John 10:8 All That Ever Came Before Me Are Thieves and Robbers: but the Sheep Did Not Hear Them.?
Jesus is saying He alone is the Door and the true Shepherd, and every one who tries to lead God’s people without coming through Him and His Word is a thief and a robber. The true sheep don’t follow such voices.
Now notice the context. The Bible says, “He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber” (John 10:1). Then He declares, “I am the door” (John 10:7,9) and “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). So when He says, “All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers,” He is not condemning the prophets God sent, because those prophets pointed to Him. He Himself said, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39), and, “Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me” (John 5:46). John the Baptist was also sent from God (John 1:6–8). So who are the thieves and robbers? Those who “climb up some other way”—self-appointed leaders, false messiahs, and religious systems that bypass Christ the Door and the revealed Word. That’s exactly what the Lord rebuked in passages like Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34—shepherds who feed themselves and scatter the flock.
“You see,” the proof that the sheep are God’s own is this: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). The elect have an ear for the Word; they won’t be carried by strange voices. Christ leads by His Word and Spirit. Anyone who draws attention to himself, adds another door, or offers life apart from the new birth through Christ is robbing the flock.
Simple logic makes it plain. The same Lord who affirmed Moses and the Scriptures would not call His own sent servants thieves. The “all” of John 10:8 is qualified by the context—“all” who came another way, not through the Door.
Clear conclusion: John 10:8 exalts the exclusiveness of Christ as the only Door and exposes every leader or system that bypasses Him as theft and robbery. The true sheep do not hear them; they follow the Shepherd’s voice in the Word.
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Shepherd of the sheepfold
56-0403 §35
Now, there's something that God always likened people unto sheep, did you ever notice? "You're the sheep of the pasture, the sheep of one fold. Other sheep have I," and so forth. Likening people unto sheep. You know why He likened us to sheep? Did you ever fool with sheep any? They're certainly educational, and a divine education to learn of sheep. I've raised them and shepherded them around, and the little fellows... But when a sheep is lost, he's absolutely helpless. I picked up sheep, not standing maybe three hu...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 8:E-98
The Final Admonition To The Age Revelation 3:13, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches." Every age ends with this same warning. It is the constant plea that the churches listen to the voice of the Lord. In this age the plea is even more insistent than in former ages, for in this age the coming of the Lord truly draweth nigh. The question would perhaps arise, "If there is another age beyond this one, why the urgency?" The answer lies herein. The last age will be a short one--a quic...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 4:E-140
In every age we have exactly the same pattern. That is why the light comes through some God-given messenger in a certain area, and then from that messenger there spreads the light through the ministry of others who have been faithfully taught. But of course all those who go out don't always learn how necessary it is to speak ONLY what the messenger has spoken. (Remember, Paul warned the people to say only what he said, I Corinthians 14:37, "If any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge...
Faith
56-0427 §100
[Gap in the audio.] ... she didn't mean to do it. She thought I was talking to her, but you got a [Gap in the audio.] ... this man. Bow your heads, everybody, see. I don't know how bad it is. Just keep your heads bowed and don't nobody look up till you hear my voice, please. It's hearing. Now, everyone just be real reverent. He's also has kidney trouble and arthritis. Dear, heavenly Father, we don't need to see miracles, but that the world might know that You still perform miracles, we ask sovereignly, Lord, and fe...
The Good Shepherd of the sheep
57-0308 §21
Why must the shepherd be on duty at all times? He must be sure that none of his sheep is lost. Aren't you glad of that? If the shepherd loses one sheep, it's a reproach on the shepherd. "He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall never come to the judgment; but has passed from death to life." Shepherd won't lose his sheep. Now, if you're a sheep, all right. "All the Father has given Me will come to Me. And all that will come to Me, I will in nowise cast out. But I w...