John 10:11 Commentary - Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

1) "I am the good shepherd,'' (ego eimi ho poimen ho kalos) "I am (exist as) the good shepherd," or the ideal shepherd, as described, Isa 40:11; Eze 34:11-13; Eze 34:22-25; Heb 13:20, 1Pe 2:25; 1Pe 5:4.

2) "The good shepherd giveth,'' (ho poimen ho kalos tithesin) "The ideal shepherd lays down or sets out,'' voluntarily, or of his own will, choice, and accord, a thing that may be observed, witnessed, or evaluated by any who will behold Him; It was a conscious divestiture of Himself, of His own life, that the sheep might live, in contrast with the vicious destruction of wolves and cowardly fleeing of hirelings, Joh 10:10; Joh 10:12-13; Joh 15:13.

3) "His life for the sheep." (ten psuchen autou huper ton probaton) "His soul-life on behalf of the sheep," as the good shepherd, Joh 10:14; Joh 10:18; 1Jn 3:16. The Shepherd died that the sheep might live, might be ransomed, Mat 20:28, Such was a substitutionary death for wandering, straying sheep, Isa 53:3-8; Gal 3:13; 1Pe 2:24; 2Co 5:21.