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John 10:7
“Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”
Two of Jesus’ “I am” sayings appear in John 10, which has been called the Good Shepherd Discourse because of its extensive use of metaphors related to sheep and shepherding. Today we will look at the first of the “I am” sayings found in this chapter wherein Jesus says, “I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7).
When Jesus refers to Himself as the “door of the sheep,” He means that He is the door to the sheepfold. Ancient Near Eastern shepherds would gather their flocks at night into sheepfolds, walled structures that provided protection from predators and the elements when shepherds could not be with their animals. The proper entrance to the sheepfold was the door, usually guarded by a watchman who granted access to the shepherds who had a right to bring their flocks there. Those who had no right to access the sheepfold did not enter by the door but climbed over the walls to steal sheep.
This background helps us understand what Jesus means in John 10:1–6 and especially verse 7, wherein He calls Himself the “door of the sheep.” The sheepfold is the kingdom of God where its citizens enjoy protection from all their enemies, much as sheep enjoy shelter from predators in their sheepfolds. As the Door to the sheepfold, Jesus is the only legitimate way into the kingdom of God. Anyone who tries to get into the sheepfold without coming through the Door has no right to be there and will be found out and will not inherit eternal life. Matthew Henry comments: “We must come in by Jesus Christ as the door. By faith in him, as the great Mediator between God and man, we come into covenant and communion with God. There is no entering into God’s church but by coming into Christ’s church; nor are any looked upon as members of the kingdom of God among men but those that are willing to submit to the grace and government of the Redeemer.”
That Jesus is the only way into the kingdom of God distinguishes Him from those who purport to show the way to the Lord but attack the sheep. We see that in John 10:8–9. Dr. R.C. Sproul writes that “those who come to [Christ] find access to life and sustenance. Others have promised these things, but they were thieves, intent only on stealing, killing, and destroying. In other words, they wanted to profit from the sheep and then dispose of them. Jesus came not to steal but to give, and His gift is abundant life. No one goes into the sheepfold except through Him.”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
We are tempted to look for lasting protection outside Christ and the kingdom of God. The comforts of this life may ease our difficulties momentarily and are not bad in themselves, but none of them can provide the permanent shelter that we need from our deserved condemnation. We cannot trust in the comforts of this life, but we must rest in Jesus alone. His kingdom gives us unending shelter from destruction.
For further study
- Ezekiel 34:1–10
- Luke 13:22–29
- Hebrews 10:19–39
- Revelation 3:14–22
The bible in a year
- Psalms 56–58
- Acts 28:1–16