Jesus the Good Shepherd (Psalm 23:1–6; Ezekiel 34:11–24)
1 RV Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. BSB BSB: “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 RV But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. BSB BSB: But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 RV To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. BSB BSB: The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 RV When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. BSB BSB: When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5 RV And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. BSB BSB: But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.”
6 RV This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. BSB BSB: Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
7 RV Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. BSB BSB: So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 RV All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. BSB BSB: All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
9 RV I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture. BSB BSB: I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.
10 RV The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. BSB BSB: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.
12 RV He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them : BSB BSB: The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.
13 RV he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.BSB BSB: The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.
14 RV I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, BSB BSB: I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
15 RV even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. BSB BSB: just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.
19 RV There arose a division again among the Jews because of these words. BSB BSB: Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message.
20 RV And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? BSB BSB: Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and insane. Why would you listen to Him?”
21 RV Others said, These are not the sayings of one possessed with a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? BSB BSB: But others replied, “These are not the words of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Jesus at the Feast of Dedication 23 RV and Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s porch. BSB BSB: and Jesus was walking in the temple courts in Solomon’s Colonnade.
24 RV The Jews therefore came round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou hold us in suspense? If thou art the Christ, tell us plainly. BSB BSB: So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 RV Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, these bear witness of me. BSB BSB: “I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf.
26 RV But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep. BSB BSB: But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe.
28 RV and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. BSB BSB: I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand.
29 RV My Father, which hath given them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. BSB BSB: My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.
31 RV The Jews took up stones again to stone him. BSB BSB: At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.
32 RV Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from the Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? BSB BSB: But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
33 RV The Jews answered him, For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. BSB BSB: “We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, make Yourself out to be God.”
34 RV Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?
35 RV If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came (and the scripture cannot be broken), BSB BSB: If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—
36 RV say ye of him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? BSB BSB: then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?
37 RV If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. BSB BSB: If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me.
38 RV But if I do them, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father. BSB BSB: But if I am doing them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works themselves, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father.”
39 RV They sought again to take him: and he went forth out of their hand. BSB BSB: At this, they tried again to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp.
John’s Testimony Confirmed 40 RV And he went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John was at the first baptizing; and there he abode. BSB BSB: Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and He stayed there.
41 RV And many came unto him; and they said, John indeed did no sign: but all things whatsoever John spake of this man were true. BSB BSB: Many came to Him and said, “Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true.”
42 RV And many believed on him there. BSB BSB: And many in that place believed in Jesus.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.