John 10:10 is a well-known verse where Jesus describes the motives of the “thief” in contrast to His own mission. In the fuller context of John 10, Jesus is referring to the religious leaders of His day who were threatened by His ministry and worked to undermine Him. But this verse also speaks to the broader work of Satan who seeks to destroy God’s people.
Here is John 10:10 in context:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:1-11 ESV)
There are a few key things to notice in this passage:
- Jesus is contrasting Himself as the “good shepherd” with the “thieves” and “robbers” who have come before.
- These thieves and robbers represent the religious leaders who were threatened by Jesus and worked against Him.
- Jesus says three things the thief comes to do: “steal, kill, and destroy.” This shows the destructive intentions and effects of the thief’s work.
- In contrast, Jesus came to bring “life” and life “more abundantly.” His mission is to bless, save, and give life.
So when Jesus refers to the “thief” in this passage, He has in mind the religious leaders who opposed Him as well as the general work of Satan. The motives and effects of their work are:
- Steal – The thief takes what does not belong to him. This could refer to stealing truth, hope, meaning, purpose, etc. away from people.
- Kill – The thief brings death and destruction. Ultimately Satan’s work leads to spiritual death and separation from God.
- Destroy – More broadly, the thief ruins, wrecks, and devastates people’s lives through his deceitful work.
So the “thief” Jesus mentions is anyone who works in opposition to Him and whose work has these harmful effects. Satan certainly fits this description as the ultimate “thief” who steals, kills, and destroys. But human agents of Satan participate in this as well when they knowingly or unknowingly oppose the work of Christ.
In summary, when Jesus refers to the thief in John 10:10, He is describing both the immediate religious leaders who opposed Him as well as the sinister work of Satan. The thief is anyone whose work aligns with Satan’s agenda of destroying people’s lives and keeping them from the salvation and abundant life offered by Jesus.
1. Jesus contrasts Himself with the thieves and robbers
The first important thing to notice in John 10:10 is how Jesus contrasts Himself with the “thieves” and “robbers.” He makes it clear that He is the good shepherd who brings life, while those opposed to Him are like destructive thieves.
In the imagery of the passage, Jesus is the rightful shepherd who enters through the gate. But the thieves and robbers try to sneak in another way (v.1). They do not rightly shepherd and care for the sheep like Jesus does.
Jesus says, “All who came before me are thieves and robbers” (v.8). This likely refers to the false Messianic claims that preceded Jesus. Others tried to manipulate people and gain a following illegitimately before Jesus, the true Messiah, came.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day also functioned like thieves and robbers in the way they exploited people. They imposed heavy burdens on others yet did not walk rightly with God themselves (Luke 11:46).
So in John 10, Jesus sets up a sharp contrast between Himself as the good shepherd and all pretenders who came before Him. He is the legitimate shepherd, while those opposed to Him are illegitimate, dangerous thieves.
2. The thieves represent the religious leaders opposed to Jesus
As mentioned above, the immediate context in John 10 makes it clear the thieves and robbers refer to the religious leaders who opposed Jesus.
John 9 tells the story of Jesus healing a blind man on the Sabbath. The Pharisees harshly persecuted the man for his testimony about Jesus. John 10 continues this theme of the religious leaders rejecting Jesus.
The Pharisees are the primary audience and object of Jesus’ words in John 10. He accuses them of not rightly shepherding God’s people. Instead they are “thieves and robbers” who do not care for the flock. Their only motives are selfish.
The religious leaders in Jesus’ day claimed to represent God. But in reality they were threatened by Jesus and worked to undermine His ministry. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy and lack of true leadership.
So when Jesus refers to the “thief” in John 10, He has in mind these religious leaders. They opposed Jesus, God’s true Messiah. They pretended to shepherd people but only exploited them for selfish gain. They fit the description of thieves and robbers.
3. The thief’s work is to steal, kill, and destroy
At the heart of John 10:10 is Jesus’ description of the motives and effects of the thief’s work. Let’s look closely again at what He says:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Jesus highlights three things the thief comes to do – steal, kill, destroy. This reveals the sinister and harmful intentions behind the thief’s work.
Steal – First, the thief comes to steal. This likely refers to stealing things like truth, purpose, hope, meaning, freedom, etc. away from people. Satan deceives people into following lies and falsehoods that cannot ultimately fulfill.
Kill – Then the thief comes to kill. Jesus may have in mind literal physical death. Sickness and murders reflect the destructive work of Satan. But more profoundly, Satan aims to bring spiritual death and separation from God.
Destroy – Finally, the thief comes to destroy. This encompasses the full range of damage and devastation the thief brings – wrecked relationships, ruined potential, shattered lives.
