And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold—Jesus looks beyond Israel to the Gentiles who will be brought into His flock. The Greek ἄλλα πρόβατα (alla probata, "other sheep") refers to believers from every nation, not yet incorporated into the covenant community. The phrase "not of this fold" (οὐκ... ἐκ τῆς αὐλῆς ταύτης/ouk ek tēs aulēs tautēs) distinguishes Jewish believers ("this fold") from Gentile converts, anticipating the mystery Paul would later articulate: Jews and Gentiles united in one body (Ephesians 2:11-22, 3:6).
Them also I must bring—The divine necessity "must" (δεῖ/dei) reveals this is no afterthought but God's eternal purpose. The verb "bring" (ἀγαγεῖν/agagein) is the same word used of leading sheep, emphasizing Christ's active role in gathering His elect from all nations. This demolishes Jewish presumption that salvation belonged exclusively to Abraham's physical descendants.
They shall hear my voice—The same recognition that marks Jewish believers (verse 27) extends to Gentiles. Spiritual hearing transcends ethnic boundaries. The sheep know the Shepherd's voice whether they come from Jerusalem or the ends of the earth.
There shall be one fold, and one shepherd—The Greek reads "one flock" (μία ποίμνη/mia poimnē), not "one fold." The distinction matters: not uniformity of culture or ethnicity (one fold) but unity in Christ (one flock under one Shepherd). Jew and Gentile retain cultural distinctions but share one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:4-6). This verse prophesies the church's catholicity—universal in scope, united in Christ, transcending all human divisions.
Historical Context
First-century Judaism maintained rigid separation between Jew and Gentile. Gentiles were "dogs," "uncircumcised," outside God's covenant. The temple had a Court of the Gentiles beyond which non-Jews could not pass under penalty of death. Pharisees avoided Gentile contact to maintain ritual purity. Peter himself initially resisted eating with Gentiles (Acts 10-11, Galatians 2:11-14).
Jesus's declaration that "other sheep" would join the Jewish fold was revolutionary, even scandalous. His audience would have understood the implications: the Messiah's kingdom extends beyond Israel to embrace all nations. This fulfilled Old Testament prophecies that Gentiles would stream to Zion (Isaiah 2:2-3, 49:6, 60:3) and that God's servant would be "a light to the Gentiles" (Isaiah 49:6).
The early church struggled mightily with this reality. Acts 15 records the Jerusalem Council's debate over whether Gentile converts must become Jewish (circumcision, dietary laws) to be saved. Paul's letters repeatedly defend salvation by grace through faith apart from works of the law, demolishing ethnic privilege. The vision of one flock under one Shepherd took decades to permeate the church's consciousness.
Questions for Reflection
How does Jesus's promise of "one flock" challenge modern tribalism, nationalism, and ethnic division within the church?
What does it mean that Christ "must" bring the other sheep—how does this reveal both divine sovereignty in salvation and the certainty of God's purposes?
In what ways might contemporary churches create separate "folds" (cultural, socioeconomic, racial) rather than embracing the unity of "one flock" under Christ?
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Analysis & Commentary
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold—Jesus looks beyond Israel to the Gentiles who will be brought into His flock. The Greek ἄλλα πρόβατα (alla probata, "other sheep") refers to believers from every nation, not yet incorporated into the covenant community. The phrase "not of this fold" (οὐκ... ἐκ τῆς αὐλῆς ταύτης/ouk ek tēs aulēs tautēs) distinguishes Jewish believers ("this fold") from Gentile converts, anticipating the mystery Paul would later articulate: Jews and Gentiles united in one body (Ephesians 2:11-22, 3:6).
Them also I must bring—The divine necessity "must" (δεῖ/dei) reveals this is no afterthought but God's eternal purpose. The verb "bring" (ἀγαγεῖν/agagein) is the same word used of leading sheep, emphasizing Christ's active role in gathering His elect from all nations. This demolishes Jewish presumption that salvation belonged exclusively to Abraham's physical descendants.
They shall hear my voice—The same recognition that marks Jewish believers (verse 27) extends to Gentiles. Spiritual hearing transcends ethnic boundaries. The sheep know the Shepherd's voice whether they come from Jerusalem or the ends of the earth.
There shall be one fold, and one shepherd—The Greek reads "one flock" (μία ποίμνη/mia poimnē), not "one fold." The distinction matters: not uniformity of culture or ethnicity (one fold) but unity in Christ (one flock under one Shepherd). Jew and Gentile retain cultural distinctions but share one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:4-6). This verse prophesies the church's catholicity—universal in scope, united in Christ, transcending all human divisions.