Haydock Commentary on John 10:11-18

As will be clear, this is a very basic commentary.

Joh 10:11  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep.

How happy are we in having such a shepherd, so great, so good, so loving, so careful of our true welfare!  O he is the true shepherd indeed, that came down from heaven to seek the poor sheep that was lost; and when he found it, took it upon his own shoulders to carry it home with joy to his heavenly fold.  How dearly have his sheep cost him, for truly has he made good in himself sentence, that the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep.  Let us then ever follow and obey, love and embrace this true shepherd of our souls.  (Meditations for every Day, vol. ii. p. 417.)  The good pastor gives his life for his sheep; he exposes himself to every danger to save them, no inclemency of the weather, no frost or cold, no rains or tempests, can drive him from looking over his sheep, to defend them from the attacks of wolves, &c. and like Jacob he might say, day and night was I parched with heat, and with cold, and sleep departed from my eyes. (Genesis xl.)  Or, like David speaking to Saul: “Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion or a bear, and took a ram out of the midst of the flock; and I pursued after them, and struck them, and delivered it out of their  mouths; and they arose up against me, and I caught them by the throat, and I strangled them, and killed them.” (1 Kings xvii.)  This is a model of a true pastor.  But Jesus Christ has done more than this for us.  He has exposed his life and his repose, he has spilled his blood, he delivered himself to the fury of his enemies, and has offered himself as a victim on the cross to his eternal Father, to free us, his lost sheep, from the most cruel wolf, the devil.  And ever since his death he has always protected his Church, assisted and consoled his distressed flock under all their sufferings, pouring into their hearts the consolations of the holy Spirit, and sending to them holy teachers, to govern and lead them in the holy path of salvation.  Such were the apostles and their successors, the bishops and priests of the holy Catholic Church, whom he has sent, and will continue to send, to govern his flock to the end of time. (Calmet.)

Joh 10:12  But the hireling and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep and flieth: and the wolf casteth and scattereth the sheep,

Joh 10:13  And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep.

Every bishop and pastor is bound to abide with his flock in the time of danger, and persecution, except himself be personally sought for, rather than his flock, or the flock itself forsake him.  In such cases the pastor may fly, as the apostles did, and St. Athanasius and others.  (St. Athanasius, Apol. de sua fuga.; St. Augustine, ep. 180.)  Much like the Apostles, St Athanasius kept in touch and in rule over his flock with emissaries and letters.

Joh 10:14  I am the good shepherd: and I know mine, and mine know me.

I know mine, and mine know me.  To know, in the style of the holy Scriptures, is to love and approve. (Witham)

Joh 10:15   As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep.

I lay down. That is, in a short time shall lay down my life for my sheep: for all, and in a special manner for my elect.  See ver. 28. (Witham)

Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have that are not of this fold: them also I must bring. And they shall hear my voice: And there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

One fold.  In the Greek one flock.  The signification is the same that is, there shall be one church of Jews and Gentiles converted. (Witham).

Joh 10:17  Therefore doth the Father love me: because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.

Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, &c.  Christ here speaketh of himself, as made man for the redemption of mankind: or rather, as he was our Redeemer, both God and man: for he laid down his life, and died as man, and had power to take it up again, as God.  Yet the command of laying it down, he as man received from the Father: thus as man, he was obedient to him even to the death on the cross.  See Philippians 2:8.  (Witham)

Joh 10:18  No man taketh it away from me: but I lay it down of myself. And I have power to lay it down: and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received of my Father.