Among the many verses that some “preachers” of prosperity take out of context for their convenience is, John 10:10, whose meaning varies according to circumstances. If there are people who suffer from some kind of disease, they tell them: “Give up your disease, for Jesus said that he has come so that we may have life to the full.”
If it is a robatonic or marathon and there are people who have deprivations or economic difficulties, they tell them: “Stand up in faithmake a pact with God, he does not want you poor, for he has come so that you may have life in abundance.”
In some way or another, the meaning of this important passage changes permanently, but what does not change is the connotation of personal well-being or materialistic nature that has been imprinted on this passage. But, was that really what Jesus wanted us to understand from those words? We are going to analyze the biblical text in such a way that we can draw important conclusions for our benefit and reflection.
Analyzing the biblical text: John 10:10
We cannot rush to deduce meanings without having checked the context of the passage. Chapter 9 records the healing of a man blind from birth, who after being healed by Jesus and being questioned by the Pharisees, ended up expelling him from the synagogue.
This fact was the product of the hatred of the Pharisees towards Jesus and his saving work, it was evident that their foolish and rebellious hearts refused with great force to believe in the message of Jesus and even more, to be taught by him, this provoked the anger of them against the man who was healed by Jesus (John 9:27, 28).
Later, when Christ questions the man who was healed and he recognizes him as the true Messiah (John 9:35-38), Jesus pronounces the following words: “I have come into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see, and those who see may be blinded.” (John 9:39). These words mark an important point in our interpretation of the passage.
The Pharisees being part of the Sanhedrin, due to their knowledge of the laws and instruction of the Torah, considered themselves the spiritual guides of the Jewish people, the only ones with the ability to lead the people by the light of God’s truth. This claim made it impossible for them to recognize the Lord as the Messiah, they could not see him as the Lord (John 9:40).
All these events prepare the background for chapter 10. Through his typical allegorical language, Jesus uses the figure of the sheep and the fold to represent the people, in which he was the true shepherd of the sheep, calling them thieves and robbers. (John 10:1) to those who are not truly shepherds of the sheep.
Here Jesus defines his task as the true shepherd, since not all follow him, but those sheep who know him and hear his voice, and he himself knows them by calling them by name. (John 10:3, 4). This is of vital importance because the real sheep do not follow strangers, because they do not know the voice of strangers. (John 10:5).
I invite you to read this post: Jesus Is The Way, The Truth, And The Life: What It Means In The Bible
From verse 7 Christ continues using his allegorical language, but giving another meaning to his own words, now Jesus is the door of the sheep (John 10:7) and ratifies the authenticity of his pastoral and saving mission, indicating that all those who lived before him and claim to be spiritual leaders are thieves and robbers (John 10:8)
Our Lord presents himself as the only and sufficient guarantee of salvation, being the door of the sheep, he saves everyone who enters through it, but he also promises sustenance for his sheep, because whoever enters will go out and find pasture. (John 10:9). So far the context is very clear, for Jesus anyone who claims to be the spiritual guide of a people, being spiritually blind, is a thief and robber.
It should be understood that Christ uses the figure of the thief as a hypothetical case of what would happen when someone of that ilk enters the sheep fold, and contrasts it with his perfect work in the midst of his sheep, this is to give them life, but what type of life?. Will it be a life full of comforts, luxuries and material abundance? Would Jesus promise such a thing having said elsewhere that anyone wishing to follow him must deny himself and take up his cross and follow him?
The life of which Jesus speaks is undeniably eternal life, since Jesu s’ dissertation talks about salvation and he presents himself as the good Shepherd, who is willing to give his life for his sheep. So that they have abundant life; The repetition of the present active subjunctive indicates the continuation of something, that is, so that they continue to have life.
(John 10:10)
“The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
This passage from John 10:10 contains important aspects that we must consider in our spiritual life:
1. Why is the thief coming?
Jesus discovers the purpose of the thief and what his goal is, also gives him an order or sequence of what he comes to do.
1. Steal from the Greek KLEPTO (kleptomania) which means to steal.
2. Kill from the Greek THUO which denotes primarily offering firstfruits to a god; then: sacrifice killing a victim, offer sacrifices.
