John 10 - NIV Essentials Study Bible

10:1–30 Should be understood in light of the OT (and ancient Near Eastern) concept of “shepherd,” symbolizing a royal caretaker of God’s people. God himself was called the “Shepherd of Israel” (Ps 80:1; see Ps 23:1 and note; Isa 40:10–11; Eze 34:11–16 and note on 34:2; Zec 10:2 and note), and he had given great responsibility to the leaders (“shepherds”) of Israel, which they failed to respect. God denounced these false shepherds (see Isa 56:9–12; Eze 34) and promised to provide the true Shepherd, the Messiah, to care for the sheep (Eze 34:23).

10:10 thief. His interest is in himself. Christ’s interest is in his sheep, whom he enables to have life to the full (see 1:4).

10:16 other sheep. These already belonged to Christ, though they had not yet been brought to him. not of this sheep pen. Those outside Judaism. Here is a glimpse of the future worldwide scope of the church.

10:17–18 That Christ would die for his people runs through this section of John’s Gospel. Both the love and the plan of the Father are involved, as well as the authority he gave to the Son. Christ obediently and voluntarily chose to die; otherwise, no one would have had the power to kill him (cf. Lk 23:46).

10:24 If you are the Messiah. Because of the different ideas about Messiahship then in vogue, it was not easy for Jews to resolve this critical issue. See notes on 1:25; 20:31.

10:25 I did tell you. Jesus had not specifically affirmed his Messiahship except to the Samaritan woman (see 4:26 and note). He may have meant here that the general thrust of his teaching made his claim clear or that such statements as that in 8:58 (see note there) were sufficient. Or he may have been referring to the evidence of his whole manner of life (including the miracles)—all he had done in the Father’s name (for the name, see note on 2:23).

10:30 one. The Greek is neuter—“one thing,” not “one person.” The two are one in essence or nature, but they are not identical persons. This great truth is what warrants Jesus’ “I am” declarations (see 6:35; 8:24, 58 and notes).

10:34 your Law. In its strictest sense the term meant the Pentateuch, but it was often used, as here, of the whole OT. you are “gods.” The words Jesus quotes from Ps 82:6 (see note on 82:1) refer to the judges (or other leaders or rulers), whose tasks were divinely appointed (see Ex 22:28 and NIV text note; Dt 1:17; 16:18; 2Ch 19:6).

10:35 Scripture cannot be set aside. Jesus testified to the complete authority and reliability of the OT.