John 10:3

“To him the porter openeth, etc.] There is nothing in the explanation of this parable given by Christ, that directs to the sense of this clause; the allusion cannot be, as some have thought, to great men, who have porters at their gates, to open them, and let in persons that come and knock; since the parable is concerning the sheepfold, and the shepherd, and the sheep that go into it; and therefore must refer to one that at least, at certain times, stood by the door of the sheepfold, and had the care of it, and opened it upon proper occasions: by whom is designed not Michael the Archangel, nor the Virgin Mary, nor Peter, the supposed doorkeeper of heaven, as say the Papists, nor Moses, as…”

“To him the porter openeth--that is, right of free access is given, by order of Him to whom the sheep belong; for it is better not to give the allusion a more specific interpretation [CALVIN, MEYER, LUTHARDT]. and the sheep hear his voice--This and all that follows, though it admits of important application to every faithful shepherd of God's flock, is in its direct and highest sense true only of "the great Shepherd of the sheep," who in the first five verses seems plainly, under the simple character of a true shepherd, to be drawing His own portrait [LAMPE, STIER, &c.].”

“To him the porter openeth - The porter is the doorkeeper. It seems that the more wealthy Jews who owned flocks employed some person to take charge of the flock. At first all shepherds attended their flocks personally by day and by night, and this continued to be commonly the practice, but not always. The sheep hear his voice - The voice of the shepherd. A flock will readily discern the well-known voice of one who is accustomed to attend them. The meaning is, that the people of God will be found disposed to listen to the instructions of those who are appointed by Christ, who preach his pure doctrines, and who show a real love for the church of God. There is scarcely any better test of…”

“To him the door keeper openeth - Christ is considered as the shepherd, Joh 10:11. As the door in the first and following verses. And as it is not unworthy of Christ to be styled the door, by which both the sheep and the true pastor enter, so neither is it unworthy of God the Father to be styled the door keeper. See Act 14:27; Col 4:3; Rev 3:8; Act 16:14. And the sheep hear his voice - The circumstances that follow, exactly agree with the customs of the ancient eastern shepherds. They called their sheep by name, went before them and the sheep followed them. So real Christians hear, listen to, understand, and obey the voice of the shepherd whom Christ hath sent. And he counteth them his own,…”

“10:3 the sheep recognize his voice: The Middle Eastern shepherd is well known for having intimate knowledge of the sheep. Sheep are led with flute tunes, songs, or verbal commands.”

“the porter: Isa 53:10-12; Co1 16:9; Col 4:3; Pe1 1:12; Rev 3:7, Rev 3:8, Rev 3:20 the sheep: Joh 10:4, Joh 10:16, Joh 10:26, Joh 10:27, Joh 6:37, Joh 6:45; Sol 8:13 and he: Joh 10:14, Joh 10:27; Exo 33:17; Rom 8:30; Phi 4:3; Ti2 2:19; Rev 20:15 and leadeth: Psa 23:2, Psa 23:3, Psa 78:52, Psa 78:53, Psa 80:1; Isa 40:11, Isa 42:16, Isa 49:9, Isa 49:10; Jer 31:8, Jer 31:9; Jer 50:4-6; Eze 34:11-16; Rev 7:17 John 10:4”