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"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
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But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
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To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
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And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
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Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."
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Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
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Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
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All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
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I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
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The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
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I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
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But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
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The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
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I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
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As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
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And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
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Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
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No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."