{"id":45227,"date":"2020-11-13T12:40:23","date_gmt":"2020-11-13T09:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=45227"},"modified":"2025-05-10T06:20:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T03:20:33","slug":"where-were-the-thieves-and-robbers-who-came-before-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/11\/13\/where-were-the-thieves-and-robbers-who-came-before-jesus\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Were the Thieves and Robbers Who Came Before Jesus?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In <\/span>John 10:7\u20138<\/strong> (NIV), Jesus says:<\/span><\/p>\n

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“Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Question:<\/strong>
Praise the Lord! I have a question about this passage. Jesus says that those who came before Him were thieves and robbers. Who exactly is He referring to here?<\/p>\n

Answer:<\/strong>
In this passage, Jesus is not referring to the prophets and priests of the Old Testament, as some might think. These were men and women chosen by God to guide the people of Israel and prepare the way for the Messiah. The prophets<\/strong> faithfully spoke God\u2019s Word, and the priests<\/strong> offered sacrifices to atone for sin in the Old Covenant. They were part of God\u2019s plan to point to Jesus, the true Messiah. In Luke 16:16<\/strong> (NIV), Jesus says, \u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This shows that the prophets were fulfilling their role, preparing the way for Christ.<\/p>\n

Instead, when Jesus refers to “thieves and robbers,” He is speaking about false messiahs<\/strong>\u2014individuals who came before Him and claimed to be the promised deliverer of Israel. These false messiahs tried to lead the people of Israel away from the truth, often with personal gain or through deceptive means. John 10:8<\/strong> clearly indicates that true “sheep”\u2014God\u2019s faithful people\u2014did not listen to them. The false messiahs were thieves because they attempted to take what was not theirs (the people\u2019s loyalty and faith), and they were robbers because they sought to destroy the true relationship between God and His people.<\/p>\n

The Israelites had been longing for the promised Messiah, who would save them from their sins and oppressors, as predicted<\/p>\n

\u00a0in Isaiah 53:3<\/strong> (NIV): \u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

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He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

However, because of this longing, many false claimants to the title of Messiah arose throughout Israel’s history. These false messiahs misled the people and failed to fulfill the promises made by God.<\/p>\n

This reality is acknowledged in Acts 5:35\u201339<\/strong> (NIV), where Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the Law, warned the Sanhedrin (Jewish council) about persecuting the apostles for preaching about Jesus. He reminds them of false messiahs who came before, including Theudas and Judas of Galilee:<\/p>\n

“Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: \u2018Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about 400 men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were scattered, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.\u2019”<\/em><\/p>\n

Gamaliel points out that these men were false messiahs who led people into rebellion and ultimately failed. Their followers were scattered, and their movements came to nothing.<\/p>\n

Jesus’ warning about these “thieves and robbers” in John 10:8<\/strong> speaks to a broader theological issue of false teachers and leaders who try to lead people away from God. Even in the New Testament, there were warnings about such false prophets and messiahs.<\/p>\n

In Matthew 24:24<\/strong> (NIV), Jesus Himself warns:<\/p>\n

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“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This warning is crucial for us today as we face similar threats from false teachings and distorted gospels. The ultimate test for any teacher or leader is whether they point people to the true Christ and His Word.<\/p>\n

We are called to be vigilant and discerning<\/p>\n

. 1 John 4:1<\/strong> (NIV) advises: \u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

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Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The key to avoiding deception is staying rooted in the truth of God\u2019s Word and being led by the Holy Spirit, who will guide us into all truth (see John 16:13<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

The real question is: Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior?<\/strong> And if you have, are you standing firm in your faith? In the last days, many will be deceived, but we are called to hold fast to the truth of the gospel.<\/p>\n

In Colossians 2:6\u20137<\/strong> (NIV), Paul writes:<\/p>\n

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“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

If you haven\u2019t yet given your life to Jesus, today is the perfect time to do so. The Bible tells us that \u201ctoday is the day of salvation\u201d<\/em> (2 Corinthians 6:2<\/strong>). If you want to make that decision, you can pray for forgiveness and commit your life to Him. This is the most important decision you can ever make.<\/p>\n

May God bless you. Please share this message with others, and if you would like to receive more teachings from God’s Word, feel free to reach out to us via email or WhatsApp at +255 789001312.<\/p>\n

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