In John 10:7 Jesus says I am the door of the sheep what does this mean?

Answer 1

He is the door by which we all must enter, we are the sheep and Jesus is the doorway to heaven.

Answer 2

This goes back to the days of Jesus. In Jesus' day, a shepherd would herd the sheep into a walled area with only one entranceevery night,an entrance where no gate was hung. The wall was topped with thorns and other sharp objects to prevent people from climbing the wall and stealing or harming the sheep. After the sheep were in this wall for the night, the shepherd would lie down in the entrance, becoming the door. No person could access the sheep without the shepherd's permission. Jesus, who is the Good Shepherd, says "I am the door of the sheep" or I am the only way to My sheep.

Answer 3

It refers to the fact that Jesus is the Shepherd and protects the sheep. In Jesus' time the Shepherd would literally sleep at the entrance of the pen and keep the sheep from harm. It also means that Jesus is our gate or access to God. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life and only through Him can we get to the Father. If you would have read verses 7-14 of chapter 10 it would have explained it best. Reading one verse is good but reading a few verses on either side of that verse explains a lot.

Answer 4

The door of the sheep means Jesus is the way to get to Heaven and a life with God. Because Jesus died on the cross for our sins it means if you ask for forgiveness you will go to Heaven.

Its a metaphor meaning Jesus is like the shepard and the sheep are us, the humans. And the door is the gateway to Heaven.

Answer 5

Jesus was giving a parable about shepherds and sheep. When a flock of sheep hears their Shepard's voice, they come to him without fear and enter, willingly--even excitedly, through the gate after him. This is like people who hear, learn and believe the Word of God and are eager to follow Him.
Those who do not recognize His voice ignore it or run away and scatter. Their minds have been blinded to the truth so they are unable to hear it.

It is the will of God that no one should perish. God is allowing plenty of time for His word to be heard and accepted by all. But Jesus promises that, "No one comes to the Father but by me" (He is the gate) And He says, " If you love me you love my Father also and if you despise me you despise my Father in Heaven also"

Hope this helps. There's a great book you can order from Amazon .com called, "The Message Remix". (There are many editions--the one I bought has a yellow/gold-ish cover) It is the Bible translated into everyday language. While this is not a substitute for the Bible it is a valuable study tool as it outlines and explains parables like these making them easier to grasp.

Answer 6

You wonder if the translation was a bit off. I'm assuming "Door" should have been something more like "Gate" since he was talking about sheep and pastures. It does raise an interesting question for theologians, however. If Christ was a door, did he have a doorknob? Could he come unhinged?

Answer 7

You must put it into context. Yes, it is 21 verses, but it takes effort to understand truth. this is from NASB:


1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
2"But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep.

3"To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4"When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

5"A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."

6This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them.

7So Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

8"All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

9"I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

10"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

11"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

12"He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

13"He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.

14"I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,

15even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

16"I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

17"For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.

18"No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again This commandment I received from My Father."

19A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words.

20Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?"

21Others were saying, "These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?"


In the Bible, sheep are analogous to God's followers (Christians). because only Christians go to heaven, unbelievers must first pass through the "door" into the "pasture of sheep." Now see John 14:6 (NIV):

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me..."

Jesus is the "door" that everyone must pass through to become a "sheep."

I hope I have answered your question well.

Answer 8

If you read the passage in context, and possibly in a different translation than the KJV, the meaning comes clear...

No, I'm gonna let you read it for yourself...

5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

7Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Answer 9

It's popular today to say that there are many ways to god. Jesus is saying here that you can get to God (i.e.,, in the sheepfold; in the family of God) through Him, the door. A sheepfold had only one door or gate, for security.

In many places the Bible compares us to sheep and Jesus to the Good Shepherd who loves His sheep so much He dies for them. Sheep are really stupid creatures. They won't even drink from a flowing stream--the movement of the water frightens them. The shepherd must find still waters for them. Jesus provides for our needs.

May I comment more on Jesus being the only way:
This is what sets Christianity (true Chr., that is) apart from religion. In religion, you must work to please your god. Even in Islam, where Allah gives you a clean slate when you convert, you must then perform good works to outweigh your bad deeds in order to get to Paradise. That's one reason so many people are willing to kill themselves--if you die fighting in a jihad, you automatically go to Paradise. But enough about Islam.

Only in Christianity do you have God Himself paying the price for our sins. Only in Christianity can you be assured of Heaven by simply believing in your god. That's why Jesus must be the only way--He's the One who paid the price!

Answer 10

read John 10:6-10 and Jesus explains it.