The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 53

(1) as" Tsrncl after the flesh" and "Israel after the Spirit," (2) and "the Je1v out- wardly" and "the Jew inwardly." II. THE DOOR INTO THE SHEEPFOLD. There is n divinely instituted method or entering the sbeeplold. It is the Messianic office. Jesus is the 1.Jentre of the Old Testament thN,,racy. III. THE TWO 0LABSES OF SHEPHERDS. 1. The false guides of the people. "He tho.t entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the ee.me is a thief and a robber." The allusion is to the scribes and Pharisees. (1) 'l'hey hod established an authority over the Jews which had no sanction in the Divine Law. '!'heir methods were unauthorized. (2) They gained their position of authority by evil methods: (a) by stratagem, like thieves; (b) by violence, like robbers. (3) They used their position, by their mingled hypocrisy and greed, to enhance their own greatness at the cost of the spiritual welfare of the Jews. 2. The true guide of the people. (1) He appeal'll as one divinely commissioned, and therefore uses the legitimate entrance. " But he the.t entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep." (2) The iaste.nt recognition of his office. " To him the porter openeth." It matters little whether the porter signifies (a) John the Baptist (b) or the Holy Spirit. (3) Mark the gentle and effective way in which he manages his sheep. (a) He calls them forth by name, as if to mark the i!Jdividual interest of Christ in believers. (b) He takes himself the way to their;pasture. "He leadeth them out;" "He goeth before them" (Ps. xxiii. 1-3), He leads forth his own sheep, in separation from others who follow other guidance, (4) Mark how the sheep respond to his guiding care. (a) They recognize his voice, "For they know his voice." lt is a voice of love, grace, and mercy. They know it (a) by its majesty and authority; (/3) by its tenderness; ('Y) by its power in their souls; (5) by its consistency with the actual kindness of the shepherd, as contrusted with the dangerous voice of strangers, which they instinctively reject. (b) They follow him, This is their trae safety e.s well as their happiness. Thus they find their way into the green pastures and the still waters of Divine love and grace. Vers. 7-10.-.AllegO'f'!/ of the door. The Jews could not understand the previous allegory. Our Lord utters another, which carries the truth to a higher point. L CmusT 1s THE WAY OF SALVATION TO THE BELIEVER. "I am the Door of the sheep." 1. He is the Door of access to the Father. (Eph. ii 18.) 2. Be is the Door to heaven itself. (Ch. xiv. 2.) 8. The Door is ever open. 4. It may be strait, but those who enter 'IJJl,1l aBEU,rea[y be saved. II. CwllsT W.All.NB AGAINST ALL FALSE SAVIOURS. "All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers." 1. He does not refer to the prophets, who only clearly fore- told his office and work. 2. But to such as assume the office of mediatorship, as made themselves the door. There is but one Mediator between God and man (1 Tim. ii. 5). 3. Believers were, by a spiritual instinct, preserved from the wiles of such false teachers. "And the sheep did not hear them." IIL THE SAFETY Alm THE PRIVILEGES OF THE SHEEP. "By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in aad out, and find pasture." 1. The shefp will have safety. (1) They are saved from sin through Christ (1 John i. 7). (2) 'l'hey are so safe in his hands that no man can pluck them out of his grasp (ver. 29). 2. The sheep will have liberty. "They shall go in and out," either for food or for rest. They enjoy the liberty of the sons of God. 3. '17.e sheep will have food. " And find pasture." They find the fullest satisfaction in Christ aad in his salvation-words of faiLh and good doctrine, the wholei;ome words of Christ Jesus. J'i'. THE CONTRAST BETWEEN CHRlBT AND THE FALSE GUIDES OF THE JEWS. 1. The Pharisw; pursued a C()U,·se that involved the spiritual ruin of the Jews. " 'l'he thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." (1) 'l'hey insidiously obtained and dexterously upheld a monopoly of influence over the Jewish mind. (2) They corrupted the hearts of the people so as to bring mural death. (3) They dfcckd their total perdition. 2. Christ pursued a course that guaranteed life in its abounding greatne:,s, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it mori e.bur.dar.tly." (1) Christ gives life to dead 110uls (Eph. ii. 1-5). (2) He mnkea provision for the expansion of this life, in all grace, blessing, joy, gfory, and happiness hereafter. Ott. x. 1-42.] 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. 55