Thieves, Robbers and Wolves

(John 10:1-6)

 

John 10:1 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.

¬   There is a right way to enter a sheepfold and a wrong way

·           There are rules for God’s children concerning the thieves and robbers

¬   We don’t shake hands with a thief or a robber ¾ we call the police

¬   We don’t shake hands with a wolf, we drive him away

·           Spiritual thieves, robbers and wolves are the same way

¬   Jesus admonishes his sheep to oppose the thieves, robbers and wolves

·           Matthew 7:15-20¾He warns us to watch carefully for those who destroy his sheep

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

¬   He shows us several ways to recognize those who are not sheep

¬   We need to be able to recognize the signs of those who are thieves, robbers & wolves

·           Revelation 2:14-16¾Jesus required the leaders of the church to answer for the wolves

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

·           Revelation 2:20-23¾The brethren in Pergamos did not listen to Jesus’ warning

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

¬   What did Jesus expect his children to do with the false teachers?

¬   He expects his disciples to fight the thieves, robbers and wolves

 

John 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

¬   The sheep must recognize the true shepherd

¬   The shepherd enters the sheepfold in the right way

¬   There can only be one shepherd for any flock

 

John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

¬   Jesus’ sheep know the right voice – which today is only found in the scriptures

¬   His sheep listen carefully for the shepherd’s direction and commandments

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John 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

¬   This is one of the major signs of a true sheep

¬   If anyone does not have this sign he is obviously not one of Jesus’ sheep

¬   Who are the strangers we are not to follow?

·           John 7:17-18¾ Who would we follow if we were to follow a stranger?

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

¬   Any man who speaks his own words is a stranger

·           John 5:43¾The Jews listened to strangers who spoke their own words

43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

·           John 12:49¾Jesus did not speak his own words

49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

 

John 10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

¬   Even today only a few understand this truth

¬   Those who are not Jesus’ sheep do not understand

·           John 8:43¾Only Jesus’ sheep are able to hear Jesus’ words

43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

·           John 8:45-47¾Jesus plainly told men they were not his sheep

45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?

47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

¬   He could have saved himself a lot of trouble if he had not told the Jews they were not of God

¬   He did not want these souls to have any false hope

¬   He wants his sheep to beware of the thieves, robbers and wolves

·           John 10:26¾Many times Jesus openly declared that men were not his sheep

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

¬   This was not the first time Jesus told the same men they were not his sheep

·           John 10:27¾Jesus knew the sign of the true sheep

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

1 John 4:5-6¾There are many other signs to tell us who is not a disciple

5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

·           John 7:17¾Another sign of a true sheep is someone who wants to know God’s truth

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

¬   As soon as a man says: “I know what he says but…”, you know he is not Jesus’ sheep

·           John 7:18¾Yet another sign of a wolf is someone who seeks honor from men

18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

·           Romans 2:29¾Any man who receives honor from men is not a true sheep

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

·           John 5:41-44¾Jesus clearly told the Jews why he knew they were not his sheep

41 I receive not honour from men.

42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

¬   Any man who received glory from other men cannot be a true sheep

¬   We must reject that kind of person

·           Luke 6:43-44¾A clear sign of a true sheep is that he bears the right kind of fruit

43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

¬   If any man does not bear the right kind of fruit he is not a true branch

·           John 15:2-5¾The man who does not bear fruit is immediately removed

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

¬   There is another sign

¬   If anyone does not work for Christ in His work he is not a sheep

·           Luke 6:45¾The words a man speaks declare whether he is a true sheep or not

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

¬   Those who bring forth evil are not Jesus’ sheep

Matthew 23:26-28¾There are wolves who know how to pretend to be sheep

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

¬   These are the ones Jesus warns us to be careful with

¬   We must be able to discern their real motive for following Christ

·           Romans 16:18¾We must watch for wolves who know what the true fruit is

18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

·           Matthew 23:3-4¾The wolf is quite often a hypocrite – which is another sign

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

·           Matthew 23:5¾Jesus points to the same sign of a wolf

5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

¬   Note that the thief and robbers value the outward man

¬   (One Elder – we have redecorated – thus we will have many more members)

¬   Thieves appeal to what the world values, not what God values

·           John 12:6¾Judas showed that he had no compassion for the poor

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

·           John 12:7¾Judas had no compassion toward Mary in her sorrow

7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

·           Luke 6:46¾The disciple who knows what is right and doesn’t do it is a wolf

46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

¬   Is this not the classic sign of a true liberal?

