This passage discusses a traditional shepherd's gentle approach to guiding sheep, emphasizing their trust in the shepherd's voice. Unlike methods involving fear, the shepherd calls each sheep by name, leading them willingly. The analogy highlights the importance of trust and guidance, affirming that every individual is recognized and led with care.
These verses are actually very simple.
They describe a traditional shepherd, not a modern-day sheep driver, calling his sheep out of the fold. I know it’s part of a metaphor. But the metaphor does not work without the voice of the shepherd.
If the passage had been written about a shepherd who never spoke to the sheep, the doorkeeper would still have opened the door for him. Then what?
The shepherd could use modern methods, such as dogs or loud noises, to drive sheep out of the fold en masse. But Jesus did not say that the shepherd used fear to drive the sheep en masse.
Instead, he teaches them to trust him and follow his voice willingly. Then he can get them to come out of the fold and follow him by simply calling them by their names.
These verses affirm that every sheep has a name, and the shepherd knows it and calls it. When each sheep hears the shepherd calling its name, it follows the shepherd. And after calling the sheep one by one out of the fold, he goes before them and leads them with his voice.
Our shepherd does not lead us from behind using fear. He goes before us and guides us with his voice, which we know we can trust.
And we hear his voice.
Next: Why shouldn’t I be afraid I’ll hear the wrong voice?
