“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ”
John 10:10 (ESV)
We all love having our favorite Bible verses on coffee mugs, T-shirts, and especially on social media posts, right? But selectively choosing or referencing a verse without its full context can be risky.
John 10:10 is featured prominently on my website. However, I didn’t consider the context of this verse and I’d like to make things clear. Who is the thief in John 10:10? What is the secret of abundant life?
Who is the thief?
Let’s examine the context of this verse starting in John 9, because many interpreters of this verse incorrectly refer to the thief in John 10:10 as Satan.
Jesus restores sight to a man blind from birth on the Sabbath (John 9:1-6). Onlookers brought the man to the Pharisees, the Jewish sect who developed their own extensive set of laws, one of which prevented healing on the Sabbath.
When questioned, the formerly blind man called Jesus a prophet and would not deny Jesus’ healing, despite the angry insults thrown at him by the Pharisees.
Then the Pharisees tossed the man out of the synagogue. Jesus heard what happened, found the man, and then revealed Himself as the Messiah.
Scholars point out that Jesus continued His conversation with the Pharisees in John 10. The Greek word translated thief in John 10:10 also means false teachers. Therefore, Jesus labeled the Pharisees as spiritual thieves or false teachers.
The thief and the shepherd
Jesus addressed the Pharisees in several parables, contrasting the good shepherd with a thief, or false teachers, in John 10:1-18.
- The thief sneaks inside the sheep pen to kill and destroy the sheep, whereas the good shepherd enters through the gate to give life to the sheep.
- The good shepherd calls the sheep by name and they know His voice. He is also the gate (or door), to lead the sheep to pasture. The sheep don’t recognize the voice of the thief, so they run away.
- The good shepherd lays down His life for His sheep, but the false teachers offer legalistic rules and regulations that bring death to the sheep.
What is NOT the secret to abundant life?
Consider the phrase, “have life and have it abundantly” in John 10:10 (ESV). Or some translations say “have life and have it to the full.” We may not deal with the Pharisees anymore, but even today, we discover false teachers in churches advocating whatever suits our lifestyle or beliefs. (Read 2 Peter 2:1-19 for attributes of false teachers.)
False teachers interpret abundance in the Bible to suit their agendas. For example, in health and wellness, people use God’s abundance as the opposite of the deprivation of diet culture. Others say abundance is success, material possessions, social status, or living the good life here on earth.
What is the secret of abundant life?
The Greek word for life used in John 10:10 is zōē, meaning both physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence.1
The same word for life is used in Mark 10:17, when a man asked Jesus, “what must I do to inherit eternal life? ” Jesus answered, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Mark 10:21 ESV).
Jesus’ answer confirms abundance is life here on earth following Jesus and eternal life with Him. And in John 10:10, Jesus is clearly referring to eternal life, not an abundance of food, money, possessions, power, social status, or any other earthly pursuit of happiness.
Trusting the good shepherd is the secret of abundant life.
Why should we trust the good shepherd?
In addition, we identify Jesus as the good shepherd in Psalm 23. The good shepherd provides comfort, contentment, rest for our souls, a guidance on the path of righteousness, and eternal life “in the house of the Lord forever.”
Final words
Jesus is the true good shepherd who reconciles us with God the Father and provides abundant life on earth and forever in eternity.
Instead of just selecting our favorite Bible verses, let’s learn the truth by studying the Word of God as the entire story of Jesus. With various worldviews and belief systems offering counterfeit ways to live an abundant life and to be like God, this is critical.
Do you trust the good shepherd?
Reference
- Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 38–39). Charles Scribner’s Sons.
