Easter · Fourth Sunday of Easter · Year A

John 10:1-10

The Sheep Follow the Shepherd’s Voice

April 26, 2026

El Buen Pastor (The Good Shepherd), Bartolomé Esteban Murillo — **El Buen Pastor (The Good Shepherd)**, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, c. 1660Museo del Prado, Madrid

LSB Three-Year Lectionary

GospelJohn 10:1-10Jn 10:1-10

Epistle1 Pet. 2:19-251 Pt 2:19-25

Old TestamentActs 2:42-47

PsalterPs. 23Ps 23

Overview & Insights

“The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (John 10:3)

The picture assumes a village arrangement in which several flocks spend the night in one walled courtyard under a single gatekeeper, which is why the shepherd must be admitted in the morning and why the sorting is done by voice rather than by sight. Recognition, not ownership, does the work: the sheep know a sound. The verb in v. 4 for getting them out of the fold is the same one used in the previous chapter for the man born blind being thrown out of the synagogue (9:34), a link that reads the expulsion as a shepherd’s leading. Shepherd language for a ruler was old and political long before this (Psalm 80:1; Ezekiel 34), and the thieves and strangers of this figure have an address in the narrative. Verse 10 gives the contrast its final terms, stealing and killing against a life described with an adjective meaning surplus, more than is needed rather than merely enough.

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Commentary

Commentary on John 10:1-10Commentary on Jn 10:1-10 Working Preacher (Luther Seminary)

Lutheran reading situating the gate/shepherd discourse after the healing in John 9.

John 10:1-10 CommentaryJn 10:1-10 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on this exact pericope.

Abundant Life: SALT's Commentary for Easter 4 SALT Project

Ecumenical reading of 'good' (kalos) shepherding and abundant life.

4th Sunday of Easter (Year A) Catholic Productions (Dr. Brant Pitre)

Catholic voice on Jesus as gate and shepherd across this Sunday's readings.

Whose Voice?, Easter 4 (A) Sermons That Work (The Episcopal Church)

Episcopal preaching voice on the Good Shepherd calling his own by name.

Background & Word Study

Gospel of John Summary, Part 1 (John 1-12)Gospel of Jn Summary, Part 1 (Jn 1-12) BibleProject

Overview video covering the section of John containing chapter 10.

John 10 InterlinearJn 10 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek interlinear for word study of the gate and shepherd imagery.

The Church Fathers

Catena on John 10Catena on Jn 10 catenabible.com

Patristic comments on the gate/shepherd discourse.

Sermons & Reflections

I Am the Gate Journey with Jesus

Lectionary essay keyed to the 'gate' image specific to John 10:1-10 (Year A's assigned verses).

Worship & Prayers

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year A - Preaching Notes UMC Discipleship Ministries

Per-Sunday worship and preaching planning notes on abundant life in Christ.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave #353 - Fourth Sunday of Easter Working Preacher Sermon Brainwave

Podcast episode on the Year A texts, discussing the 'gate' image of John 10:1-10.

Art & Music

Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year A - texts and art Vanderbilt Revised Common Lectionary

Vanderbilt's per-Sunday page pairing artwork with the day's texts.

Study Hub

John 10:1-10 resource indexJn 10:1-10 resource index Textweek

Curated link index for further study of the Good Shepherd Sunday gospel.

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