Scriptural Support for Hearing God's Voice in John 10
Understanding John 10 and Hearing God's Voice
Jesus says in John 10:27, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" [4]. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep and is known by them.
The context of John 10 is crucial for understanding Jesus' statement. Jesus has just healed a man born blind, and the Pharisees are questioning the man about his healing (John 9). Jesus then uses the metaphor of the shepherd and the sheep to describe his relationship with his followers. The passage is rich in imagery, drawing on Jewish tradition and scripture, such as Psalm 23 and Ezekiel 34, where God is depicted as the shepherd of Israel [2].
The key terms in John 10:27 are "hear my voice" and "my sheep." The phrase "hear my voice" is not just about auditory perception but about recognizing and obeying Jesus' teachings. In the biblical context, hearing God's voice is often associated with obedience and faith (Romans 10:17) [1].
The interpretation of "my sheep" has been a subject of discussion among commentators. According to John Calvin, Jesus offers himself as the Shepherd and declares that those who hear his voice are among his flock [6]. John Gill notes that Jesus' sheep hear his voice both externally (through the Gospel) and internally (through the Spirit) [4].
The passage has been used in various traditions to emphasize the importance of listening to and following Jesus. Matthew Henry, for example, connects hearing Jesus' voice to living a gospel life, suggesting that those who claim to be Jesus' people must hear and obey his voice [3].
The concept of hearing God's voice is not limited to John 10. Other biblical passages, such as Romans 10:17, indicate that faith comes from hearing the word of God. The connection between hearing and faith is a recurring theme in Christian theology [1, 5].
In the early Christian tradition, the idea of hearing God's voice was also linked to the role of prophets and preachers. John Gill notes that prophets and preachers receive their commission from heaven and are tasked with proclaiming God's word [7].
The imagery of Jesus as the Good Shepherd has been influential in Christian liturgy and devotion, emphasizing the personal and intimate relationship between Jesus and his followers. As Calvin puts it, Jesus "comes forth to meet us" and "will number us among his flock, and keep us within his fold" [6].
The understanding of John 10:27 and its implications for hearing God's voice continues to be a significant aspect of Christian theology and practice, highlighting the importance of recognizing and responding to Jesus' teachings.
Sources
- Romans “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. -- Romans 10:17”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: Ps.23.5 → John.10.9-John.10.10 (confidence: 17 votes)”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 95:7: The latter part of this psalm, which begins in the middle of a verse, is an exhortation to those who sing gospel psalms to live gospel lives, and to hear the voice of God's word; otherwise, how can they expect that he should hear the voice of their prayers and praises? Observe, I. The duty required of all those that are the people of Christ's pasture and the sheep of his hand. He expects that they hear his voice, for he has said, My sheep hear my voice, Joh 10:27. We are his people, say they. Are you so? Then hear his voice. If you call him Master, or Lord, then d”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 10:27: My sheep hear my voice,.... The voice of Christ in his Gospel, both externally and internally; See Gill on Joh 10:4, See Gill on Joh 10:16; and since therefore these Jews did not, it was a plain case they were not of his sheep: and I know them; See Gill on Joh 10:14; but Christ knew not these as the elect of God, or as the Father's gift to him, and therefore they could not be his sheep: and they follow me; both in the exercise of grace, and in the discharge of duty, and whithersoever he the good shepherd leads them; See Gill on Joh 10:3, See Gill on Joh 10:4. But n”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 10:17: So then faith comes by hearing,.... That is, by preaching; for the word hearing is used in the same sense as in the preceding verse; and designs the report of the Gospel, or the preaching of the word, which is the means God makes use of, to convey faith into the hearts of his people; for preachers are ministers, or instruments, by whom others believe: and hearing by the word of God; or "of Christ", as some copies read, and so do the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions; and intends either the holy Scriptures, which have God for their author, and Christ for the subje”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 79: has committed us to Christ, whom he has appointed to be the only Savior of all his people. Then, if we doubt whether we are received into the protection of Christ, he obviates the doubt when he spontaneously offers himself as our Shepherd, and declares that we are of the number of his sheep if we hear his voice ( John 10:3 , 16 ). Let us, therefore, embrace Christ, who is kindly offered to us, and comes forth to meet us: he will number us among his flock, and keep us within his fold. But anxiety arises as to our future state. 505 5”
- Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 10:8: And the voice which I heard from heaven,.... In Rev 10:4; spake to me again, and said, go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth; as John was to prophesy, Rev 10:11; it was necessary that he should have a mission and a commission from heaven; and that he should have the open book of prophecy to prophesy out of; and that he should receive this from the angel's hands, who had unloosed its seals, and opened it: and just so to ordinary prophesying, or preaching, it is necessary that men should h”