3. Destroy from the Greek APOLUMI which means to totally destroy; in the middle voice, perish. The idea that it communicates is not that of extinction, but of ruin; not of being, but of the well-being of the person.
2. Because of pride comes the thief
(Obadiah 1:3-5) “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, in your most high dwelling, who say in your heart: Who will bring me down to the ground? like an eagle, and though you make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord. Wouldn’t they leave rummages?
The pride that is established in the heart of man is, because he himself opens the door, and will attract thieves. Thieves cause ruins in the natural (earthly) either in your finances, in your family, and in our spiritual life, with discouragement, bitterness, and endless companions that lead you to deviate from God’s purpose.
3. The thief wants to deceive you with lying words
(Jeremiah 7:8-9) “Behold, you trust in deceitful words that do not profit, to steal, kill, commit adultery, swear falsely, offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you had not known”.
Jeremiah declares that you “trust”, in order to trust someone, what one does is meet that person and analyze their words, then we decide if we make their words our own and if so, they become part of our patterns and foundations. This people had been deceived by thieves or false teachers who led the people to trust and rely on deceitful words, these words are lies that do not bring life but death.
You may be interested in: How Jeremiah 29:11 Influences Our Natural And Spiritual Life
If you listen and trust deceitful words that do not build, what you will do is give the thief the opportunity to steal, kill and destroy. Therefore, it is necessary that as children of God we be careful with what we are listening to. In addition, not lending our ears to gossip, criticism and complaints from people, this not only opens the door for the thief who is there, waiting, to enter, but enters to steal your spiritual inheritance, kill your faith, and destroy your discernment and connection with the Holy Spirit.
4. The thief wants to break the walls where your treasures and reserves are
(Matthew 6:19-21)” Do not gather treasures and reserves here on earth, where moths and rust wreak havoc, and where thieves break down the wall and steal. Gather treasures and reserves in Heaven, where there are no moths nor rust to wreak havoc, and where there are no thieves to break down the wall and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Jesus says “don’t lay up treasures and stores on earth,” but “treasure” has more of a sense of wealth than it is kept.
Treasures means; deposit, wealth; treasure. Reservations means; knead or reserve, accumulate.
It is on earth that thieves can “break down the wall and steal” since in heaven they do not exist. What the thief does before stealing is to drill little or little through the walls of our houses to enter and steal what is most precious to us.
At that time many houses were made of mud and sticks, so thieves could easily break through the walls and steal. Jesus Christ established in this word that there are two enemies on earth who want to cause damage to our treasures and reserves. Moth and rust cause havoc which means to consume, the thief comes to ruin.
This spirit is the one that is manifested in (Malachi 3:11) Christ affirms that where our treasure is, there will also be our heart, the importance of taking care of our heart so that our gaze or our desire are not on earthly things but on heavenly things .
That is why, the treasure that we must diligently make are the treasures of the kingdom of heaven, these are not stolen, nor destroyed by any thief, and not even moths destroy them, so brother or sister, remember that material things are like if they were not, because although we see it it is not real, because it is not eternal. The greatest treasure is in heaven that we must snatch for our lives and enjoy those riches here and now.
5. The thief wants to steal your clothes
The clothes are physical clothes but there are also spiritual clothes, so we must worry about growing up and being dressed.
We must understand that it is not your brother’s clothes that you should wear, but your own clothes since each one has a different grace and we cannot compare ourselves since the comparison brings with it envy and death, this was what happened with Cain and Abel, where Cain let the comparison into his heart and was envious of his brother Abel for the offering, then he schemed in his heart and murdered his own brother.
Thus, the evil one uses the same strategy to enter the hearts of the children of God, sows the seed of comparison and this gives the fruit of envy that will lead those who allow it to murder their own brothers through their judgments. and comments that destroy. You cannot have the garments of your brother or minister since the garments demonstrate the spiritual stature that we have and also the struggles, that is, the level of maturity where we all must grow and when we grow up, our garments may be changed or these be elongated.
The mantle denotes the level of authority and anointing you have, when Elijah is taken away by a chariot of fire Elisha takes the mantle that Elijah left him and he prophetically activated the anointing through faith hitting the waters of the Jordan (2 Kings 2: 10-14)
So that the thief does not steal your spiritual garments you must “watch and keep your clothes”, note that it says to ensure, in the greek this word…