Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 10:28
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
28. I give unto them ] Not ‘ will give.’ Here as in Joh 3:15, Joh 5:24 and often, the gift of eternal life is regarded as already possessed by the faithful. It is not a promise, the fulfilment of which depends upon man’s conduct, but a gift, the retention of which depends upon ourselves.
they shall never perish ] This is parallel to Joh 8:51 (see note there); shall certainly not perish for ever, being the literal meaning, But the negative belongs to the verb, not to ‘for ever;’ and the meaning is, not ‘they may die, but shall not die for ever,’ but ‘they shall never die for all eternity.’ Comp. Joh 11:26.
neither shall any man pluck them ] Better, and no one shall snatch them. ‘No one ’ rather than ‘no man ’ (as in Joh 10:18), for the powers of darkness are excluded as well as human seducers. ‘Snatch’ rather than ‘pluck,’ for in the Greek it is the same word as is used of the wolf in Joh 10:12, and this should be preserved in translation.
This passage in no way asserts the indefectibility of the elect, and gives no countenance to ultra-predestinarian views. Christ’s sheep cannot be taken from Him against their will; but their will is free, and they may choose to leave the flock.
out of my hand ] “His hand protects, bears, cherishes, leads them.” Meyer.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I give unto them eternal life – See Joh 5:24.
Shall never perish – To perish here means to be destroyed, or to be punished in hell. Mat 10:28; which is able to destroy (the same word) both soul and body in hell. Mat 18:14; it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Joh 3:15; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish Rom 2:12; They who have sinned without law shall also perish without law Joh 17:12; 1Co 1:18. In all these places the word refers to future punishment, and the declaration of the Saviour is that his followers, his true disciples, shall never be cast away. The original is expressed with remarkable strength: They shall not be destroyed forever. Syriac: They shall not perish to eternity. This is spoken of all Christians – that is, of all who ever possess the character of true followers of Christ, and who can be called his flock.
Shall any – The word any refers to any power that might attempt it. It will apply either to men or to devils. It is an affirmation that no man, however eloquent in error, or persuasive in infidelity, or cunning: in argument, or mighty in rank; and that no devil with all his malice, power, cunning, or allurements, shall be able to pluck them from his hand,
Pluck them – In the original to rob; to seize and bear away as a robber does his prey. Jesus holds them so secure and so certainly that no foe can surprise him as a robber does, or overcome him by force.
My hand – The hand is that by which we hold or secure an object. It means that Jesus has them safely in his own care and keeping. Compare Rom 8:38-39.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 28. They shall never perish] Why? Because they hear my voice, and follow me; therefore I know, I approve of and love them, and give them eternal life. They who continue to hear Christ’s voice, and to follow him, shall never perish. They give themselves up to God-believe so on Jesus that he lives in their hearts: God hath given unto them eternal life, and this life is in his Son; and he that hath the Son hath life, 1Jo 5:11-12. Now it is evident that only those who have Christ living in and governing their souls, so that they possess the mind that was in him, are his sheep-are those that shall never perish, because they have this eternal life abiding in them: therefore to talk of a man’s being one of the elect-one that shall never perish – one who shall have eternal life-who shall never be plucked out of the hand of God, &c., while he lives in sin, has no Christ in his heart, has either never received or fallen away from the grace of God, is as contrary to common sense as it is to the nature and testimonies of the Most High. Final perseverance implies final faithfulness-he that endures to the end shall be saved-he that is faithful unto death shall have a crown of life. And will any man attempt to say that he who does not endure to the end, and is unfaithful, shall ever enter into life?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I do give them, and I will give them, eternal life; as soon as they shall come to hear, and believe my voice, and to follow me, they shall have a sure right and title to it; and when my Father by his providence shall remove them out of the world, and in the great day, they shall be taken up into the actual possession of it. For they shall never perish, but though they may fall, they shall rise again by repentance. They are in my hand, and my hand shall preserve them, none shall ever pluck them out of it; they shall be preserved through faith, by the power of God, to eternal life and salvation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
28. I give unto them eternallifenot “will give them”; for it is a present gift.(See on Joh 3:36; Joh5:24). It is a very grand utterance, couched in the language ofmajestic authority.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And I give unto them eternal life,…. Christ gives eternal life to his sheep, or people now; he gives them a spiritual life, or a life of grace, which issues in eternal life; he gives them himself, who is the true God and eternal life, and whoever has him has life; he gives them the knowledge of himself, which is life eternal; and he gives them his righteousness, which is their justification of life, or what entitles them to eternal life; and he gives them the foretastes of it, in faith and hope, in the enjoyment of himself, and the discoveries of his love; he gives them the earnest and pledge of it, his own Spirit; and they have this life in him as their representative, and it is hid with him in God, and is safe and secure for them; and he will actually give it to them in their own persons, to be for ever enjoyed by them; and because of the certainty of it, he is said to do it now: this is a pure gift, it is of grace, and not of works; and it is in the gift of Christ as Mediator, who has power to give it to as many as the Father has given him:
and they shall never perish; though they were lost in Adam, and in a perishing condition in themselves, during their state of unregeneracy; in which condition they see themselves to be, when convinced by the Spirit of God; and come as persons ready to perish to Christ, as a Saviour, resolving, that if they perish, they will perish at his feet: and though after conversion, they are subject to many falls and spiritual declensions, and lose their peace, joy, and comfort, and imagine their strength and hope are perished, or at least fear they shall one day perish through one sin, or snare, or temptation or another, yet they shall never perish in such sense as the wicked will; they will not be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of his power:
neither shall any pluck them out of my hand; Christ’s sheep are in his hands, being put there by God the Father, both as an instance of his love to Christ, and them; and this was done from all eternity, even when they were chosen in him; so that they were in the hands of Christ, before they were in the loins of Adam; and were preserved in him, notwithstanding Adam’s fall, and through the ruins of it. To be in the hands of Christ, is to be high in his esteem and favour; the saints are a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of their God; they are a signet on his right hand that shall never be plucked off; they are engraven on the palms of his hands: to be in the hands of Christ, is to be in his possession, and at his dispose, as all the elect of God are; and to be under his guidance, care, and protection, as they be; they are fed according to the integrity of his heart, and guided by the skilfulness of his hands; they are always under his care and watchful eye, who protects them from all their enemies, and hides them in the hollow of his hand: hence, because they are so, they are called “the sheep of his hand”, Ps 95:7. And none shall ever pluck them from thence; no man can do it, not any false teacher can remove them from Christ, by all the art and cunning he is master of; nor any violent persecutor, by all the force and power he can use; nor can any sin, or snare, or temptation, draw them out of Christ’s hands; nor any adversity whatever separate them from him: they must be safe, and always abide there, who are in the hands of Christ; for his hands have laid the foundations of the heavens and the earth, they grasp the whole universe, and hold all things together; and who then can pluck any out of these hands? Moreover, Christ, as Mediator, has all power in heaven and earth; and even as man, he is the man of God’s right hand, made strong for himself.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
And I give unto them eternal life ( ). This is the gift of Jesus now to his sheep as stated in John 6:27; John 6:40 (cf. 1John 2:25; 1John 5:11).
And they shall never perish ( ). Emphatic double negative with second aorist middle (intransitive) subjunctive of , to destroy. The sheep may feel secure (John 3:16; John 6:39; John 17:12; John 18:9).
And no one shall snatch them out of my hand ( ). Jesus had promised this security in Galilee (John 6:37; John 6:39). No wolf, no thief, no bandit, no hireling, no demon, not even the devil can pluck the sheep out of my hand. Cf. Col 3:3 (Your life is hid together with Christ in God).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
I give [] . Not, I will give. The gift is present and continuous. Compare Joh 3:36.
Shall pluck [] . See on ver. 12. Compare can pluck, ver. 29. Here Jesus speaks of the fact; there of the possibility. Rev., snatch. Wyc., ravish.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And I-give unto them eternal life;” – (kago didomi autois zoen aionion) “And I dole out to them directly, eternal life,” right now, of my own choice, will, or pleasure, when they hear or heed my call to come and to follow me, not after they die, Joh 3:14-15; 1Jn 5:13.
2) “And they shall never perish,” (kai ou me apolontai eis ton aiona) “And they by no means perish into the age,” thereafter, either in this life, the coming millennial, or the heaven age,” Joh 5:24; Joh 17:12; Joh 18:9; Heb 7:25.
3) ”Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (kai ouch harpasei tis auta ek tes cheiros mou) “And no one shall seize or harpoon them out of or away from my hand,” from my hold or care, from my protection ‘ No one shall be able to carry them out of my care and keeping, Joh 6:39; Rom 8:35-39; 1Pe 1:5. This is our Lord’s Divine pledge to eternal security from Hell, into eternity, for every believer sheep who comes to, trusts in, and follows Him; When they come to Him they then become:
a) His children, Joh 1:1-2; Gal 3:26.
b) Saved, and created in Christ unto good works, Eph 2:8-9.
c) Justified possessors of a peace with God, Rom 5:1; Mat 11:28.
d) Possessors of a pure heart, Act 15:9; Mat 5:8.
e) Assured they shall never die, perish, or be cast out from Christ, Joh 6:37; Joh 5:24.
1. As the Good Shepherd Jesus gave His life for His sheep and new sheepfold, Joh 10:11; Joh 10:18; Act 20:28; Eph 5:25.
2. As the Great Shepherd from the dead He assures His sheep of His care of them in life, death, and beyond, Heb 13:20; Psa 23:1-6.
