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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_10:1-6
1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. 2But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." 6This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.
Joh_10:1 "Truly, truly" See note at Joh_1:51.
▣ "but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber" Notice there are some in the sheepfold who do not belong to the good shepherd (cf. Mat_7:21-23 and "the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares," Mat_13:24-30). The problem here is that some are trying to attain through personal effort what God freely offers through Christ (cf. Rom_3:19-31; Rom_9:30-33; Rom_10:2-4; Gal_2:16; Gal_5:4). The Pharisees of chapter 9 are a good example.
Joh_10:2 "But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep" There is a very obvious mixing of metaphors in this chapter. Jesus as the door of the sheepfold, Joh_10:7, and also the shepherd of the sheep (Joh_10:11; Joh_10:14). However, this mixing of metaphors is not uncommon in John and the NT.
1. Jesus is the bread and the giver of the bread (cf.John Joh_6:35; Joh_6:51)
2. Jesus is the truth and the speaker of truth (cf. Joh_8:45-46 and Joh_14:6)
3. Jesus is the way and He shows the way (cf. Joh_14:6)
4. Jesus is the sacrifice and the one who offers the sacrifice (cf. the Book of Hebrews)
The title "shepherd" was a common OT title both for God and the Messiah (cf. Psalms 23; Psa_80:1; Isa_40:10-11; 1Pe_5:1-4). The Jewish leaders are called the "false shepherds" in Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34 and Isa_56:9-12. The term "shepherd" is related to the term "pastor" (cf. Eph_4:11; Tit_1:5; Tit_1:7).
Joh_10:3 "the sheep hear his voice" Recognition and obedience are based on relationship. In John both "hear" (cf. Joh_4:42; Joh_5:24-25; Joh_5:28-29; Joh_8:47; Joh_10:16; Joh_10:27; Joh_18:37) and "see" (cf. Joh_3:3; Joh_12:40; Joh_20:8) are used of believing/trusting in Jesus as the Christ.
▣ "he calls his own sheep by name" Jesus knows His own personally and individually (as YHWH does, cf. Joh_10:29-31). Shepherds often had nick names for their animals, even in large herds.
It is theologically shocking that Jesus calls His true sheep out from among the false sheep of the nation of Judah. The covenant people were not the true people of God. This is the radical scandal of the New Covenant. One's faith, not lineage, determines one's future! Faith is personal, not national.
The Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus were not part of God's people (cf. Joh_10:26)!
▣ "and leads them out" This refers not only to salvation, but also to daily guidance (cf. Joh_10:4; Joh_10:9).
Joh_10:4 This may be a reference to the custom of keeping several different flocks in one enclosure at night. In the morning the shepherd would call and his sheep would come to him.
Joh_10:5 The church has always had to deal with false shepherds (cf. 1Ti_4:1-3; 2Ti_4:3-4; 1Jn_4:5-6; 2 Peter 2).
Joh_10:6 "This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them" This is not the normal term translated "parable" (parabolç), but it comes from the same root (paroimian). This form is found only here and in Joh_16:25; Joh_16:29 and 2Pe_2:22. Although it is a different form, it seems to be synonymous with the more common term "parable" (used in the Synoptic Gospels). The term "parable" usually means to place a common cultural occurrence beside a spiritual truth so as to help in understanding. It can, however, refer to the hiding of truth from spiritually blind eyes (cf. Joh_16:29; Mar_4:11-12).
▣ "but they did not understand" If chapter 10 is related in time to chapter 9, the "they" would refer to the Pharisees. They claimed to see (cf. Joh_9:41), but they did not see (cf. Joh_10:20). Religion can be a barrier, not a bridge.