JOHN - Chapter 10 - "Scripture Cannot Be Broken"
JOHN – Chapter 10:35 – “Scripture Cannot Be Broken”
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Jesus’ challenge to the unbelievers boiled down to one issue, Scripture Cannot Be Broken. (10:35) John 3:33: He that has received the testimony of Jesus has set to his seal that God is true.
Jesus ministered under the seal placed on Him by the Father, just as true followers must minister today. Jesus exuded power based on the authority of that seal. The sealed life is the life of power.
Last week I enumerated the miracles that Jesus performed revealing that He is the Son of God. In this chapter, Jesus reveals Himself as the Door, the Good Shepherd, and calls Himself the Son of God. When the Pharisees pick up stones to stone him, Jesus answered them (10: 32) Many good works have I shown you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me.
I have healed your sick, cast out demons, cleansed lepers, raised the dead, fed multitudes, and taught you the truth at all times without charge. Is this My reward? Jesus has come to the sheep-fold of Judaism bearing God’s credentials, the witness of the Holy Spirit, with miracles, signs and wonders which are a testimony that He has been sealed by the Father.
John 6:27: Do not labor for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you; for him has God the Father sealed.
In Chapter 9, the Lord has just rebuked the Pharisees for their unbelief. Now he takes it even further, and tells them they are not sheep of his sheepfold; but they are indeed of their father, who comes to steal, kill and destroy.
10:1-5: Verily, verily, I say to you, He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs in some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. He that enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. When he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of a stranger.
The phrase, “I say unto you” is said by Christ 137 times. It expresses the complete authority of Christ.
God is speaking in these last days, and the masses are incapable of hearing, but there is a group who have His Word, His Blood, Water Baptism, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and sealed in the Mind of Christ. (sealed: kept). The voices of strangers are in the millions. The sealed ones will not glibly follow them. The voice of the Shepherd, Jesus Christ must be heard through his ministers before they will follow.
He contrasts the deeds of the true Shepherd---Himself—to those of a wolf. The thief does not enter in by the door---Jesus says, I am the Door (10:7). The porter represents the Holy Spirit, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, who likewise opens the doors of the Scripture (Word of God-Voice of God) to reveal Jesus Christ, the Door.
Their unbelief proves not that Jesus is a murderer and destroyer, but that the Scribes and Pharisees have been cast out from flock and are no longer His sheep. “I have entered by the door,” He says, “thus proving that I am the true shepherd. As for you, by refusing to follow Me, you have proved that you are not sheep.” Even while sending His disciples out as sheep among wolves (Mt. 10:16).
Do not doubt church, wolves abound. Their motive is their pocket book and their vain glory. They will pull sheep away, and then the sheep will drift and backslide. We are all sheep among wolves. We must be vigilant and discerning.
10:6-10: This parable Jesus spoke to them; but they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief comes to steal, kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
This abundant life is for NOW. The Pasture is a parable of the rest, peace and provision of God (NOW) for those who will enter His rest. Through Jesus Christ, we are saved to eternal life which begins on earth as it is in heaven once we are saved. 2 Ti. 2:19: Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, the Lord knows them that are his. And, let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
The thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy describes the unholy trinity of Satan. Satan is defeated, but there is still a flood gushing from the dragon’s mouth. We hear it daily from the mouth of the media which is the mouth of the beast and the mouth of the dragon. Men continually give place to the devil. (Eph. 4:27) Satan is not God’s adversary. He is our adversary. Satan did not receive the earth from Adam.
The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. (1 Co. 10:26).
The prophetic Church, the voice of the Lord, must be thoroughly equipped to rid the earth of the influence of Satan.
Rev. 12: 15-16: The serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
The devil is “profane”; he is the wicked prince of this world system (Jn. 12:31).
Satan, the thief had a day of reckoning at Golgotha (Col. 2:15) Having spoiled principalities and powers; he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
At the cross there were three men crucified---the man in the middle cross was Jesus Christ, the Messiah, God Almighty in the flesh. The thief on the right who repented was re-membered, and entered paradise with Jesus. He was a type of Adam, man in the flesh. The other thief who had returned that day to be dealt with was Satan in the flesh. His calling card---If Thou be the Son of God…
Luke 4:3: The devil said to Him, If Thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
Luke 4:12: He brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down from here.
Luke 23:39: One of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him, saying, If Thou be the Christ, save Thyself and us.
In one grand, finished work, the cross of Jesus Christ destroyed the power of Satan and the first man Adam! After Calvary, Christians are not to give place to either.
Jesus mortally wounded our adversary at the cross.
Carnal men always look for the alternative, some other or different way. Jesus described such a one as a “thief,” a “stealer.” Moreover, he is a “robber.” One who plunders openly and violently.
In 10:8, the Good Shepherd warned us about “thieves.” All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them.
A thief can be anyone or anything men put before or above Jesus Christ. The first commandment reveals these to be other gods---“thieves” are idols!
These other gods are anyone or anything that means more to us than Jesus. This includes all thoughts and ideas that disagree with His Word. That is why Jesus emphasized that He is the Door.
Our idols can be readily identified: the things we think about the most, the things we talk about the most, and the things for which we spend the most of our money.
