John Chapter 10 part 1
Azabujuban Home Group on 05/10/2006 (John 10:1-21)
---Note for the leader---
1. Review of the last week (John 9)
Jesus healed the blind beggar. The beggar believed that Jesus was a Christ. However, Pharisees accused the beggar and refused to believe that Jesus was a Christ.
à Pharisees physically could see but spiritually were blind. Today’s story was told in this context.
(Read today’s story)
2. Where and when that the today’s story was preached?
Place: Jerusalem
Time: After the Feast of Tabernacle (7:2) à September or October
Before the Feast of Dedication (10:22) à December
The Feast of the Tabernacle is the feast, which ran for seven days, was associated with gathering the harvest. It commemorated the provision of God for his people in the wilderness. People stayed in temporary structures made of leaves and branches during the festival.
The Feast of Dedication, which runs for eight days, is commemoration of the cleansing and rededication (Dedication in Hebrew is “Hanukkah”.) of the temple by Judas Maccabeus in December, 165 B.C. after it had been defiled by Antiochus Ephiphanes. It is also called the “the Feast of the Lights”, based on the legend that a special lamp for the temple miraculously lit for eight days not being supplied with additional oil. People lit lamps during the festival and rejoiced.
This is brief history after the Old Testament. Alexander the Great defeated the Persian Empire. After Alexander the Great died, his empire was divided to three kingdoms (Greece, Egypt and Syria) by his generals. First, the Ptolemies of Egypt Kingdom ruled the Israel and it was moderate reign. Later, the Seleucids of Syria Kingdom ruled the Israel. One of the Seleucid kings, Antiochus Ephiphanes, forced Jews to observe the Greek way. He ordered to destroy all copies of Bible and required them to give offerings to Greek god Zeus. In addition, he placed a statute of Zeus and offered a pig which was deemed as a defiled animal in the Old Testament as a sacrifice at the Jewish temple. Oppressed Jews led by Judas Maccabeus (probably means “hammerer”) rebelled to the Seleucids of Syria Kingdom and Jews recovered about 100 years independence until Romans conquered the Israel.
3. In today’s story, what did Jesus tell “I am”? What does it means?
“I am the gate for the sheep” (10:7) means that Jesus is the only way to heaven and life (10:9,10). "I am the good shepherd” (10:11) means that Jesus is our leader.
In John’s gospel, there are seven times that Jesus said “I am”. The other five are as follows.
John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
4. What do sheep mean in today’s story?
In today’s story, a shepherd means Jesus and sheep mean us, Christians. In the Old Testament, God is compared to a shepherd and sheep are compared to God’s people.
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Ezekiel 34:11 "For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.
34:12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
Sheep without a shepherd is described as being miserable in the Bible.
Zechariah 10:2 The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
5. What do thieves, robbers and hired hands mean in today’s story?
They mean Pharisees. They were religious leaders of Israel. They did not care for people (10:10, 12, 13).
Mark 12:38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces,
12:39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
12:40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
Luke 11:46 Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
They were spiritually blind and what they told was not the way to true life.
Luke 6:39 He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
Luke 11:52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
God denounced bad shepherds, leaders of Israel.
Isaiah 56:10 Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.
56:11 They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.
56:12 "Come," each one cries, "let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better."
Ezekiel 34:1 The word of the LORD came to me:
34:2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?
34:3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.
34:4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.
34:5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.
34:6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
Therefore, God promised the Israel that he would send a true shepherd to the Israel.
Ezekiel 34:23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.
6. What do you think of relationship between a shepherd and sheep?
Relationship between God and God’s people is compared to relationship between a shepherd and sheep. Relationship between God and God’s people has many characteristics. I discretionally pick up many miscellaneous bible verses that help us to understand the relationship between God and God’s people.
I. A shepherd feeds and rests sheep (10:9, 10).
Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
23:3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Ezekiel 34:14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
34:15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD.
34:16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
Matthew 6:31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?'
6:32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
II. A shepherd call sheep’s name and sheep listen to a shepherd (10:3). A shepherd knows and cares sheep very much (10:14).
Psalm 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
139:2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
139:3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
139:4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
10:30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
10:31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
III. Relationship between a shepherd and sheep is very familiar and close. A shepherd and sheep are a family (10:15). This is determined from the beginning of the world.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
1:5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--
IV. A shepherd never forsakes sheep (10:12, 13).
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Luke 15:4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
Sometimes we sin and God punishes us. However, that does not mean that God forsakes us. God definitely loves us.
Isaiah 54:6 The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit-- a wife who married young, only to be rejected," says your God.
54:7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
54:8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says the LORD your Redeemer.
54:9 "To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.
54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Hosea 11:8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
11:9 I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man-- the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.
