But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
It is not certain whether this discourse was at the feast of dedication in the winter (spoken of Joh 10:22), which may be taken as the date, not only of what follows, but of what goes before (that which countenances this is, that Christ, in his discourse there, carries on the metaphor of the sheep, Joh 10:26, Joh 10:27, whence it seems that that discourse...
Commenting on John 10:1-18
But he that entereth in by the door,.... With a divine commission, and by a divine authority, who comes not of himself, but is sent; does not take the honour to himself, or thrust in himself, and assume an office to himself, but is called unto it, and invested in it, he is the shepherd of the sheep; by whom Christ means himself, as is...
Verse 2. He that entereth by the door. This was the way in which a shepherd had access to his flock. In Jesus says he is the door. In this place he refers to those who by him--that is, in accordance with his spirit and law--become ministers of religion. Is the shepherd of the sheep.