·           Luke 6:47¾Those who are true sheep hear the shepherd’s voice and obey it

47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

 

John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

·           This is the second time Jesus made the same statement in the same words

¬   This fact is another very important sign – we must notice this sign

¬   The sheep do not listen to anyone but the one shepherd

¬   If we find anyone listening to someone besides the one shepherd he is not Jesus’ sheep

·           Galatians 2:4¾The brethren had not listened to Jesus’ warning about the wolves

4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

¬   Paul remembered Jesus warning and fought the thieves and robbers

¬   Were it not for Paul’s heeding Jesus’ warning the church would have been corrupted

 

·           Acts 15:1-5¾The false sheep destroy and kill sheep

15 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

¬   The Pharisees who believed had turned away from Christ by the false brethren

¬   They insisted the disciples follow 2 shepherds – Moses and Christ

·           Galatians 3:1¾The Galatians had turned from Christ to follow Moses

3 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

·           Galatians 5:7¾Again he reminds them they were not obeying the one Shepherd

7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

·           Galatians 2:5¾Paul could not live in peace with the thieves and robbers

5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

·           Romans 12:18¾We are required to try to live in peace with all men

18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

¬   This command does not include living in peace with wolves

·           Jude 3-4¾Jude wrote to brethren who had not listened to Jesus’ warning

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

¬   Jude identified the false teachers as liberals who did not insist on obedience to all the commands

The thief wants to steal the sheep

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

¬   The thief wants to steal another shepherds members

·           Romans 16:18¾The Lord reveals the thief’s real motive – money

18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

¬   The thief is dishonest in the fact that he steals members

¬   The thief is dishonest in many ways – including being will to tell lies

·           2 Peter 2:3¾Again the Lord reveals the real motive of the thief

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

¬   How many preachers are not like the hireling – they are in the work for the money

 

John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

 

·           Hebrews 5:12-14¾The hireling doesn’t care for the sheep

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

¬   In this case they were not even being taught the first principles

·           Hebrews 5:13¾He is not taught about righteousness – he doesn’t know much at all

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

·           Hebrews 5:14¾The hireling doesn’t teach them to discern between good and evil

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

¬   As long as the sheep attend church and give him money, he is happy

¬   He doesn’t care to feed the sheep so they will grow strong

·           How many preachers go out early in the morning to pray with the members

¬   The real motive is that 10 rupees he gets for his effort

¬   The preacher who is in the work for the money won’t fight the wolf

·           How many preachers let the wolf push them out of the work

¬   If they fight the wolf their reputation will be damaged

¬   Thus, rather than fight they quietly leave

·           Bud Gore called a preacher to ask for his bulletin

¬   The preacher told him to remember that he is responsible only for what he writes

¬   The bulletin was loaded with false doctrine, but the preacher wanted to keep his job

·           John 9:22¾ If we stand against the liberals we will be hated of all men

22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.

 

John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

·           John 12:42¾The hireling is not willing to contend earnestly for the faith

42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

·           Luke 6:22-23¾When we are disfellowshipped by the liberals we are blessed by God

22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

·           John 16:1-3¾We must expect to be put out from the assembly of liberals

16 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Look what the thieves and robbers did with Christ

 

John 10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

John 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

·           John 15:20-21¾Jesus warns his disciples what will happen if we follow him

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

·           1 Peter 4:1¾ They persecuted Jesus, and they will persecute us

4 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

¬   We need to arm ourselves with Christ’s mind as we follow in his steps

–Beth Johnson