John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 16 And 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. 19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not"... 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
This passage of scripture presents to many minds a theological difficulty that seems to evade the understanding, for it states unequivocally that the main characteristic of the sheep is not inherent goodness, as many have erroneously concluded, but rather their disposition to listen to The Master's voice when He speaks, whether it be through the written word, or the spoken word. The Bible teaches us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and that were it not for His great mercy, none of us would be saved. But there are some who have a problem with listening to God when He speaks, and for this reason they place themselves in a position where it becomes very difficult for God to reach them.
In the passage given above, we observe that Christ was involved in a lengthy discourse with the Jews, and as is often the case when the truths of God's word are presented, there was a division among them. Some were eager to grasp the evidences and words presented to them by Christ, whilst others insisted that He could not possibly be the Messiah, even though many undeniable miracles were being done in their midst, some of which they had tasted of for themselves. The question then is, what makes the difference in the way the word of God is received into the heart? The answer has to do directly with our tendency or disposition to listen to The Master's voice.
For example, an evangelist comes to town to do a crusade, and the truths of the Bible are presented with clarity to the attendees, whilst the Holy Spirit is moving upon each heart, and prompting everyone to accept God's salvation through Christ. But when the appeal is made, some rise to the occasion, by surrendering to what they have seen and heard, whilst others maintain a stoical indifference to the voice of God in their conscience.
The big difference is not that the sheep had a head-start on the others, for to every man has been dealt a measure of faith. The one and only difference is that they listen when God speaks to them through the written and spoken word, and they also follow through on what they have heard, by obeying the Master's voice. This is the solemn truth that Christ was presenting to the multitudes, and which causes so many people to stumble. Let's read:
Matthew 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven".... 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
My grandfather was a keeper of sheep, and often, on Friday evenings, as the sun was setting in the western sky, as we gathered for worship, I could distinctly remember seeing many of his sheep grazing casually upon the hillside. Then suddenly, for no apparent reason, they would all come barreling down the hill, as if being chased by an invisible foe. But the real cause was that the leader in their ranks began to run, for whatever reason, we don't know, and based on this single fact, all the other sheep would also flee with him.
The same is true of those who listen to The Master's voice as it comes to their hearts, for they may not fully understand what is being presented, but they have that same disposition, to act promptly when the voice of God speaks, and therefore if He says run, they run for their lives. It's that simple.
As the truth spoken by Stephen came with deep conviction to the hearts of his accusers, many of them became deeply troubled in spirit, and some did afterward repent. But there were also those who reacted quite differently to the very same truth and conviction, and instead of them surrendering their lives to God who would save them, they instead plugged their ears with their fingers, and rushed upon Stephen in a wild frenzy, biting him, and literally chewing off his head . Some may ask the question, why the great difference in reaction, and the answer Christ gave now applies, that His sheep hear His voice, they listen and they follow. That's all there is to it. Let's read:
Acts 7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him".... 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
It is of critical importance that we cultivate the disposition to listen to God's voice, whether it be through the scriptures, or the still, small voice of The Holy Spirit, entreating us to give up those cherished sins, and evil desires that we love to indulge. It's not everything that we hear from the Bible that will rub us the right way, however, if we cultivate the disposition to listen objectively, and not subjectively, as the word of God comes to our hearts, then there is hope for us, because God can, and will work with every person, who listens to His Voice.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us so to do, and it is the will of God that we be willing and humble enough, to follow wherever He leads the way. Let's read:
Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. 7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation".... 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!