3. As the Chief Shepherd He assures al undershepherds and sheep of certain crowns of rewards at His return, 1Pe 5:4; Psalms 24; 2Ti 4:8; Rev 2:10.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
28. And they shall never perish. It is an inestimable fruit of faith, that Christ bids us be convinced of our security when we are brought by faith into his fold. But we must also observe on what foundation this certainty rests. It is because he will be a faithful guardian of our salvation, for he testifies that our salvation is in his hand And if this were not enough, he says that they will be safely guarded by the power of his Father This is a remarkable passage, by which we are taught that the salvation of all the elect is not less certain than the power of God is invincible. Besides, Christ did not intend to throw this word foolishly into the air, but to give a promise which should remain deeply axed in their minds; and, therefore, we infer that the statement of Christ is intended to show that the elect are absolutely certain of their salvation. We are surrounded, indeed, by powerful adversaries, and so great is our weakness, that we are every moment in imminent danger of death; but as He who keeps what we have committed to him (2Ti 1:12) is greater or more powerful than all, we have no reason to tremble as if our life were in danger.
Hence, too, we infer how mad is the confidence of the Papists, which relies on free-will, on their own virtue, and on the merits of their works. Widely different is the manner in which Christ instructs his followers, to remember that, in this world, they may be said to be in the midst of a forest, surrounded by innumerable robbers, and are not only unarmed and exposed as a prey, but are aware that the cause of death is contained in themselves, so that, relying on the guardianship of God alone, they may walk without alarm. In short, our salvation is certain, because it is in the hand of God; for our faith is weak, and we are too prone to waver. But God, who has taken us under his protection, is sufficiently powerful to scatter, with his breath alone, all the forces of our adversaries. It is of great importance for us to turn our eye to this, that the fear of temptations may not dismay us; for Christ even intended to point out the way in which sheep are made to live at ease in the midst of wolves.
And none can wrest them out of my Father’s hand. The word and, in this passage, means therefore For, since the power of God is invincible, Christ infers that the salvation of believers is not exposed to the ungovernable passions of their enemies, because, ere they perish, God must be overcome, who has taken them under the protection of his hand.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
28. Shall never perish No sheep of Christ can ever perish. The unbeliever and the apostate will perish, but neither the unbeliever or the apostate is a sheep of Christ.
Perish pluck The literal sheep of the human shepherd may perish by the robber, or be plucked away by the thief; but the spiritual sheep of the true Shepherd no robber can kill, no thief can steal. He must by his own free act abandon or forfeit his spiritual character before he can lose his eternal privilege.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Ver. 28. They shall never perish ] This is the good Shepherd’s promise: is he now as good as his word, if he suffer his sheep to wander and perish, whom by promise he was tied so to keep, as that they should not wander, as they are naturally apt to do, to their destruction? Pastor oves spondet se absolute servaturum, nunquid liberabit fidem? Prideaux.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
eternal. Greek aionios. App-151.
never = by no means (Greek. ou me. App-105) unto the age (Greek. eis ton aiona. App-151).
neither = and not (Greek. ou. App-105).
pluck = snatch. See Joh 10:12.
out of. Greek. ek: App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Joh 10:28. , and I) The following and the life are closely connected, ch. Joh 8:12, He that followeth Me, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.- , shall not perish) Middle (so , ch. Joh 17:12; Luk 15:24; Jude Joh 10:11, lost, perished): i.e. they shall not destroy themselves, internally.[284] Comp. 1Jn 5:18, Whosoever is born of God sinneth not: but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not; and Joh 17:12, notes, Those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition.- , and not) Nor will I suffer them to be snatched out of My hand by any external enemy.-, shall snatch [pluck]) The auxiliary verb , can, is included in the future: comp. ver. following.
[284] By their own corruptions from within.-E. and T.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 10:28
Joh 10:28
and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,-As a result of their hearing and following him, they should never perish.
