Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible



Is not he the carpenter's [i.e., Joseph's] son? [And] is not his mother named Mary, and his brothers [named] James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Verse ConceptsCraftsmenCarpentersOccupationsWork, As Ordained By GodHumility Of ChristChrist, Names ForChrist's Earthly FamilyWho He Might BeMothers And Sonsnegativity


And those who passed by the cross shouted abuse at Him and shook their heads [in derision], saying, "Ha, you who said you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself [from dying] and come down from the cross."


Many of them said, "This man is dominated by an evil spirit; he is crazy, why listen to him?" Verse ConceptsHealthPrejudiceLunaticsAccused Of Being DemonisedReckoned InsaneThe DevilDemonic Influence

Many of them said, "This man is dominated by an evil spirit; he is crazy, why listen to him?" Verse ConceptsHealthPrejudiceLunaticsAccused Of Being DemonisedReckoned InsaneThe DevilDemonic Influence

[Someone from] the crowd answered, "You have an evil spirit [in you]; who is trying to kill you?" Verse ConceptsCrowdsHumiliationWho Is The Doer?Accused Of Being DemonisedChrist Would Be Killed

Many of them said, "This man is dominated by an evil spirit; he is crazy, why listen to him?" Verse ConceptsHealthPrejudiceLunaticsAccused Of Being DemonisedReckoned InsaneThe DevilDemonic Influence

[Someone from] the crowd answered, "You have an evil spirit [in you]; who is trying to kill you?" Verse ConceptsCrowdsHumiliationWho Is The Doer?Accused Of Being DemonisedChrist Would Be Killed

And the experts in the law of Moses who had come down from Jerusalem were saying [Note: This followed the incident of Jesus healing a man with an evil spirit. See Matt. 12:22-28], "He has Beelzebub [in him]," and "He is driving out evil spirits by [the power of] the chief of evil spirits." And He called them to Him and began speaking to them in parables [i.e., brief stories to illustrate His teaching], saying, "How can Satan drive out Satan? And if a kingdom is plagued by internal division, it will never survive. read more.
And if a household is divided [by strife] within, that household will never last. And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided [i.e., in aim and purpose] he cannot survive, and his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man's house and steal his belongings unless he first ties up the strong man. Only then will he be able to steal from his house. Truly I tell you, all of mankind's sins and the abusive language that they use in speaking against God [and men] can be forgiven. But the person who speaks against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven, for he is guilty of a never ending sin." Jesus said all this because these experts in the law of Moses had been saying, "He has an evil spirit in him."

The Jews answered and said to Jesus, "Were we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan [See note on 4:9], and are dominated by an evil spirit?" Verse ConceptsAccused Of Being DemonisedDemonic Influence

Many of them said, "This man is dominated by an evil spirit; he is crazy, why listen to him?" Verse ConceptsHealthPrejudiceLunaticsAccused Of Being DemonisedReckoned InsaneThe DevilDemonic Influence

When His relatives [or friends] heard about this [i.e., all that He was doing], they went out to take custody of Him [for safety reasons?], for people were saying, "He has lost his mind." Verse ConceptsembarrassmentHumiliationPersecution, Nature OfChrist's Earthly FamilyArresting ChristReckoned InsaneSiblingsFamily StrengthFamily And FriendsMissing SomeoneLosing A Friend

And Jesus said, "I came to this world to judge [it], so that people who can not see [spiritually] will [be able to] see; and those who [think they can] see [spiritually] will become blind." Some Pharisees, who were with Jesus, heard [Him say] these things, and replied, "Are we blind, too?" Jesus said to them, "If you were [really] blind [i.e., unable to see spiritually], you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim, 'We can see [fine],' you remain guilty of sin."

"Truly, truly, I tell you, the person who does not enter the sheep corral through the gate, but climbs over another way [i.e., over the fence], is a thief and a robber. [Note: "Thief" suggests quiet subtlety, while "robber" suggests open aggression]. But the One [i.e., Jesus is referring to Himself] who enters [it] through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep [Note: "Sheep" in this section refers to Jesus' followers]. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out [of the corral]. read more.
After he has let his own [sheep] out, he walks on ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but will run from him, for they do not recognize the voice of strangers." Jesus told them this parable [i.e., a brief story to illustrate his teaching] but they did not understand what it meant. So, Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep [i.e., to enter the corral]. All those who came before me were thieves and robbers and the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; if anyone enters [the corral] through me, he will be saved [i.e., from condemnation], and will find pasture [i.e., will receive spiritual nurturing]. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that people could have life to its fullest. "I am the good shepherd; and a good shepherd [is willing] to die for the sheep. The person who is [only] a hired hand, and not the shepherd, [and] who does not own the sheep [himself], sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away. So, the wolf attacks the flock and scatters [the sheep]. [The reason] he runs away is because he is a hired hand and does not [really] care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd and I know my sheep [intimately], and they know me [that way], just like the Father knows me [intimately] and I know the Father [that way]. And I [am about to] give up my life for the sheep. I have other sheep [also] which are not [presently] in this corral; I must lead them, too. They will hear my voice and become one flock [i.e., with the others], having one shepherd. [Note: This probably refers to believing Gentiles becoming God's people, along with the Jews]. The Father loves me because I [am about to] give up my life, so that I can take it back again. No one is taking it away from me, but I am giving it up voluntarily. I have the right to give it up and I have the right to take it back again. I received the commandment to do this from my Father." The Jews who heard these words became divided again [i.e., over their meaning]. Many of them said, "This man is dominated by an evil spirit; he is crazy, why listen to him?" Others said, "These are not the words of someone dominated by an evil spirit. Can an evil spirit restore sight to a blind person?"

