word " sheep," and that " as I said unto yon," should be taken with the following verse ; but I see no necessity for this.
[As 1 said unto you.'] I think these words refer to two sayings of our Lord, which He had used in speaking to the Jews, one in chap. viii. 47: "He that is of God heareth God's words : ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God; " and the other at the third and fourth verses of tins chapter : " The sheep hear His voice " — " the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice."
27. — [My sheep hear my voice, etc.] Having told the Pharisees that they were not His sheep, our Lord goes on to describe the char- acter of those who were His sheep; that is, of H:s own true people and servants. This He does in a verse of singular rich- ness and fulness. Every word is instructive.
Christ calls His people " sheep." He does so because they are in themselves singularly helpless and dependeut on their Shep- herd; because comparatively they are the most harmless and helpless of animals; because even at their best they are weak, foolish, and liable to go astray.
Chemnitius gives thirteen distinct reasons why believers are called sheep. They are too long to quote here, but will repay the examination of any one who has access to his commentary.
He calls them, " My sheep." They are His by God the Father's gift, — His by redemption and purchase, — His by calling and choosing, — His by feeding, keeping, and preserving,— and His by their own consent and will. They are His peculiar property.
He says, " They hear my voice." By this He means that they listen to His invitation, when He calls them to repent, believe, and come to Him. This supposes that Christ first speaks, and then they hear. Grace begins the work : they, through grace, obey His calling, and willingly do as He bids them. The ears of unconverted people are deaf to Christ's call, but true Christians hear and obey.
He says, " I know them." This means that He kuows them with a special knowledge of approbation, complacency, love, and interest. (See the word "know "in Psalms i. G, xxxi. 8, Amos iii. 2.) Of course He knows the secrets of all men's hearts, and all about all wicked people. But He kuows with a peculiar knowledge those who are His people. The world knows them not, but Christ knows and cares for them. (1 John iii. 1.)
He says, " They follow Me." This means that His people, like sheep, obey, trust, and walk in the steps of their Divine Master. They follow Him in holy obedience to His command- ments; they follow Him in striving to copy His example; and they follow Him in trusting implicitly His providential leadings, — going where He would have them go, and taking cheerfully all He appoints for them.