Excuses are idols. The real issue has to do with the objects of our affection, the desires of our hearts---what we worship.
These critical times necessitate the recognition of the many thieves of John 10:8 to be the “many antichrists” 1 John 2:18 and the “deceivers” of 2nd John 7.
1 John 2:18: Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
2 John 1:7: For many deceivers have entered into the world, who do not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
The thieves of John 10:8 are wolves, antichrists, and deceivers. The liars deny the Father and the Son, refusing to confess that Jesus Christ “is come” in the flesh. These religious spirits and concepts operate through vagabonds, and spiritual bums who roam from church to church, preying upon pastors and unsuspecting saints.
Note the narrowness of Jesus’ claim. The way to heaven, despite the liberal tendencies of modern times is not wider than the Person of Christ. There is no other way to God.
Jesus shifts from the “Door” figure to that of the “Shepherd.” The true shepherd is the flock’s owner. The scene is a heroic risking of the shepherd’s life as he combats the wolf. The wolf represents all spiritual danger with Satan as the instigator.
10: 11-18: I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. He that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees; the wolf catches them and scatters the sheep. The hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and does not care for the sheep. I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of Mine. The Father knows Me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. Other sheep I have, which 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. Therefore does My Father love Me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.
Pontius Pilate and the Jews did not crucify Jesus. Neither did the Roman government. He lay down his own life.
Division swelled in the ranks of the unbelievers over this statement. He who came not to bring peace, but a sword ---brought it. Jesus’ challenge boiled down to one issue, “Scripture cannot be broken.”
10:34-35: Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, You are gods? If he called them gods, to whom the Word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; what have you to say of Him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into this world. You blaspheme; because I said, I am the Son of God? If I do not do the works of My Father, then do not believe me. But if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works; that you may know and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.
Jesus told the religious leaders in Mark 12:24, “You neither know the Scriptures nor the Power of God. “Scripture cannot be broken.”
Ps. 82:6: I have said, You are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
This title was given to every judge in the time of the Judges, to David and Solomon, and every priestly individual anointed to minister the Word of God. Jesus is saying A man who has been made Godlike by grace cannot save. God alone can save. They are called gods, unto whom the Word of god came, but the name Word of God refers to Me. I dwelt in those who are called gods and graciously adopted them as sons; therefore, I am justly called god, more than any one of them. I am god by nature and I bestow divinity upon others. Christ is the Son of God, not a creature, and is God by essence and nature. Being the Word of God by nature, he is not made divine by grace but bestows grace upon men. Christ here clearly distinguishes Himself from men who have been made Godlike by grace. He explains that he is the author of their theosis by grace. He is the Word of God dwelling in them Unto whom the Word of God came. These are those with whom Christ was present and in whom He dwelt. “And so, how do I blaspheme by calling Myself the Son of God? I indeed bear flesh and am the seed of David, but you cannot understand this mystery.”
Those who have joined themselves to Christ in holy Baptism are in Christ and have Christ in them; therefore they also have the hope, by God’s grace to become like Him---Godlike---though in human flesh.
10:22-23: It was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
(The feast of dedication was appointed by Judas Maccabaeus to commemorate the purification of the temple after it had been defiled in 164 BC. It lasted two days. It was about 3-1/2 months after the feast of tabernacles of Jn. 7:2 and about 4 months before the Passover and the crucifixion. Thus John mentions 5 feasts Christ attended.)
10:24-30: Then came the Jews round about Him, and said, How long do you make us doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered. I told you, and you did not believe me; the works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. You do not believe me because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me. I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them to Me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.
Jesus walked, talked and ministered under the authority of the seal of God. Satan could not penetrate the seal, try as He would (Mt. 4:1; 8:28). Religious hierarchy could not penetrate the seal, try as they would. Society could not penetrate the seal, tray as they would. Government could not penetrate the seal, try as they would. Jesus was sealed by God and neither man nor devil could touch him. He declares here that those of us who are in His hand are sealed by that same power.
Jesus is speaking to this same crowd who refuse to believe He is the Son of God. In the past, Jesus elected to call Himself, “son of Man.” This is the first time he declares he is the Son of God. He just told them that he gives eternal life to His sheep, sheep which are strangely in His hand and the Father’s at the same time---the non-destructible property of both.
They mock Him and this is the same crowd who mocked Him on the Cross in Mat. 27:39: They that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, saying You that will destroy the temple and build it again in three days, save yourself, If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
10:37-39: paraphrased: If I am not acting like the Son of My Father, then don’t believe Me. But if my works are those of God in action, then let those works convince you where my words cannot. Even if you don’t believe in Me, accept the evidence of My works. Then you will recognize and gradually come to believe that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father. Again they were of a mind to seize Him but He escaped from their hands. He returned once more to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John was baptizing at the first. And there he stayed.
Jesus stayed here opposite Jericho from December to the time of going back to Bethany to resurrect Lazarus.
10:42: Many believed on him there.
Then he went to Ephraim until April when He was crucified (Jn. 11:54).
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of Blessed Theophylact; Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible; Lovett’s Lights on John; and Whose Right It is by: Rev. Kelly Varner; Sealed Unto His Coming by: C. R. Oliver Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those who I entered into their labors.