“…“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber...
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”-{John 10;1,10}
“The preeminent animal representation in the Bible concerns the sheep, whether a ram, a ewe, or a lamb, there being approximately 500 references and allusions. From the cutting of the Abrahamic covenant that included a ram (Gen. 15:9-10) and the substitute ram offered in the place of Isaac (Gen. 22:13) to the final vision of “the throne of God and the Lamb” (Rev. 22:1), there is this honored role given to the most helpless, unintelligent, yet treasured animal…”- {anonymous}
“If a thief came at night and climbed the wall, he would have a difficulty getting the sheep out willingly because the sheep don’t know his voice. And so very often, they would slit the throat of the sheep in the fold and throw it over the wall. They knew that. They knew the kind of work that robbers did. They would take the wool and then eat the sheep. The thief comes to kill, comes to destroy after he has stolen. On the other hand”-{Mac Arthur}. Such were the religious leaders of Jesus day, peddling a false message and fleecing the people of truth, and the way to GOD, they were spiritual thieves and robbers, seeking their own selfish gain at the expense of others!
The “Thief” is a religious person, his {or her} ministry is plundering and peddling for the soul’s of people for selfish gain! They offer “alternatives,” to God’s exclusive way of salvation. They are false “shepherds…” False shepherds were in existence throughout the ages…
In Ezekiel’s time...
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?”-{Ez 34:2-3}
In Jeremiah’s time…
” “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the Lord.2 Therefore thus says the Lord God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: “You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the Lord.‘”- {Jer 23;1-4}
Zechariah records…
“Woe to the worthless shepherd Who leaves the flock! A sword will be on his arm And on his right eye! His arm will be totally withered And his right eye will be blind.” “-{Zechariah 11:17}.
…Jesus warns
“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “-{Matthew 7:15}. “The word “ravening”, comes from the Greek word “harpax”, which can also mean an extortioner or a robber. These false prophets have literally com to extract a price from the sheep. They appear one way but are really another, in other words they are duplicitous. They have a vociferous appetite; inwardly they would tear the flesh from our bones and devour us, but outwardly they pretend to be harmless, docile and righteous.”-{anonymous}
False shepherds,teachers seek ultimately for selfish gain, at the expense of others.
Jesus warns against them.
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”-{Matt 24:24}. They are out to mislead…
Paul warned of them...
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. “-{Acts 20;28-30}
Peter spoke of them in his time…
” But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. “- {2 Peter 2:1-2}
In Timothy’s time, Paul warned him…
“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. “- {1 Timothy 4:1-3}
John writes…
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”-{1 John 4:1}
Jesus says…
“…Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber...The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;…”-{John 10;1,10}
The Ministry of the Thief and The Ministry of the Good Shepherd are in complete opposition in their Motivations; How unlike they Good Shepherd they are!
The Thief seeks to Take Life
The Shepherd Gives life
The Shepherd Protects Life
Behind the enemy of “false teachers” is the evil one.
satan’s servants;
“But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. “-{2 Cor 11:11-15}.
We have a cruel evil enemy who seeks our destruction, Peter writes, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, …”-{1 Peter 5:8-9}. The word “devil” means ” slanderer, accuser,” {diabolos), a slanderer, the arch-enemy of man’s spiritual interest ( Job 1:6 ;Revelation 2:10 ; Zechariah 3:1 ). He is called also “the accuser of the brethren” ( Revelation 12:10 ). He slanders God to us and he accuses us constantly. The word “devil, ” means “Adversary,opponent, one who resists,” opposing God, opposing people’s welfare. He seeks to “devour” us, “kill…steal…destroy..” his intent is evil for he is evil devoid of love unlike the Good Shepherd. We must not be ignorant of his schemes, and this is where we must go to God’s Word and take up the sword of the Spirit- which is the Word of God and use it when slanderous and accusations come to our mind, for the attack is on our mind to attack the character of GOD ultimately! God again provides for us, His Spirit to empower us {Read Phil 2:13 NLT} and His Word. “…take up the shield of faith,with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”-{Read Eph 6:16-17}.
The enemy injects thoughts and uses people and false messages, systems, to lead others astray, he is opposed to God and people, he hates Him and us and seeks our destruction by any means, he deceives people and through false shepherds who offer false hopes of “peace” when there is none;
“For from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is greedy for gain,
And from the prophet even to the priest
Everyone deals falsely.
“They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially,
Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
But there is no peace.”- {Jeremiah 6:13-14}
Some offer “legalism“-emphasizing a system of rules and regulations to achieve salvation and spiritual growth. “Legalism” which is joyless, loveless, peace-less, graceless, because it is Christ-less! It substitutes love with lists, to try to appeal to GOD with self works and worth as the Pharisee who went to pray and told God how good he was and went through a list of his works to merit God’s approval of him, Self works rather than the work of Christ alone and His gift of grace to save and sustain {Eph 2:8-9; 2 Cor 12:8-9}. Believers are not averse to falling back into these old ways as is seen in the Book Of Galatians where Paul confronts the believers who have embraced a false gospel! A “gospel” of self works as sufficient, grounded in pride, rather than the Gracious work of Jesus Christ! The Pharisees, “SCAM ARTISTS”- seeking to scam people for their own good and making them twice sons of Hell. And those in Galatians leading God’s people astray were deceived,
As in John 10 the “Thief” is a religious person, his {or her} ministry is plundering and peddling of the soul’s of people for selfish gain! The Ministry of the Thief and The Ministry of the Good Shepherd are in complete opposition in their Motivations; How unlike they Good Shepherd they are! The false teachers and evil one do not have the final say, there is a a “But God…,” He “…so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”-{John 3:16}.
Jesus says “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”-{John 10:9}. He is the answer, He Himself provides. He is “The Door,” to Salvation, Security, Sustenance, Satisfaction to all,but only those who come to God through Him, who says, ” I Am The Way, The Truth,The Life, No one comes to the Father except through Me”-{John 14:6!}
The Thief seeks to Take Life
The Shepherd Gives life
The Shepherd Protects Life
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.“-{John 10;10}