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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - John 10:16 - 10:16
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Other sheep (alla probata). Sheep, not goats, but “not of this fold” (ek tēs aulēs tautēs). See Joh 10:1 for aulē. Clearly “his flock is not confined to those enclosed in the Jewish fold, whether in Palestine or elsewhere” (Westcott). Christ’s horizon takes in all men of all races and times (Joh 11:52; Joh 12:32). The world mission of Christ for all nations is no new idea with him (Mat 8:11; Luk 13:28). God loved the world and gave his Son for the race (Joh 3:16).
Them also I must bring (kakeina dei me agagein). Second aorist active infinitive of agō with dei expressing the moral urgency of Christ’s passion for God’s people in all lands and ages. Missions in Christ’s mind takes in the whole world. This is according to prophecy (Isa 42:6; Isa 49:6; Isa 56:8) for the Messiah is to be a Light also to the Gentiles. It was typified by the brazen serpent (Joh 3:14). Christ died for every man. The Pharisees doubtless listened in amazement and even the disciples with slow comprehension.
And they shall hear my voice (kai tēs phōnēs mou akousontai). Future middle indicative of akouō with the genitive phōnēs. These words read like a transcript from the Acts and the Epistles of Paul (Rom 9-11 in particular). See especially Paul’s words in Act 28:28. Present-day Christianity is here foretold. Only do we really listen to the voice of the Shepherd as we should? Jesus means that the Gentiles will hearken if the Jews turn away from him.
And they shall become one flock, one shepherd (kai genēsontai mia poimnē, heis poimēn). Future middle indicative of ginomai, plural, not singular genēsetai as some MSS. have it. All (Jews and Gentiles) will form one flock under one Shepherd. Note the distinction here by Jesus between poimnē (old word, contraction of poimenē from poimēn, shepherd), as in Mat 26:31, and aulē (fold) just before. There may be many folds of the one flock. Jerome in his Vulgate confused this distinction, but he is wrong. His use of ovile for both aulē and pomnion has helped Roman Catholic assumptions. Christ’s use of “flock” (poimnē) here is just another metaphor for kingdom (basileia) in Mat 8:11 where the children of the kingdom come from all climes and nations. See also the various metaphors in Ephesians 2 for this same idea. There is only the one Great Shepherd of the sheep (Heb 13:20), Jesus Christ our Lord.