ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for John 10

John 10:1 The sheepfold was usually a courtyard near or beside a house, bordered by a stone wall, in which one or more families kept their sheep. Caves were also used. Sheepfolds might have a formal door and would be guarded at the entrance by a “gatekeeper” (v. 3) or by the shepherd himself (see vv. 7–10). A thief enters secretly while a robber forces his way in.

John 10:3–4 The sheep hear his voice. . . . they know his voice. People who truly belong to God listen to and believe in Jesus’ words (see 5:46–47; 8:37; 45; 47). On Christ as the true shepherd, see note on 10:11.

John 10:7 I am the door of the sheep. Jesus is the only way by which one can become part of the people of God (that is, Jesus’ flock). Compare Ps. 118:20.

John 10:8 All who came before me may refer to messianic pretenders (e.g., Acts 5:36–37; 21:38). thieves and robbers. Compare Ezek. 34:2–4; see note on John 10:1.

John 10:9 door. The NT elsewhere speaks of “entering” God’s kingdom as through a door (e.g., Matt. 7:7; 13; 18:8–9; 25:10 and parallels; Acts 14:22). Will go in and out echoes OT passages about the covenant (see Num. 27:16–17; Ps. 121:8). Find pasture speaks of God’s provision for his people (compare Ps. 23:2; Isa. 49:9–10; Ezek. 34:12–15).

John 10:10 Jesus’ promise of abundant life, which begins in this life, brings to mind OT prophecies of abundant blessing (e.g., Ezek. 34:12–15, 25–31).

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. Another “I am” saying; see note on 6:35. In the OT, God is seen as the true shepherd (Psalm 23; Isa. 40:11; Jer. 23:1–4; Ezekiel 34; Zech. 11:4–17), and David (or the Davidic Messiah) is depicted as a good shepherd (2 Sam. 5:2; Ps. 78:70–72; Ezek. 37:24; Mic. 5:4), as is Moses (Ps. 77:20; Isa. 63:11). Jesus, as both God and man, fulfills both of these themes. David literally risked his life for his sheep (1 Sam. 17:34–37), but Jesus surpassed David in that he gave his life on the cross for his sheep. See also John 10:15.

John 10:16 The other sheep that are not of this fold are Gentiles (see Isa. 56:8). One flock, one shepherd may refer to Ezek. 34:23; 37:24 (compare Eph. 2:11–22).

John 10:17 I lay down my life that I may take it up again means that Jesus voluntarily gave up his life (see 19:30) and that his divine nature enabled him to rise from the dead, all at his Father’s will.

John 10:20–21 The charge of demon possession is contradicted by OT teaching that says the Lord gives sight to the blind (Ex. 4:11; Ps. 146:8).

John 10:22 The eight-day Feast of Dedication celebrates the rededication of the Jewish temple in December 164 b.c., after Antiochus IV Epiphanes had made it unclean (see note on Dan. 8:9–10).

John 10:23 On temple as the larger temple area, see note on 2:14. Probably because of the cold winter weather (see 10:22), Jesus taught in the area called the colonnade of Solomon. It is likely the covered walkway on the eastern side of the Temple Mount.

John 10:26–29 The reason people do not believe is because they are not among Jesus’ sheep. God must first give them the ability to believe; then he makes them a part of his people, with a new heart (see 1:13; 6:44). Eternal life (10:28) can never be taken away, especially since Jesus’ sheep belong to both him and his Father. Note the contrast with the “hired hand” (vv. 12–13), who abandons the flock in times of danger (compare Isa. 43:13). Snatch means “take by force.”

John 10:30 Jesus’ claim that I and the Father are one (compare 5:17–18; 10:33–38) echoes Deut 6:4, the basic confession of Judaism. Jesus’ words are a claim to deity.

John 10:31 picked up stones again to stone him. See notes on 8:59; Acts 7:58.

John 10:34–35 If human judges (Ps. 82:2–4) can in some sense be called gods (for their role as representatives of God), this title is certainly much more appropriate for the one who truly is the Son of God (John 10:33, 35–36). Jesus depends on just one word (“gods”) in the OT for his argument. Thus, when he says that Scripture cannot be broken, he implies that every single word in Scripture is completely true and reliable. His opponents would have agreed with this.

John 10:36 Jesus was consecrated for his mission. This echoes OT language regarding those appointed to an office, such as Jeremiah (Jer. 1:5) or the priests (Ex. 28:41; Lev. 8:30).

John 10:37–38 For Jesus’ works as a witness to his deity, see chart.