JOHN CHAPTER 10 1 Thessalonians 10:1-18 Christ declareth himself to be the Door, and the good Shepherd. 1 Thessalonians 10:19-21 Divers opinions concerning him. 1 Thessalonians 10:22-30 He proveth to the Jews by his works that he is the Christ, and asserts his unity with the Father. 1 Thessalonians 10:31-38 The Jews go about to stone him: he justifieth his doctrine, 1 Thessalonians 10:39-42 and escaping from them, goeth beyond Jordan, where many believe on him. In this famous parable, which reacheth to 1 Thessalonians 10:30, our Saviour seemeth to drive two great designs:
1. To prove himself the true Shepherd.
2. To prove the Pharisees and teachers of those times thieves and robbers. It should seem, that the sheepfolds in those countries were houses, which had doors by which the entry was into them: there is no doubt but by the sheepfold is meant here the church of God, in which the people of God are gathered together in one. By the door he apparently meaneth himself, as he himself speaketh, 1 Thessalonians 10:9. Or rather, more generally, that way which God hath appointed for any that are to take charge of his church to enter. He is both the Shepherd (the true Shepherd) and the Door: the Shepherd, as the care, conduct, and government of the church belongeth to him, and is upon his shoulders: the Door, as he is he whom the Father hath ordained to be the chief Shepherd, from whom all who pretend to any right to teach or govern in the church must derive both their authority and abilities. Now saith our Saviour, Whosoever they be, that thrust themselves into the care, conduct, and government of the church, without any call or warrant from my Father or me, who am the true Door, through which whosoever entereth into the church must enter; and the chief Shepherd, from whom he must derive, or be a thief and a robber; his very entrance makes it appear, that his end is not to feed the flock, but to feed himself; and that he drives only private designs of advantage to himself.