The Fold and the Flock

In John 10 we have both the fold of Israel in the Old Testament and the flock of Christianity in the New Testament mentioned. In the Old Testament, Israel was protected by a surrounding fold, and the Shepherd was able to enter in by the door. There were those who climbed “up some other way” (John 10:11Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)), but they were not the Shepherd. The true Shepherd was Christ, to whom the porter opened. He was the good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep (John 10:1111I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)).
However, once the good Shepherd had given His life for the sheep, He did not leave them in the fold of Judaism. He “calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice” (John 10:3-43To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (John 10:3‑4)).
The boundary of the fold was typical of Israel under the law, for they were to be separate from other nations. If others outside of Israel wanted to share Israel’s blessing, they had to approach Israel. Now the Lord Jesus calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out of that fold. No longer are they bound by the walls of that fold; rather, they are now a flock, gathered around the Shepherd. Thus the Lord Jesus could say, “There shall be one flock, one Shepherd” (John 10:1616And 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. (John 10:16) JND).
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