V. A shepherd love sheep and sheep follow a shepherd. A shepherd so loves the sheep that he lays down his life for sheep (10:11, 15). In fact, in Jesus’s age, shepherds had risks being killed by wolves, bears and lions. The truth of the Bible is that sheep can live by shepherd’s death. Of course, this means Jesus’ crucifixion.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
7. What does verse 16 mean?
“other sheep that are not of this sheep pen” is gentile Christians. Jesus came to this world mainly to preach gospels to Jews.
Matthew 15:24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
In God’s plan, mission to gentiles was spared for Jesus’s disciples. However, of course, Jesus is a shepherd for all Christians.
8. How do sheep follow a shepherd?
In short, Jesus’s life was “purpose-driven”. Jesus was very loyal to his given purpose, crucifixion (10:18). In short, Christian life is to obey God as Jesus did.
John 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
To follow Jesus does not necessarily mean lucky or easy life.
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
1 Peter 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
2:20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
2:22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
However, although to follow Jesus is sometimes a hard way, we know that this way is the only way to true life.
Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Azabujuban Home Group on 05/10/2006 (John 10:1-21)
---Questions for participants---
1. Review of the last week (John 9)
2. Where and when that the today’s verse was preached?
3. In today’s story, what did Jesus tell “I am”? What does it means?
4. What do sheep mean in today’s story?
5. What do thieves, robbers and hired hands mean in today’s story?
6. What do you think of relationship between a shepherd and sheep?
7. What does verse 16 mean?
8. How do sheep follow a shepherd?
Azabujuban Home Group on 05/10/2006 (John 10:1-21)
---Quotations from NIV for participants---
Question 3
John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Question 4
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Ezekiel 34:11 "For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.
34:12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
Zechariah 10:2 The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Question 5
Mark 12:38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces,
12:39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
12:40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
Luke 11:46 Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
Luke 6:39 He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
Luke 11:52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
Isaiah 56:10 Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.
56:11 They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.
56:12 "Come," each one cries, "let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better."
Ezekiel 34:1 The word of the LORD came to me:
34:2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?
34:3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.
34:4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.
34:5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.
34:6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
Ezekiel 34:23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.
Question 6
Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
23:3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Ezekiel 34:14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
34:15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD.
34:16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
Matthew 6:31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
6:32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Psalm 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
139:2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
139:3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
139:4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
10:30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
10:31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
1:5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Luke 15:4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
Isaiah 54:6 The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit-- a wife who married young, only to be rejected," says your God.
54:7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
54:8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says the LORD your Redeemer.
54:9 "To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.
54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Hosea 11:8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
11:9 I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man-- the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
Question 7
Matthew 15:24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
Question 8
John 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
1 Peter 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
2:20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
2:22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
---Questions for participants---
1. Review of the last week (John 9)
2. Where and when that the today’s verse was preached?
3. In today’s story, what did Jesus tell “I am”? What does it means?
4. What do sheep mean in today’s story?
5. What do thieves, robbers and hired hands mean in today’s story?
6. What do you think of relationship between a shepherd and sheep?
7. What does verse 16 mean?
8. How do sheep follow a shepherd?
Azabujuban Home Group on 05/10/2006 (John 10:1-21)
---Quotations from NIV for participants---
Question 3
John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Question 4
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Ezekiel 34:11 "For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.
34:12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.
Zechariah 10:2 The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Question 5
Mark 12:38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces,
12:39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
12:40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
Luke 11:46 Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.
Luke 6:39 He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
Luke 11:52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
Isaiah 56:10 Israel's watchmen are blind, they all lack knowledge; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they lie around and dream, they love to sleep.
56:11 They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. They are shepherds who lack understanding; they all turn to their own way, each seeks his own gain.
56:12 "Come," each one cries, "let me get wine! Let us drink our fill of beer! And tomorrow will be like today, or even far better."
Ezekiel 34:1 The word of the LORD came to me:
34:2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?
34:3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.
34:4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.
34:5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.
34:6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
Ezekiel 34:23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.
Question 6
Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
23:3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Ezekiel 34:14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
34:15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD.
34:16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
Matthew 6:31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
6:32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Psalm 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
139:2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
139:3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
139:4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
Matthew 6:7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
10:30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
10:31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
1:5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Luke 15:4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
Isaiah 54:6 The LORD will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit-- a wife who married young, only to be rejected," says your God.
54:7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
54:8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says the LORD your Redeemer.
54:9 "To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.
54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Hosea 11:8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.
11:9 I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man-- the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,
Question 7
Matthew 15:24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."
Question 8
John 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
15:10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
1 Peter 2:19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.
2:20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.
2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
2:22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
posted by Mindy @ 1:38 PM
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