'My Sheep Know My Voice' Meaning In The Bible

As believers, a key element of our faith is strengthening the understanding and trust in our relationship with Jesus Christ. To guide us on that journey, we can look to the bible for encouragement and insight into how God interacts with us.

One such verse is John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”. This passage contains a powerful message—one which speaks to the confidence we can have in our bond with God.

In this article, we will explore what this verse means on an individual level and how it should influence each Christian’s life journey. Let’s discuss together how these words from scripture can help provide peace amid the chaos of life today!

Context of John 10:27-30

John 10:27-30 is part of a discourse given by Jesus Christ. In this passage, Jesus is speaking to the Jews and affirming His divine nature as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep and lays down His life for them. He states that the Father loves Him because of the ultimate sacrifice He has come to offer so we might receive salvation and be saved and delivered from sin and the enemy.

This passage emphasizes the close relationship between Jesus and His Father and highlights Jesus’ devotion to His followers and the depth of His love for them. John 10:27-30 meaning further points to Jesus’ purpose and His duty to His sheep.

In Verse 28, He said He has come to give His sheep eternal life and keep them safe so no one can snatch them from His hands. We see Jesus emphasizing the promise in John 3:16, which says, “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” To believe Jesus, we must first know Him as the Son of God sent to save the world. We must grow in His knowledge and know Him personally, recognizing His voice, listening and obeying Him when He calls.

However, in all this, we must understand that the enemy is not happy about Jesus’ mission to give eternal life to His sheep. Therefore, He would try so hard to get hold of His sheep to devour them.

But, Jesus has conquered the enemy and given us victory. He is the impenetrable tower we run to when we are in danger, and He never fails to deliver us from the enemy (Proverbs 18:10)

Jesus’ daring statement in front of the religious critics in the temple speaks of His unity with God, the Father, by saying, “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30). This partially explains the Holy Trinity and emphasizes Jesus’ divinity. Verses 29 and 30 affirm the sonship and deity of Jesus Christ.

‘My sheep know my voice’ Meaning in the Bible

The statement “My sheep know my voice” speaks about the intimacy and relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. Knowing a shepherd’s voice takes time and regular interactions because there are possibly different voices flying around. Therefore, for a particular voice to register in the mind of a sheep and be distinguished from other voices means the sheep hears such a voice constantly and has been led by that voice toward a path that leads to green pastures and clean water for its nourishment.

Therefore, this means that before a sheep knows a shepherd’s voice, it must have heard it frequently and spent quality time with him. That is why Jesus said in John 10:27 that “My sheep hear My voice.” Without hearing, there will be no knowing. So, there must be a deep level of relationship that requires constant communication for a sheep to know the shepherd’s voice, trust it, and follow it.

Every child of God is a sheep, and Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). What qualifies believers to be part of the sheepfold is believing in Jesus Christ, His teachings, and accepting Him into their lives. So, on the flip side, those who are not Jesus’ sheep do not listen to Him because they do not believe in Him (John 10:26)

Being a part of Jesus’ sheepfold is crucial because it guarantees protection from the thief or a stranger who always pretends to be the shepherd but has a mission to kill, steal and destroy the sheep (John 10:10). That is why Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice and a stranger they will not follow (John 10:5)

Symbolism Of The Sheep In Christianity

There are numerous references to sheep in the Bible because one of the prominent occupations of the people in Biblical days is animal husbandry. So many key biblical personalities, like David, Abraham, Moses, etc., were shepherds.

However, the Bible refers to Christians as sheep. In fact, Jesus was referred to as the Lamb of God (John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19).

So, what is the symbolism of the sheep in Christianity? To answer this, let’s examine some characteristics of sheep.

First, sheep blindly follow a shepherd. Being a blind follower might have a negative undertone, but when it comes to Christians following the leading of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, it is crucial that we are blinded to our desires and what others consider the right way. The Bible says God’s way often looks foolish to man. But His foolishness is wiser than men (1 Corinthians 1:25). Also, Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

Secondly, sheep are weak and susceptible to predators’ attacks. For this reason, the sheep must rely upon the shepherd for guidance and protection so they will not wander into a trap or get lost. Christians are open to the enemy’s attack without Jesus’ protection. That’s why Jesus said without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5) and with him all things are possible. Therefore, Christians must always be close to the shepherd and in the sheepfold.

Why is Jesus called the Shepherd?

Jesus boldly declared, “I am the Good Shepherd” in John 10:11. Jesus made this declaration to distinguish Himself from the religious leaders, who He described as the hireling who does not own the sheep and runs away when he sees danger.

However, Jesus is the Good Shepherd because He is ready to go the extra mile to ensure that the sheep lives. That is why He said, “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). Jesus confirmed this statement by hanging on the cross for His sheep (John 15:13).

Psalm 23 perfectly reflects Jesus as the Good Shepherd and what He does. He leads, He protects, He provides, He heals, He restores (Psalm 23).

‘My sheep know my voice’ Meaning For Christians Today

When Jesus was speaking in John 10:27-30 that “My sheep know my voice,” He was not only referring to His disciples or believers that were physically present with Him but all the children of God, including Christians today.

So, how does this scripture apply to us today? We’re called to build intimacy with God because we cannot know His voice if we do not draw close to Him and build a solid relationship with Him.

Many voices flying around today claim to be the shepherd that will lead people to God and eternal life. So, if our ears are not trained to recognize Jesus’ voice, we will fall into the hands of the thief who has come to steal, kill and destroy.

To know His voice, we must commit to Bible study and have the infilling of the Holy Spirit. God’s Word is a lamp and light to guide us, and the Holy Spirit shows us the way to God (Psalm 119:105, Isaiah 30:21)

Final Thoughts

God is saying that those who are His followers will know His voice when they hear it. This means that we should be careful about which voices we listen to in our lives, and make sure that we are discerning about what is truly from God and what is not.

When we tune into the frequency of God’s voice, He will guide us along the path He has laid out for us. We show that His love is perfected in us when we obey His voice always (1 John 2:5).