Jesus asked him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you [really] love me?" Peter answered Him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus replied to him, "[Then] take care of my sheep." Then Jesus asked him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you [truly] love me?" Peter was sad because Jesus had asked him a third time, "Do you [even] love me?" So, he said to Jesus, "Lord, you know all things. You [surely] know that I love you." Jesus replied to him, "[Then] feed my sheep.

So, Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep [i.e., to enter the corral]. All those who came before me were thieves and robbers and the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; if anyone enters [the corral] through me, he will be saved [i.e., from condemnation], and will find pasture [i.e., will receive spiritual nurturing]. read more.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that people could have life to its fullest. "I am the good shepherd; and a good shepherd [is willing] to die for the sheep. The person who is [only] a hired hand, and not the shepherd, [and] who does not own the sheep [himself], sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away. So, the wolf attacks the flock and scatters [the sheep]. [The reason] he runs away is because he is a hired hand and does not [really] care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd and I know my sheep [intimately], and they know me [that way], just like the Father knows me [intimately] and I know the Father [that way]. And I [am about to] give up my life for the sheep. I have other sheep [also] which are not [presently] in this corral; I must lead them, too. They will hear my voice and become one flock [i.e., with the others], having one shepherd. [Note: This probably refers to believing Gentiles becoming God's people, along with the Jews]. The Father loves me because I [am about to] give up my life, so that I can take it back again. No one is taking it away from me, but I am giving it up voluntarily. I have the right to give it up and I have the right to take it back again. I received the commandment to do this from my Father." The Jews who heard these words became divided again [i.e., over their meaning]. Many of them said, "This man is dominated by an evil spirit; he is crazy, why listen to him?" Others said, "These are not the words of someone dominated by an evil spirit. Can an evil spirit restore sight to a blind person?" During the winter, when the Festival of Dedication was being held in Jerusalem [Note: This was the Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple in BC after its pagan desecration by Greeks. It is still observed today by Jews as "Hanukkah."], Jesus was walking in the Temple [area] in "Solomon's Portico" [Note: This was a large covered area, with rows of columns, on the outside of the Temple enclosure]. Some Jewish [authorities] gathered around Him and asked, "How long will you hold us in suspense? If you [really] are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I did tell you, but you would not believe me. The [miraculous] deeds that I am doing in my Father's name [i.e., by the Father's authority] testify about me. But you do not believe me, because you are not [part] of my sheep.

Many of them said, "This man is dominated by an evil spirit; he is crazy, why listen to him?" Verse ConceptsHealthPrejudiceLunaticsAccused Of Being DemonisedReckoned InsaneThe DevilDemonic Influence

The Jews answered and said to Jesus, "Were we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan [See note on 4:9], and are dominated by an evil spirit?" Verse ConceptsAccused Of Being DemonisedDemonic Influence

The Jews [i.e., the authorities] replied, "Now we know that you are dominated by an evil spirit. Abraham and the prophets [all] died and [yet] you are saying, 'If a person obeys my message, he will never experience death.' Verse ConceptsTasteLife By God's WordNot DyingAccused Of Being DemonisedDeath Of Unnamed IndividualsKeeping Christ's Commands

Is not he the carpenter's [i.e., Joseph's] son? [And] is not his mother named Mary, and his brothers [named] James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Verse ConceptsCraftsmenCarpentersOccupationsWork, As Ordained By GodHumility Of ChristChrist, Names ForChrist's Earthly FamilyWho He Might BeMothers And Sonsnegativity


And those who passed by the cross shouted abuse at Him and shook their heads [in derision], saying, "Ha, you who said you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself [from dying] and come down from the cross."


Many of them said, "This man is dominated by an evil spirit; he is crazy, why listen to him?" Verse ConceptsHealthPrejudiceLunaticsAccused Of Being DemonisedReckoned InsaneThe DevilDemonic Influence