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John Wesley's notes
on the Gospel: John 10:11-16
12 But the hireling - It is not the bare receiving hire, which
denominates a man a hireling: (for the labourer is worthy of his hire;
Jesus Christ himself being the Judge: yea, and the Lord hath ordained,
that they who preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel:) but the loving
hire: the loving the hire more than the work: the working for the sake
of the hire. He is a hireling, who would not work, were it not for the
hire; to whom this is the great (if not only) motive of working. O God!
If a man who works only for hire is such a wretch, a mere thief and a robber,
what is he who continually takes the hire, and yet does not work at all?
The wolf - signifies any enemy who, by force or fraud, attacks the Christian's
faith, liberty, or life. So the wolf seizeth and scattereth the flock -
He seizeth some, and scattereth the rest; the two ways of hurting the flock
of Christ.
13 The hireling fleeth because he is a hireling - Because he loves the
hire, not the sheep.
14 I know my sheep - With a tender regard and special care: and am known
of mine - With a holy confidence and affection.
15 As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father - With such a knowledge
as implies an inexpressible union: and I lay down my life - Speaking of
the present time. For his whole life was only a going unto death.
16 I have also other sheep - Which he foreknew; which are not of this
fold - Not of the Jewish Church or nation, but Gentiles. I must bring them
likewise - Into my Church, the general assembly of those whose names are
written in heaven. And there shall be one flock - (Not one fold, a plain
false print) no corrupt or divided flocks remaining. And one shepherd -
Who laid down his life for the sheep, and will leave no hireling among
them. The unity both of the flock and the shepherd shall he completed in
its season. The shepherd shall bring all into one flock: and the whole
flock shall hear the one shepherd.
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