So according to Jesus, the ultimate motives of the thief are destructive – to steal, kill, and destroy. This sums up the total work and impact of anyone operating in opposition to Jesus’ life-giving mission.
4. In contrast, Jesus came to bring life
After describing the thief’s sinister agenda, Jesus then states His own mission in contrast. He says, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).
Jesus came to bring life – both spiritual life now and eternal life in the future. Those who follow Him have their lives restored to God’s purposes and filled with meaning. Jesus came to redeem what was stolen and destroy death’s power.
Not only does Jesus bring life, but He offers it “abundantly.” Those who follow Jesus are blessed with joy, peace, purpose, freedom, hope. He provides so much more than just getting by. Life under His leadership overflows.
So while the thief takes away life, Jesus offers it in overflowing abundance. He completely reverses the effects of the thief’s work.
This sharp contrast shows that Jesus is the complete opposite of the thief. Where they bring destruction, He provides salvation. The thief’s agenda is totally opposed to Jesus’ mission.
5. The ultimate thief is Satan
While John 10 refers directly to the religious leaders in view, the language also brings to mind the work of Satan. Scripture presents Satan as the ultimate thief who opposes God’s purposes.
In John 8:44, Jesus says of the devil, “He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth.” Just like the thief, Satan aims to kill and destroy through deception and illusion.
1 Peter 5:8 describes the devil like a “roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” His intentions are destructive, like those of the thief.
So while Jesus’ words apply directly to the unbelieving religious leaders, the thief imagery also broadly fits Satan. His aim is utterly opposed to Jesus’ life-giving mission. The thief ultimately represents the sinister workings of the devil.
6. Human agents of Satan also act like the thief
Not only does the thief represent Satan, but also anyone aligned with his agenda against Jesus.
Just as the unbelieving religious leaders acted as thieves and robbers in their opposition to Jesus, people today can also fall into this category when rejecting Christ.
Jesus’ harshest words were often directed toward the religious hypocrites of His day. Their willful rejection of the Messiah aligned them with Satan’s purposes even though they claimed to represent God.
In the same way, those today who understand the claims of Christ yet still reject Him follow the path of the thief. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, they work against the life-giving mission of Jesus.
So while Satan is the ultimate thief, anyone whose work contradicts and undermines the salvation of Christ joins his destructive efforts. They steal life rather than give it, following the thief rather than the Good Shepherd.
7. Examples of the thief’s work today
The sinister work of the thief can be seen in many forms today. Wherever the forces of evil aim to destroy and counteract the work of Christ, the thief is still at work.
Here are some examples:
- False teachers who exploit people and lead them away from Christ.
- People trapped in deception and addiction with nowhere to turn.
- Corrupt leaders who oppress and marginalize the vulnerable.
- Individuals consumed by bitterness, unable to forgive.
- Ideologies like secularism that leave people without meaning or purpose.
- Materialism that defines life by what you own rather than who you are in Christ.
- Anything that steals joy, destroys relationships, and blinds people to the truth of Jesus.
In various ways, the impact of this thief-like work is still evident today. Wherever the forces of sin and darkness flourish, the power of the enemy destroys lives and opposes Christ.
Our calling is to align with Jesus, the Good Shepherd. We can rest in His salvation and partner with Him to advance His Kingdom work.
8. Jesus has overcome the work of the thief
While the forces of the “thief” still work to deceive and destroy, the good news is that Jesus has already defeated this enemy through His death and resurrection.
Colossians 2:15 says Jesus “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them.” On the cross, Christ paid the penalty for sin and broke the power of Satan and death once for all.
As a result, Satan’s days are numbered. His final destruction is certain. Until then, believers can resist his schemes through the power of Christ. We do not need to fear the “thief” because Jesus has conquered him.
Through His abundant life offered to all who believe, Jesus reverses all the effects of the thief’s work. Where sin and darkness abound, His grace and light are even greater. The thief fails in the end.
9. Summary and key points
Here are some key points to understand about the thief in John 10:10:
- Jesus contrasts Himself, the Good Shepherd, with the destructive thieves who came before Him.
- Initially this refers to the unbelieving religious leaders who opposed Jesus.
- The thief’s work is to steal, kill, and destroy lives.
- Jesus came to bring abundant life and reverse the thief’s destruction.
- The ultimate thief is Satan, with others aligned with his purposes.
- Examples of the thief’s work are still evident through evil in the world today.
- But Jesus has already defeated the power of sin and death through His resurrection.
Understanding this background about the “thief” in John 10:10 helps us appreciate more deeply the life and security Jesus alone can provide. As we put our trust fully in Him, He protects us from the schemes of the enemy and leads us into the fullness of life He promises.