Jesus told the Jews this story; “I’m honestly telling you that someone who doesn’t enter the sheep’s pen by the gate, but climbs in a different way, is a robber and a gangster. But someone who goes in through the gate is the sheep’s shepherd. In this case, the gatekeeper opens it and the sheep hear the shepherd’s voice, and he calls to his sheep by name and leads them away. Whenever he sends all his sheep out, he leads them and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger. They will run away from him because they don’t know the stranger’s voice.”

The Jews didn’t understand what he was saying to them.

Jesus told them again, “I’m honestly telling you, I am the sheep’s gate. Everyone who came before me were robbers and gangsters but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I’m the gate. If anyone enters through me, then they will be saved. They’ll enter and leave and find the grass fields. The robber only comes to steal, kill and destroy. I have come so that the people may have so much life.

“I’m the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep. The assistant, who is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, sees a wolf coming and runs away, leaving the sheep. The wolf captures a sheep and the rest of the sheep run for it. Because the assistant is just a worker, he doesn’t care about the sheep. I’m the good shepherd and I know my sheep. They know me, just like the Father knows me and I know the Father.

“I give up my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not in this paddock. I need to bring them as well. They will hear my voice and become one flock for one shepherd. The Father loves me because I give up my life so I can have my life again.

No one takes my life from me, but I choose to give it up. I have the power to give my life up and I have the power to take my life again. I received this instruction from my Father.”

The Jews were divided again because of what Jesus said.

Many of them said, “He is possessed by a demon and crazy. Why are you listening to him?”

Other people said, “This isn’t what someone possessed by a demon would say. A demon can’t open a blind person’s eyes.”

The Dedication Festival was held in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the courtyard of Solomon’s temple.

The Jews surrounded him and asked him, “What are you waiting for? Tell us clearly if you are the Christ.”

“I told you, but you don’t believe me,” Jesus replied. “The things I do in my Father’s name show you who I am, but you don’t believe me because you aren’t one of my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice and follow me, and I know them. I give them life that lasts forever, and they will never die. No one will ever take them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is the greatest and no one can take them from my Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

The Jews picked up more stones to kill him.

Jesus said to them, “I’ve shown you many good actions from the Father. Which action are you going to stone me for?”

The Jews replied, “We’re not stoning you because of a good act, but because of your speech against God. You are a man claiming to be God.”

Jesus said, “Doesn’t it say in your writings, ‘I said you are gods’? If he called them gods who God’s teachings were given to, and scripture cannot be undone, do you say to the person the Father dedicated and sent into the world, ‘You are insulting God’, because I said, ‘I’m God’s son’? If I don’t do my Father’s tasks, don’t believe me, but I’m doing his tasks. Even if you don’t believe me, believe the actions, so you know and can see the Father is in me and I’m in the Father.”

The Jews tried to arrest Jesus but Jesus escaped from their grasp.

He travelled to the other side of the Jordan River, where John had previously been baptising people, and Jesus stayed there.

Many people came to Jesus and said, “John didn’t perform miracles, but everything John said about this man was true.”

Many people believed in Jesus there.

John Chapter 10 Summary

Jesus uses the story of a shepherd and his sheep to describe his relationship with his followers. He explains that those who enter the sheep’s pen by the gate are true shepherds, while others who sneak in are thieves. Jesus teaches that he is the gate for the sheep—anyone who enters through him will be saved from eternal death. He also calls himself the “Good Shepherd” who gives up his life for the sheep, contrasting himself with casual workers who leave the sheep when danger comes. Jesus says his followersecognise his voice and follow him, just as he knows them personally.

Jesus also teaches about having other sheep outside the groups that he must bring into the paddock. He explains he has the power to give up his life and take it up again, as instructed by the Father. Later, during the Festival of Dedication, the Jews demand Jesus tell them clearly if he is the Christ. Jesus says he is united with the Father, which makes them angry, and the Jews accuse him of speaking against God. They want to kill him, but Jesus escapes and continues his mission, with many people coming to believe in him.

John Chapter 10 Bible Study Questions and Answers

1. What does it mean for Jesus to call himself the “Good Shepherd”?
Answer: Jesus is saying he cares for his followers with love, even to the point of sacrificing his life. This challenges us to think about how we trust and follow him in our daily lives.

2. How can we recognise the voice of Jesus in our own lives?
Answer: We hear Jesus’ voice by reading the bible, praying, and listening to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Are there areas where we need to tune out other voices or sounds to focus more on him?

3. What does Jesus mean by “I have other sheep that are not in this paddock”?
Answer: He likely refers to non-Jews (Gentiles) who would also come to believe in him. This challenges us to share the gospel with others, even those different from us.

4. What does it mean that no one can take Jesus’ sheep from his hand?
Answer: Jesus promises eternal security for his followers. This promise can give us confidence and peace in difficult times.

5. Why do you think Jesus’ actions, like healing, are so important for faith?
Answer: Jesus’ miracles show his divine power and mission. His actions inspire us to trust him and live out our faith through serving him.

John Chapter 10 Explained

This chapter teaches about Jesus’ care, protection, and sacrifice for his followers. Through the story of sheep and a shepherd, Jesus highlights the deep personal relationship he has with believers. He knows his sheep personally, calls them by name, and leads them into safety. This reflects the loving care and leadership Jesus offers, contrasting with the indifference of casual workers, referring to religious leaders who leave or even harm the sheep. This teaches us to trust Jesus as our shepherd and to follow his guidance rather than the distracting or harmful influences of the world.

When Jesus says, “I am the gate,” he is meaning that salvation and life comes through him alone. This aligns with the message throughout the Gospel of John: Jesus is the only way to the Father. The promise of finding “grass fields” symbolises the spiritual food and rest found in Christ. As Christians, we are challenged to reflect on whether we are fully entering through Jesus or trying to find life somewhere else.

The idea of “other sheep” points to how Jesus’ mission aims to include everyone. The gospel is for all people, not just one nation or group. This compels us to think about how we welcome others into the “one flock” under Christ. The unity Jesus describes is a reminder of the Church which is made up of believers worldwide.

Jesus’ claim to be one with the Father is important but controversial. His opponents see this as speaking against God, but Jesus uses passages from the old testament to defend his relationship with God. By pointing to his works—miracles of healing, care, and power—he asks people to believe, even if they struggle to understand his words. This teaches us that faith can grow through seeing God’s work in the world, whether through miracles, answered prayers, or changed lives.

The chapter closes with Jesus escaping his enemies and continuing his ministry. This reminds us of God’s timing and purpose—Jesus’ mission was not yet complete, and he had more people to reach. Despite having many enemies, many people believed in him, showing the power of his words and actions.

To read the next chapters, you might like to follow or subscribe to this blog!

---

Continue exploring John 10

If you’d like to read John 10 in other translations, here are a few BibleHub links:
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, try John 10 in the English Standard Version.
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, try John 10 in the New International Version.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, try John 10 in the Contemporary English Version.

If you prefer to read the Bible in a hard-copy format, here are cheaper versions from Amazon:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
For a translation that aims to be word-for-word, ESV Economy Bible
For a translation that aims to be more thought-for-thought, NIV, Economy Bible, Paperback: Accurate. Readable. Clear.
For a translation that aims to communicate the overall meaning, Holy Bible: Contemporary English Version

If you’d like to explore John in more depth, here are two commentaries I would recommend:
[These are Amazon affiliate links which support the production of this blog]
Easy to access commentaries that include life applications:
The NIV Application Commentary: John
For a commentary that goes into more depth:
The Gospel of John (The New International Commentary on the New Testament)