Bible Studies
John 10:1-10 - Bigots, Thieves, and Bandits
Key Verses: (NRSV)
- 1: "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit." - These verses in John 10 should be read in context with the story of the blind man in John 9. The Pharisees had driven the blind man from the temple. Jesus' response is that His teachings are they way that will lead people to God, not the narrow-minded, self-centered leadership of the religious community.
- 3: "The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." - The sheepfold is shared by the community but when a shepherd comes and calls, only his sheep respond and follow because they recognize his voice. This is a lesson on discernment.
- 6: "Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them." - Again, this is a reference to the stubbornness of the Pharisees and their unwillingness to listen to the truth that Jesus presented.
- 8: "All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them." - He is telling the gathered crowd that they should not listen to what the Pharisees have to say. The manner in which they treated the healed blind man indicates that they do not have any vision for the kingdom of God.
- 9: "I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture." - When we follow Jesus we have the freedom to live our lives in His presence, coming and going through Him.
- 10: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." - The leaders of the religious community were only acting in their own behalf. Jesus has our best interests in mind and will lead us to greener pastures.
- Who are the thieves or bandits in your life?
Promise of the Gospel:
All too often, these verses in John are pointed to as proof that Jesus is the only way to God's kingdom. Religious experts of world, I call you to consider the possibility that none of us truly know the ways of God. Christ may be the only way into heaven, however, as we come to know God we find Him to be loving and forgiving. He is not a God that creates barriers to His love. The gate to heaven is not a narrow path. Jesus was talking directly to a group of people who had experienced the fallacies of a religion that had been led astray by the teachings of self-righteous zealots. In this story He was telling these people that His teachings and the life He was leading them to was the correct path to God. It was the correct path as compared to the thieves and bandits called Pharisees. It may be that Christianity is the only pathway to God - that is a human debate. But it is certain that bigotry, hatred, and, most importantly, self-righteousness are characteristics that close the gates to heaven. As Christians, it is important to make sure that we are not following the "Pharisees" of our day. We are to listen for the voice of the Shepherd and when we do we will find the pathway to the greener pastures that God has in store for us all.
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