the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
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Contemporary English Version
John 10:8
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All those who came before me were thieves and robbers. The sheep did not listen to them.
All even as many as came before me are theves and robbers: but the shepe dyd not heare them.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them.
All who came before mebefore me">[fn] are thieves and bandits, but the sheep did not listen to them.
"All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
All the people who came before me were thieves and robbers. The sheep did not listen to them.
All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them.
Whosoever are come before me, are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them.
All who have come before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep would not listen to them.
As many as han come, weren nyyt theues and day theues, but the scheep herden not hem.
All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
"All who came before Me [as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders] are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not hear them.
All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
All who came before me are thieves and outlaws: but the sheep did not give ear to them.
All those who have come before me have been thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them.
All whoever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them.
and all those who have come were thieves and robbers, but the flock heard them not.
All those who have come, were thieves and robbers: but the flock did not hear them.
All that euer came before me, are theeues and robbers: but the sheepe did not heare them.
All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.
All others who came ahead of Me are men who steal and rob. The sheep did not obey them.
All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.
All, that euer came before me, are theeues and robbers: but the sheepe did not heare them.
All who have come are thieves and bandits, if the sheep did not hear them.
All, as many as came before me, are thieves, and, robbers: but the sheep hearkened nor unto them.
All others, as many as have come, are thieves and robbers: and the sheep heard them not.
All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them.
All, euen as many as came before me, are thieues and robbers: but the sheepe dyd not heare them.
All others who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
All who came before me
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
All those who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep do not listen to them.
All who came before Me are thieves and plunderers, but the sheep did not hear them.
all, as many as came before me, are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them;
All they that are come before me, are theues and murthures. But ye shepe harkened not vnto them.
they who have personated me, are all thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not follow them.
All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
All who ever came before Me [fn] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
Any person who tries to get to the cattle in any way except through me are liars and cattle rustlers. The cattle will spook if they come near.
"All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
came: John 10:1, Isaiah 56:10-12, Ezekiel 22:25-28, Ezekiel 34:2, Zephaniah 3:3, Zechariah 11:4-9, Zechariah 11:16, Acts 5:36
but: John 10:5, John 10:27
Reciprocal: Luke 2:8 - abiding John 10:4 - for John 12:6 - because
Cross-References
whose strong army will defeat the nation of Assyria. Yes, our leaders will rescue us, if those Assyrians dare to invade our land.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers,.... This must be understood with some restrictions, not of every individual person, nor of every individual prophet or shepherd; not of Moses, nor of the prophets of the Lord, nor of John the Baptist, who came immediately before Christ, was his harbinger, and prepared his way; but of those prophets who came, and were not sent of God, and so did not come in by the door; of the shepherds of Israel, who fed themselves, and not the flock, but lorded it over God's heritage; and of such, as Theudas, and Judas the Galilean, who boasted that they were some great persons, but were only thieves and robbers; and particularly of the three shepherds cut off in one month, Zechariah 11:8, supposed to be the three sects among the Jews, and the leaders of them, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes, especially the former; who were wolves in sheep's clothing, usurped a power that did not belong to them, robbed God of his authority, and glory; and, in a literal sense, plundered men of their substance, and devoured widows' houses, as well as destroyed their souls. The phrase, "before me", is wanting in seven of Beza's exemplars, and in several others; and in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Persic versions:
but the sheep did not hear them; the elect of God, some of which there were in all ages, though their number is comparatively few, did not attend to the false prophets, and false teachers, and idol shepherds; did not receive their doctrines, nor follow their practices; for it is not possible that these should be finally and totally deceived, or carried away with the error of the wicked.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
All that ever came before me - This does not refer to the prophets, but to those who came pretending to be the pastors or guides of the people. Some have supposed that he referred to those who pretended to be the Messiah before him; but there is not evidence that any such person appeared before the coming of Jesus. It is probable that he rather refers to the scribes and Pharisees, who claimed to be instructors of the people, who claimed the right to regulate the affairs of religion, and whose only aim was to aggrandize themselves and to oppress the people. See the notes at John 1:18. When the Saviour says that “all” were thieves, he speaks in a popular sense, using the word “all” as it is often used in the New Testament, to denote the great mass or the majority.
Thieves and robbers - See John 10:1; also Jeremiah 23:1; “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture;” Ezekiel 34:2-3; “Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flock.” This had been the general character of the Pharisees and scribes. They sought wealth, office, ease at the expense of the people, and thus deserved the character of thieves and robbers. They insinuated themselves slyly as a thief, and they oppressed and spared not, like a robber.
The sheep - The people of God - the pious and humble portion of the Jewish nation. Though the great mass of the people were corrupted, yet there were always some who were the humble and devoted people of God. Compare Romans 11:3-4. So it will be always. Though the great mass of teachers may be corrupt, yet the true friends of God will mourn in secret places, and refuse to “listen to the instruction that causeth to err.”
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse John 10:8. All that ever came before me — Or, as some translate, all that came instead of me, προ εμου, i.e. all that came as the Christ, or Messiah, such as Theudas, and Judas the Gaulonite, who are mentioned, Acts 5:36-37; and who were indeed no other than thieves, plundering the country wherever they came; and murderers, not only slaying the simple people who resisted them, but leading the multitudes of their followers to the slaughter.
But our Lord probably refers to the scribes and Pharisees, who pretended to show the way of salvation to the people-who in fact stole into the fold, and clothed themselves with the fleece, and devoured the sheep.
The words, προεμου, before me, are wanting in EGMS, Mt. BKV, seventy others; Syriac, Persic, Syriac Hieros., Gothic, Saxon, Vulgate, eleven copies of the Itala; Basil, Cyril, Chrysostom, Theophylact, Euthymius, Augustin, and some others. Griesbach has left them in the text with a note of doubtfulness. The reason thy these words are wanting in so many respectable MSS., versions, and fathers, is probably that given by Theophylact, who says that the Manicheans inferred from these words that all the Jewish prophets were impostors. But our Lord has borne sufficient testimony to their inspiration in a variety of places.
κλεπτης, and ληστης, the thief and the robber, should be properly distinguished; one takes by cunning and stealth; the other openly and by violence. It would not be difficult to find bad ministers who answer to both these characters. Tithes have been often enforced and collected in a most exceptionable manner, and in a most disgraceful spirit.
The reflection of pious Quesnel on this verse is well worth attention. A pastor ought to remember that whoever boasts of being the way of salvation, and the gate of heaven, shows himself to be a thief and an impostor; and though few are arrived at this degree of folly, yet there are many who rely too much upon their own talents, eloquence, and labours, as if the salvation of the sheep depended necessarily thereon: in which respect they are always robbers, since they rob the grace of Christ of the glory of saving the sheep. God often puts such pastors to shame, by not opening the hearts of the people to receive their word: while he blesses those who are humble, in causing them to be heard with attention, and accompanying their preaching with an unction which converts and saves souls. Let every man know that in this respect his sufficiency and success are of the Lord.
