1 VERILY, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
42 And many believed on him there.

1Uerily, verily I say vnto you, He that entreth not by þe doore into the sheepefold, but climeth vp some other way, the same is a theefe, and a robber.

2But hee that entreth in by the doore, is the shepherd of the sheepe.

3To him the porter openeth, and the sheepe heare his voyce, and he calleth his owne sheepe by name, and leadeth them out.

4And when he putteth foorth his owne sheepe, he goeth before them, and the sheepe follow him: for they know his voyce.

5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voyce of strangers.

6This parable spake Iesus vnto them: but they vnderstood not what things they were which he spake vnto them.

7Then said Iesus vnto them againe, Uerily, verily I say vnto you, I am the doore of the sheepe.

8All that euer came before me, are theeues and robbers: but the sheepe did not heare them.

9I am the doore by me if any man enter in, he shall be saued, and shall goe in and out, and find pasture.

10The theefe commeth not, but for to steale and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might haue life, and that they might haue it more abundantly.

11I am the good shepheard: the good shepheard giueth his life for the sheepe.

12But hee that is an hireling and not the shepheard, whose owne the sheepe are not, seeth the woolfe coming, and leaueth the sheep, and fleeth: and the woolfe catcheth them, and scattereth the sheepe.

13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, & careth not for the sheepe.

14I am the good shepheard, and know my sheepe, and am knowen of mine.

15As the father knoweth me, euen so know I the father: & I lay downe my life for the sheepe.

16And other sheepe I haue, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall heare my voyce; and there shall be one fold, and one shepheard.

17Therefore doth my father loue me, because I lay downe my life that I might take it againe.

18No man taketh it from me, but I lay it downe of my selfe: I haue power to lay it downe, and I haue power to take it againe. This commandement haue I receiued of my father.

19 There was a diuision therefore againe among the Iewes for these sayings.

20And many of them said, He hath a deuill, and is mad, why heare ye him?

21Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a deuill. Can a deuill open the eyes of the blind?

22 And it was at Hierusalem the feast of the dedication, & it was winter.

23And Iesus walked in the temple in Solomons porch.

24Then came the Iewes round about him, and said vnto him, How long doest thou make vs to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell vs plainely.

25Iesus answered them, I told you, and ye beleeued not: the workes that I doe in my Fathers name, they beare witnesse of me.

26But ye beleeue not, because ye are not of my sheepe, as I said vnto you.

27My sheepe heare my voyce, and I know them, and they follow me.

28And I giue vnto them eternall life, and they shall neuer perish, neither shall any man plucke them out of my hand.

29My father which gaue them me, is greater then all: and no man is able to plucke them out of my fathers hand.

30I and my father are one.

31Then the Iewes tooke vp stones againe to stone him.

32Iesus answered them, Many good workes haue I shewed you from my Father; for which of those workes doe ye stone me?

33The Iewes answered him, saying, For a good worke we stone thee not, but for blasphemy, and because that thou, being a man, makest thy selfe God.

34Iesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods?

35If hee called them gods, vnto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken:

36Say ye of him, whom the father hath sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Sonne of God?

37If I doe not the workes of my Father, beleeue me not.

38But if I doe, though yee beleeue not me, beleeue the works: that ye may know and beleeue that the Father is in me, and I in him.

39Therefore they sought againe to take him: but hee escaped out of their hand,

40And went away againe beyond Iordane, into the place where Iohn at first baptized: and there he abode.

41And many resorted vnto him, and said, Iohn did no miracle: but all things that Iohn spake of this man, were true.

42And many beleeued on him there.

 

1 "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. 2 But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. 5 But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." 6 Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. 7 So Jesus said again, "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. 13 This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father." 19 Again there was a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, "He is possessed and out of his mind; why listen to him?" 21 Others said, "These are not the words of one possessed; surely a demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?" 22 The feast of the Dedication was then taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. 23 And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify to me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father's hand. 30 The Father and I are one." 31 The Jews again picked up rocks to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?" 33 The Jews answered him, "We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods"'? 35 If it calls them gods to whom the word of God came, and scripture cannot be set aside, 36 can you say that the one whom the Father has consecrated and sent into the world blasphemes because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? 37 If I do not perform my Father's works, do not believe me; 38 but if I perform them, even if you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may realize (and understand) that the Father is in me and I am in the Father." 39 (Then) they tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power. 40 He went back across the Jordan to the place where John first baptized, and there he remained. 41 Many came to him and said, "John performed no sign, but everything John said about this man was true." 42 And many there began to believe in him.

