family, and commanding ruler of his country. Thus, when Jesus says
with authority, "I am the good Shepherd," the qualities of shepherd, parent, and ruler are seen
combined in Him (John 10:11, 14).

Martin G. Collins
Parable of the Good Shepherd (Part One)

John 10:28-29

God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in each member of His church through His
Holy Spirit, and by it He will also give eternal life to them (Romans 8:11). Therefore, the life given
to the sheep is the same Spirit that dwells in the Father, in the Shepherd, and in the sheep.
Because the Shepherd gave His life for the sheep, sacrificing all, He is able to give abundant,
eternal life to them by removing the obstacle of death, the penalty for sin, by the resurrection
from the dead.

No one can steal His sheep from Him because they are, in effect, in the palm of His hand (I Peter
5:6; Revelation 1:17). Nothing could be safer or more secure. The Shepherd and His Father are
one, and Their grip is tightly on Their church so that even "the gates of Hades shall not prevail

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 against it" (Matthew 16:18).

Thus, with a large number of sheep, the true Shepherd may shelter them in many pens, but they
are still all His sheep and all one flock. The flock does not create this unity, but because the nature
of the sheep is in harmony with their Shepherd, and because their relationship to Him is intimate,
they recognize and obey His voice: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow
Me" (John 10:27).

Martin G. Collins
Parable of the Good Shepherd (Part Two)

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