Monday, 6 March 2017

Whose voice are you hearing today?

John 10:1-30. Is Jesus talking about literally hearing an audible voice or even an "inner voice" from the Holy Spirit?

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the DOOR, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the DOOR is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the DOORKEEPER OPENS, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
John 10:1‭-‬3 NKJV

What is the Door? Who is the Shepherd?

Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the DOOR of the sheep.
John 10:7 NKJV

“I am the good SHEPHERD. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:11 NKJV

Who was Jesus talking to? Referring to Chap 9, the Pharisees did not believe that Jesus is the Messiah even when he healed a blind man. John 10 was a response to the Pharisees after they excommunicated the blind man who was healed.

Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.
John 9:40‭-‬41 NKJV

So it is obvious that the Allegory was referring to them. They are the thief and robber, a hireling who does not care for the sheep. Therefore the DOORKEEPER in verse 3, refers to the one called to guard his sheep.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.  But a HIRELING, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.  The HIRELING flees because he is a HIRELING and does not care about the sheep.
John 10:11‭-‬13 NKJV

Jesus is talking about false teachers. This is consistent with the OT, when the analogy of false sheperds was used against false feachers

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” says the Lord . Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: “You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings,” says the Lord . “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the Lord .
Jeremiah 23:1‭-‬4 NKJV

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there  was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for  them. ”
Ezekiel 34:1‭-‬6 NKJV

He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.
Isaiah 40:11 NKJV

Yes, they  are  greedy dogs Which  never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory.
Isaiah 56:11 NKJV

The Shepherd's VOICE refers to sound doctrine of one who is called by God to teach the word. False shepherd refers to False teachers who leads the flock astray from the Word (his VOICE).

This has nothing to do with an audible or "inner voice" promoted by the New Apostolic Reformation.

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