v 1,2. It was common for kings and priests to call themselves shepherds and their subjects sheep. Jesus is preparing to continue the thought of the last chapter where the religious leaders were blind. Here they will be false shepherds. A doorkeeper kept the door of a rock enclosure where several flocks of sheep were gathered for the night. The shepherds could come in for their sheep, any climbing in were up to no good.
v 3-6. My mother raised an orphan lamb on a bottle. When it was grown, city cousins would call it by name to no avail, but my mother had only to call her name and the ewe came running and would follow, v 27. These people knew this as fact, but could not understand Jesus as Shepherd and people coming to Him when He called.
A different Greek word is used in v 6  for “parable” that is used elsewhere. Here it means proverb, as in 10:16 and 2 Pet. 2:2, a current trite saying, figurative speech.
v 7-9. Near to pasture is a small enclosure to which sheep can go for protection. The shepherd laid in the opening as the door to allow them in or out and treat wounds.
v 10. The thief, or false shepherd kills from the flock for his own purpose, but Christ came to give life and to benefit the sheep.
v 11. As Good Shepherd, Christ is the door and gave His life that we might be saved. As the Great Shepherd Who is risen, Heb. 13:20, He perfects us. As the Chief Shepherd, 1 Pet. 5:4, He will come again to reward His sheep. ( Ps. 22, 23, 24.) 
v 12,13. Hired keepers cared only for profit and self preservation and allowed the sheep to be scattered. False prophets sought gain and allowed Israel to be scattered.
v 14,15. This is a close relationship between Christ and those who are His. David could have died protecting his sheep from the lion and the bear. Jesus did die for us.
v 16. This speaks of Gentiles who will believe on the Lord, so that Jews and Gentiles will be in one fold and one body, the Church, with Christ the Head, Eph. 2:11-22; 3:6.
v 17,18. The Father loves Jesus for sacrificial obedience. He will lay down His life voluntarily, not because of man’s intent, and twice speaks of His resurrection.
v 19-21. Informed Jews would know from Ps. 23 that the good shepherd referred to Messiah, see v 33, so called him a demon. In the division, others knew a demon could not open the eyes of the blind.
v 22,23. This is what is known as Hanukkah, or Feast of Lights, (See John 10a Hanukkah) which is about two months after Feast of Tabernacles in chapter seven. Solomon’s colonnade is a long covered walkway on the east side of the temple.
v 24. The Jews closed in around him and demanded a yes or no answer.
v 25.26. Even in His threatened position, Jesus said He had told them before and works in the Father’s name bore witness, but they were not His sheep, didn’t believe.
v 27. See notes on v 3-6. Following assumes obedience.
v 28,29. This is one of the strongest statements of eternal security of the believer. See also Rom. 8:38,39. The omnipotent Father secures by His power and protection.
v 30. Christ and the Father are two Persons in the Trinity, but have one purpose in will and one nature.  Eph. 2:6, Col. 2:9
v 31,32. This was in the temple court which was inlaid solid with stone. So the hostile Jews picked up stones to carry with them to the place of stoning. He calmly asked for which miracle He had done in the name of the Father they wanted to stone Him.
v 33. They were angry because He healed on the Sabbath, but His claim to be equal to God was blasphemy to them, even though His works proved Him.
v 34. Jesus quotes from Ps. 82:6. God is the true judge, v 1, but he appoints men as judges, v 1 and 6, but they may judge unjustly, v 2. They do not have divine nature, v 7. Likewise today's rulers are ministers of God, Rom. 13:1-6, but many abuse the office.
v 35,36. This is a clear statement that the Scripture is inerrant. So if it called men gods, it would not be blasphemy to call Him God’s Son. He was on a special mission.
v 37,38. They didn’t want to believe Jesus’ words, but He did many works of the Father so they could believe. He states clearly the unity of Himself and the Father.
39. They refused to accept His logic. Rocks were already in hand, so they tried to seize Him to take to stoning or trial. His method of escape is not given, but probably it was by His commanding presence, rather than miracle.
v 40,41. The Jerusalem crowd was set upon murder, and since it was not yet time,  Jesus went across the Jordan to Perea, the area where John baptized. They believed John’s word without seeing miracles, and many of them there believed Jesus. Jewish leaders rejected Jesus even though they saw His miracles.   

The Feast of Dedication, or the Feast of Dedication of the Altar, is also called Hanukkah. or the Feast of Lights.
This is not one of the required feasts of Moses, but most attend it just as faithfully at Jerusalem as if it was. It may also be held in a private home or local synagogue. It begins on Chisleu 25, so it is in winter (mid December) and lasts eight days. Jews sing the great Hallel from Psalms 113-118 and carry a palm or other branch. A candle is lit each day for eight days, but they burn nine candles, one  lighting the others. The place of worship and their homes are brightly lighted, and they don’t allow mourning or fasting for sorrow during that time. It is said to be instituted by Judas Maccabaeus,164 BC, in memory of the cleansing of the temple from the pollution of Antiochus Epiphanes.
There are intense feelings about that whole situation. The Syrian portion of the Greek empire was trying to Hellenize, that is make Jews like the Greeks. They considered that anyone who was not a Greek was a barbarian, but Jews felt they were the barbarians. The Greeks were great on races and other feats of physical skill, which was alright. But they ran their races in the nude, which was very offensive to Jews, who consider even uncovering the thigh to be vulgar. Worse than that, they tried to get Jews to give up their religious ceremonies, including forbidding to circumcise  baby boys on the eighth day, as required by Law. Two women boldly refused, so the Syrians tied the babies around the neck of the women and marched them around the town. Then they took them up to the highest pinnacles of the temples and threw them and their infants off.
The worst, ceremonially, was when Antiochus Epiphanes offered a sow on the temple altar. About 17 miles from Jerusalem they also tried to get the priest Mattathias to sacrifice a pig on an altar, but he refused. Then they tried to compel other men, and one coward was going to do it, so Mattathias killed him. Then he had to flee, but this set up a revolt in which over a thousand men women and children were killed. He later died, but his sons, the Maccabaeus brothers finally gained victory over the Syrians.
When the Maccabees and others cleansed the temple, it was necessary to light the sacred candlesticks on the candelabra. Tradition is that when they were to be lighted in the restored temple, only one flagon of pure oil could be found, just enough to last one day, but a  miracle occurred. The flagon of oil increased and lasted eight days.
Unfortunately, that is just tradition, and this miracle did not really happen. The leaders wanted to keep alive the victory of the Maccabees over Syrians, but it was politically incorrect to do so. Jew’s relationship with Syria was already fragile, and to  continue to celebrate victory could create a very dangerous situation. The leaders decided they must have a celebration less hostile, yet which would keep up the national spirit. It was decided that it would be appropriate to develop this fable of oil and lie to the children, if it would perpetuate their loyalty.