{"id":53461,"date":"2019-09-06T13:42:02","date_gmt":"2019-09-06T10:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=53461"},"modified":"2025-07-24T14:32:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T11:32:14","slug":"what-did-jesus-mean-by-i-have-other-sheep-that-are-not-of-this-fold-who-are-these-other-sheep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2019\/09\/06\/what-did-jesus-mean-by-i-have-other-sheep-that-are-not-of-this-fold-who-are-these-other-sheep\/","title":{"rendered":"What Did Jesus Mean by \u201cI Have Other Sheep That Are Not of This Fold\u201d? Who Are These Other Sheep?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Answer:<\/strong><\/p>\n

In John 10:16<\/strong>, Jesus says:<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one Shepherd.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jesus, speaking as the Good Shepherd<\/strong> (John 10:11), identifies His followers as sheep<\/strong>\u2014those who hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:27). The \u201cfold\u201d He refers to here is the Jewish people<\/strong>, who were the original recipients of God\u2019s covenant promises. According to Scripture, Israel<\/strong> was God’s chosen nation, and the Jews were the first members of His spiritual flock (see Exodus 19:5-6<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

In the Old Testament, this is symbolized beautifully. For example:<\/p>\n

Ezekiel 34:13-15\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cAnd I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land… There they shall lie down in a good fold… I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,\u201d says the Lord GOD.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This passage shows that God viewed Israel as His sheepfold<\/strong>\u2014a people He gathered, cared for, and nourished. But God\u2019s plan was never limited to just one nation.<\/p>\n

When Jesus spoke of \u201cother sheep<\/strong>,\u201d He was referring to those outside the Jewish nation<\/strong>\u2014Gentiles<\/strong>, people from every other nation who were not yet part of God\u2019s covenant. This points to the broader redemptive plan of God, which included bringing salvation to all nations<\/strong> through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

The Meaning:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

God\u2019s intention from the beginning was to create one unified people<\/strong> under one Shepherd<\/strong>\u2014not defined by ethnicity or nationality, but by faith in Christ. Jesus\u2019 death on the cross was the means by which both Jews and Gentiles could be reconciled to God.<\/p>\n

Ephesians 2:13-14\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cBut now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
\nFor He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Through Christ\u2019s sacrifice, the barrier between Jews and Gentiles was removed. Now, anyone who believes in Him becomes part of the one flock<\/strong> under one Shepherd<\/strong>\u2014Jesus.<\/p>\n

Galatians 3:27-28<\/strong>
\n\u201cFor as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
\nThere is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jesus\u2019 statement in John 10:16 was not just a reference to a future Gentile mission\u2014it was a prophetic declaration that the Kingdom of God would be open to all people<\/strong> who respond to His voice.<\/p>\n

\n

How Does Someone Become One of His Sheep?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Jesus\u2019 sheep are not identified by church attendance, tradition, or religious labels. They are those who:<\/p>\n