John 10:10
In John 10:10 Jesus says the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but he has come so that his sheep might have life, and have it more abundantly. He said it while describing himself as the door of the sheep and the good shepherd.
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.
John 10:10 · KJV
John 10:10 in context
7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
10The 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.
11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
12But 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.
13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
John 10:7-13, King James Version.
What John 10:10 means
The verse is a contrast between two kinds of visitors to the sheepfold. The thief comes for what he can take: to steal, to kill, and to destroy. Jesus comes for what he can give: life, and life more abundantly, meaning more than enough, overflowing.
Abundant life here is not mainly about possessions or comfort. In John's Gospel, life is the life that comes from knowing God through his Son; John says he wrote his book so that believing ye might have life through his name (John 20:31). Abundantly means that life is full and generous, the way a good shepherd leads sheep out to find pasture.
Who is the thief? Many readers apply the verse to the devil, and the picture fits his work elsewhere in Scripture. In the passage itself, though, Jesus has just described the thief and robber as anyone who climbs into the sheepfold some other way than by the door (John 10:1), and says all that ever came before me are thieves and robbers (John 10:8). He was speaking to Pharisees who had just thrown out a healed blind man, so the first target is false shepherds who use the flock for themselves.
The next verse makes the contrast complete. The thief takes life; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep (John 10:11).
Background and context
Before: John 9:1-10:9. Jesus heals a man born blind on the sabbath. The Pharisees question him and cast him out. Jesus finds the man, and then tells the Pharisees that those who say we see remain in their sin. He goes on with a parable of the sheepfold: the true shepherd enters by the door, calls his sheep by name, and they know his voice. When they do not understand, he says plainly: I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and find pasture.
After: John 10:11-18. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. The hireling runs when the wolf comes, because he does not care for the sheep. Jesus knows his sheep and is known by them, has other sheep not of this fold, and lays down his life of himself so that he might take it again.
The sayings split his hearers. Some said he had a devil and was mad; others asked whether a devil could open the eyes of the blind (John 10:19-21).
Key verses
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:9 · KJV
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:11 · KJV
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:28 · KJV
Cross references
- Psalm 23:1-2 The LORD is my shepherd; he makes me lie down in green pastures.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
- Ezekiel 34:2-3 God condemns the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves instead of the flock.Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
- Ezekiel 34:23 God promises to set up one shepherd over his people.And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
- John 9:39-41 The conversation with the Pharisees that leads straight into John 10.And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
- John 10:28 Jesus gives his sheep eternal life, and no man can pluck them out of his hand.And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
- John 20:31 John's stated purpose: that believing ye might have life through his name.But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
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Common questions
What does John 10:10 mean?
It contrasts Jesus with the thief. The thief takes from the sheep and harms them; Jesus came to give life, full and overflowing, to those who follow him.
Who is the thief in John 10:10?
Many Christians apply it to the devil. In context, Jesus has just called anyone who climbs into the sheepfold some other way a thief and a robber, and he was speaking to Pharisees, so the verse first points at false shepherds who use the flock for themselves.
What does life more abundantly mean?
It means life in full measure, more than enough. In John's Gospel this is the life that comes through believing in Jesus, not a promise of wealth or ease.
Who wrote John 10:10?
The words are spoken by Jesus. The Gospel of John does not name its author, but it has traditionally been attributed to John the apostle.
Who was Jesus talking to in John 10?
He was answering Pharisees who had questioned and cast out the man born blind in John 9. His sayings divided the crowd afterward.
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