BIBLE STUDY LESSON 04

SERIES S -- THE SON OF YHVH

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

From John 10:1-21: Luke 10:1-24

[When you see someone climbing over the wall of the sheepfold, instead of walking through its door, he is a thief and a robber,] Yeshua said. [The shepherd goes through the door which the doorkeeper opens for him. The sheep listen to the shepherd’s voice, for he calls each one by name and leads them. The shepherd walks before his sheep and they follow after him, for they know his voice. They refuse to follow a stranger, and will run away from him, for they do not accept the voice of strangers.] The people did not understand the hidden meaning in what Yeshua was saying, so He explained it this way, [I tell you for sure that I am the Door for the sheep. Others came before Me who were thieves and robbers, but the sheep refused to listen to their voice. I am the Door through which the sheep enter to be saved, and through which they go in and out to green pasture. The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I come to bring life at its best. I am the Good Shepherd, Who lays down His life for His sheep. A hired man, who is neither shepherd nor owner of the sheep, runs away when a wolf comes, leaving the wolf to pounce on the sheep and scatter them. He runs because he merely works for money and not because he loves the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd, Who knows My sheep, and they know Me, in the same way that My Father knows Me and I know Him. I lay down My life for My sheep. I have other sheep in another fold whom I must bring. They, too, will hear My voice so there will be one flock with one Shepherd. The Father loves Me, for I lay down My life so that I may raise it up again. No one takes My life from Me, for I lay it down Myself. I have the authority to lay down My life and to take it up again. The Father has given Me this authority by Command.] When the leaders heard what Yeshua said, they were divided in their opinions concerning Him. Some said, [He has a demon or is insane, so why listen to Him?] Others said, [No demon-possessed man could say such things, nor could he open the eyes of the blind.] About this time Adonai chose seventy disciples to go in pairs to towns and villages where He would come later. [There is a rich harvest, but few laborers to bring it in,] He told them. [Pray to Adonai of the harvest to send others to help you. Go, but remember that I send you as sheep among wolves. Take no money, bag, or sandals, and don’t linger along the way with customary greetings. When you enter a house, pronounce a blessing upon it, such as ‘Peace be to this house.’ If a person lives there who is worthy of your blessing, it will stay with him. If not, it will return to you. Stay awhile at one house, eating and drinking what they give you without embarrassment, for a labourer is worthy of his wages. When a town welcomes you, eat what they offer, heal their sick and tell them that YHVH’s Kingdom has come near to them. But when a town refuses you, go into the street and make a public announcement that you are wiping their dust from your feet as a symbol that YHVH’s Kingdom is not near them. It will be better for Sodom on the Judgment Day than for that city. [O Chorazin and Bethsaida, what great judgment awaits you, for if Tyre and Sidon had seen the miracles you have seen, they would have repented long ago in great sorrow. Tyre and Sidon will be better off on the Judgment Day than you. Capernaum, instead of being lifted to heaven, you will be brought down to hell. Whoever listens to you, listens to Me; and whoever refuses you, refuses Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One Who sent Me.] The seventy returned later with great joy. [Adonai, even the demons submitted to us in Your Name!] [I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning,] Yeshua answered. [I have given you authority to stamp on scorpions and snakes, and to exert power over the enemy. Nothing will harm you. But you should not be as pleased to see demons submit to you as to know that your names are written in heaven.] The joy of Ruach HaKodesh filled Yeshua at that time and He lifted His voice in prayer. [I praise You, Father, Adonai of heaven and earth, for You have hidden these things from those who claim to be wise and revealed them instead to those who come simply to You as children. Yes, this is the way that pleases You. My Father has committed all things into My care. Only the Father truly knows Me; and no one truly knows the Father except I and those to whom I reveal Him.] Then Yeshua spoke privately with His disciples. [Your eyes are richly blessed to see what you have seen. Many prophets and kings would have been delighted to see these things, but did not. And how delighted they would have been to have heard what you have heard, but did not.]

COMMENTARY

THE SHEPHERD AND HIS SHEEP

The job of the shepherd was an ancient and respected one in Israel. Jacob, Moses and David tended sheep before they were called to be leaders of YHVH’s people. The work of a shepherd today is not very different from what it was thousands of years ago. The shepherd is responsible for the care and protection of his flock. Sheep are not able to search for their own food, so the shepherd leads them to grassy areas where they can graze. They are equally unable to find their own water, so each day at noon they are led to the nearest stream. In dry areas, this can mean a trip of many miles. If the water is down a slope or rocky incline, the sheep cannot be trusted to find their way back up, and the shepherd must fill and carry water back to the sheep. Most animals know the way back home or can find shelter on their own, but sheep must depend on the shepherd. During summer months, they are gathered into a fenced outdoor area called a {sheepfold.} There they are protected both from wild animals and from thieves. The shepherd sleeps at the entrance, waking every few hours to make sure that no sheep has wandered off. Shepherds give special attention to the injured and the new-born. An injured sheep is carefully tended, and carried on the shepherd’s shoulders until it can walk again. A new-born lamb is often carried in the folds of the shepherd’s tunic until it is strong enough to keep up with the older members of the flock. Every morning and night, the shepherd counts his sheep. If only one lamb is missing from the flock, he will go out and search for it. He is watchful of each animal in the flock. Yeshua called Himself the Good Shepherd. The care and concern of the shepherd toward his flock is a reflection of Yeshua’ care and concern for those who believe in Him.