and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.-None could separate them from Christ while they were anxious to do his will. No one can separate one anxious to follow Christ from him. Only the person himself can separate from Christ, and he can do this only by refusing to hear him.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
never
Or, in no wise ever perish. Cf. Joh 6:37.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
I give: Joh 3:16, Joh 3:36, Joh 5:39, Joh 5:40, Joh 6:27, Joh 6:40, Joh 6:47, Joh 6:68, Joh 11:25, Joh 17:2, Rom 5:21, Rom 6:23, 1Ti 1:16, 1Jo 2:25, 1Jo 5:13-20, Jud 1:21
they: Joh 3:15, Joh 4:14, Joh 5:24, Joh 6:37, Joh 6:39, Joh 6:40, Joh 14:19, Joh 17:12, Joh 18:9, 1Sa 2:9, Job 17:9, Psa 37:28, Psa 103:17, Psa 103:18, Psa 125:1, Psa 125:2, Pro 4:18, Pro 24:16, Isa 45:17, Isa 54:17, Isa 55:3, Jer 31:3, Jer 31:34, Jer 32:40, Mar 13:22, Rom 5:2, Rom 5:9, Rom 5:17, Rom 8:1, Rom 8:29, Rom 8:33-39, Phi 1:6, Col 3:3, Col 3:4, 2Th 2:13, 1Pe 1:5, Heb 7:25, 1Jo 2:19, 1Jo 5:13, 1Jo 5:18, Jud 1:1, Jud 1:24
neither: Joh 17:11, Joh 17:12, Deu 33:3, Psa 31:5, Luk 22:31, Luk 22:32, Luk 23:46, Act 7:59, 2Ti 1:12, Heb 7:25
Reciprocal: Gen 27:33 – yea Gen 28:15 – for I Gen 47:11 – Rameses Exo 39:15 – chains at the ends Deu 33:27 – thrust 1Sa 22:23 – but with me 1Ch 4:10 – thine hand Job 10:7 – and there Psa 33:19 – To deliver Psa 119:117 – Hold Pro 2:8 – keepeth Pro 8:20 – lead Son 1:7 – thou feedest Isa 43:11 – General Isa 45:22 – for Isa 63:1 – mighty Eze 46:18 – inheritance out Mat 9:6 – that the Mat 19:16 – eternal Mat 24:24 – insomuch Mat 25:46 – the righteous Luk 10:42 – which Joh 11:26 – whosoever Joh 14:6 – the life Joh 18:8 – let Act 3:15 – Prince Rom 5:10 – we shall Rom 8:31 – If Rom 8:35 – shall separate Rom 8:38 – that Rom 8:39 – shall be Rom 14:4 – he shall 1Co 10:13 – who 1Co 15:45 – a quickening 2Ti 1:9 – which 2Ti 4:18 – and will Tit 1:2 – eternal Heb 9:15 – eternal 1Jo 2:17 – abideth 1Jo 4:4 – greater 1Jo 4:9 – we 1Jo 5:11 – God
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A CLUSTER OF GRAPES
I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My Hand.
Joh 10:28
Here we have an illustration of the vast privileges which the Lord Jesus Christ bestows on true Christians. He uses words about them of singular richness and strength. I know them. I give unto them eternal life. They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. This sentence is like the cluster of grapes which came from Eshcol. A stronger form of speech perhaps can hardly be found in the whole range of the Bible.
I. Christ knows His people with a special knowledge of approbation, interest, and affection. By the world around them they are comparatively unknown, uncared for, or despised. But they are never forgotten or overlooked by Christ.
II. Christ gives His people eternal life. He bestows on them freely a right and title to heaven, pardoning their many sins, and clothing them with a perfect righteousness. Money, and health, and worldly prosperity He often wisely withholds from them. But He never fails to give them grace, peace, and glory.
III. Christ declares that His people shall never perish. Weak as they are, they shall all be saved. Not one of them shall be lost and cast away: not one of them shall miss heaven. If they err, they shall be brought back: if they fall, they shall be raised. The enemies of their souls may be strong and mighty, but their Saviour is mightier; and none shall pluck them out of their Saviours hands.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
8
They shall never perish is on the condition that the sheep hear the voice of the shepherd. He will give them eternal life, whereas a temporal shepherd leads his flock into temporal pasture. This verse does not teach the false doctrine known as “once in grace always in grace.” But if a man is faithful to the law of Christ, then it is true that no other person can pluck him out of the hand of the Shepherd.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Observe here, 1. The promise made by Christ unto his sheep, namely, the promise of eternal life, and perseverance in grace, till they come to the full fruition of it in glory, I give unto them eternal life, and none shall pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Observe, 2. The confirmation he gives of this from his own and his Father’s power, which is employed, engaged, and concerned, for them, and for their perseverance and preservation, notwithstanding all oppostiion to the contrary. My Father which gave them me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Learn, 1. That eternal life is the portion of Christ’s sheep.
2. That eternal life is the gift of Christ.
3. That eternal life is, now given to Christ’s sheep: they have it now in the purchase, in the promise, and in the first fruits.
4. That all Christ’s sheep are put by God the Father into Christ’s hand for security: My Father hath given them me.
5. The Father doth so intrust Christ with his sheep, as yet to take care of them himself; they are in the Father’s hand, as well as in the son’s, and their being in the hands of both, doth assure them of the certainty of their perseverance. None shal pluck them out of my hand; none shall be able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand: implying, that there are many that would pluck them out of their hands, sin, Satan, the world, &c. but they shall be kept by the almighty power of God, through faith unto salvation; for who can be too strong for omnipotent power.