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.
Proving His Word
65-0426 §83
All sins confessed? No, you don't hear. [Brother Branham speaks slowly and distinctly, because of the sister's deafness.] You believe that you will hear? [The sister says, "I believe, but I've been deaf."] You believe. The woman is deaf. Now, we will pray. Dear God, I pray that You will heal our sister, and take this deafness from her. She is sitting in a closed-off world, where she cannot hear. I pray that You'll grant her healing, through Jesus' name. I'm going to ask the people to keep your head bowed a minute....
I will restore
53-1110 §69
Somebody that couldn't hear and can hear now, accept your healing with this woman if you accept your healing now. You couldn't hear, but now you can hear in your ears, raise up your hand so I will know who you are. Can you hear, brother? Couldn't hear before, can hear now. Come right here. That's right. Come right... Come here. Right up here. Stand here. That's wonderful. Come right on up, testify. Somebody else that can hear, couldn't hear. These people are getting healed right out in the audience, their own praye...
Church Ages, part 8: The Philadelphian Church Age
60-1210 §45
"Oh!" I said, "Lord, make me a sheep, whatever You do," see. For, when the nighttime comes, I want to go into the sheepfold, enter in at the door, come by the door. John 17:7 here ... or, He said ... or 10:7, rather. I am the door to the sheepfold. All that ever come before me is thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. Now, "I set before this church---between the Philadelphian age and the Laodicean...
Wisdom versus Faith
62-0401 §34
We want to turn now first to read the Scripture reading found in St. John 10, the first five verses: 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. But he that entereth ... by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him...
Prayer Line
54-0619 §38
Bow your head again. It just didn't leave her. Sometimes they're... The crowd is upset a little and... Now, everyone be just quiet and to yourself and see if I can make it leave her. Everyone keep bowed, if you will, please. Just be in prayer now. Now, heavenly Father, You know my heart. And You said, "The effectional fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." And a man righteous, is not sinless: it's one who confesses his sins; he's righteous through the One he confesses through. And I, Your servant, confes...