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QUESTION 12
In John 10:1,, It speaks of "thieves and robbers." Would this be talking about people who are trying to get to heaven some other way?

ANSWER:
The verse reads, "Verily, Verily I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. The sheepfold here is not heaven, but the Jewish nation - John 10:16. The porter, of verse three, is John the Baptist who opens the door to the prophesied Messiah of the Old Testament, John 1:31-34.

There are three doors in this chapter. The door of Old Testament prophecies, John 10:1-2. The door out of Judaism into the church, John 10:7. Since Jesus is talking about doors He uses this figure of speech in John 10:9, to say that He is the only door into heaven. In John 10:2, He is the true shepherd who enters by the door of Old Testament prophecies. In John 10:7, He is the door out of Judaism in the Church. In John 10:9, He is the door to heaven. In John 10:1, He is not speaking about Pharisees or people trying to get to heaven some other way, but about "false messiahs" who had come before Him claiming to be their Christ. It is said there were twenty-nine who came and all were accepted, but later proved to be false. The thirtieth one they refused, but He proved to be the real One. Though the verse is not speaking about people trying to get to heaven in another way, it most certainly can be applied that way. There is but one Way.

How blind man is in his sin. He will try any way except God's way which is coming to the Cross and trusting in the blood that was shed there for his sin.

Have you trusted Him?

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen