“ What I’m about to tell you Pharisees is true. What if someone does not enter the sheep pen through the gate but climbs in another way? That person is a thief and a robber.

“我实实在在地告诉你们，人进羊圈，不从门进去，倒从别处爬进去，那人就是贼，就是强盗。

“我实实在在地告诉你们，那不从门进羊圈，倒从别处爬进去的，就是贼，就是强盗。

“我实实在在地告诉你们，那不从门进羊圈，倒从别处爬进去的，就是贼，就是强盗。

耶稣说：“我实实在在地告诉你们，不从门进羊圈而从别处爬进去的人就是贼，是强盗。

“我实实在在告诉你们，那不从门进羊圈，倒从别处爬进去的，那人就是贼，就是强盗；

“我确确实实地告诉你们：那不从门进入羊圈，却从别处爬进去的人，是贼、是强盗。

「我實實在在地告訴你們，人進羊圈，不從門進去，倒從別處爬進去，那人就是賊，就是強盜。

「我實實在在地告訴你們，那不從門進羊圈，倒從別處爬進去的，就是賊，就是強盜。

「我實實在在地告訴你們，那不從門進羊圈，倒從別處爬進去的，就是賊，就是強盜。

耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，不從門進羊圈而從別處爬進去的人就是賊，是強盜。

“我實實在在告訴你們，那不從門進羊圈，倒從別處爬進去的，那人就是賊，就是強盜；

『我實實在在地告訴你們，那不由門進羊圈，倒從別處爬進的，那人是賊，是強盜：

「我確確實實地告訴你們：那不從門進入羊圈，卻從別處爬進去的人，是賊、是強盜。

我誠語汝、入羊牢不由其門、而踰自他處者、竊也、盜也、

我誠告爾、入羊牢不由其門、而從他處踰者、竊也、盜也、

我誠告爾、入羊牢、不由其門、而由他處踰者、賊也、盜也、

『予切實語爾、人入羊棧、不由其門、而由他處踰越而進者竊也、盜也。

“ Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.

“ Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

“ I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!

“ Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber.

“ Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.

“ Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

“ I assure you: Anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the door but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

“ I tell you the solemn truth, the one who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.

“ Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber.

All who have come before me are thieves and robbers. But the sheep have not listened to them.I’m like a gate. Anyone who enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out. And they will find plenty of food.A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so they may have life. I want them to have it in the fullest possible way.

People like that are not serving Christ our Lord. They are serving only themselves. With smooth talk and with words they don’t mean they fool people who don’t know any better.

“ Watch out for false prophets. They come to you pretending to be sheep. But on the inside they are hungry wolves.

And no one can take this honor for himself. Instead, he receives it when he is appointed by God. That is just how it was for Aaron.

But there were also false prophets among the people. In the same way there will be false teachers among you. In secret they will bring in teachings that will destroy you. They will even turn against the Lord and Master who died to pay for their sins. So they will quickly destroy themselves.

These teachers are never satisfied. They want to get something out of you. So they make up stories to take advantage of you. They have been under a sentence of death for a long time. The God who will destroy them has not been sleeping.

And how can anyone preach without being sent? It is written,“ How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”( Isaiah 52:7)

People like that are false apostles. They are workers who tell lies. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ.That comes as no surprise. Even Satan himself pretends to be an angel of light.So it doesn’t surprise us that Satan’s servants also pretend to be serving God. They will finally get exactly what they deserve.

The Lord who rules over all says to the people of Judah,“ Do not listen to what the prophets are saying to you. They fill you with false hopes. They talk about visions that come from their own minds. What they say does not come from my mouth.They keep speaking to those who hate me. They say,‘ The Lord says you will have peace.’ They speak to all those who do what their stubborn hearts want them to do. They tell them,‘ No harm will come to you.’

I am against prophets who talk about dreams that did not come from me,” announces the Lord.“ They tell foolish lies. Their lies lead my people astray. But I did not send these prophets. I did not appoint them. They do not help my people in the least,” announces the Lord.

The prophets searched very hard and with great care to find out about this salvation. They spoke about the grace that was going to come to you.

That is why Scripture says,“ When he went up to his place on high, he took many prisoners. He gave gifts to his people.”( Psalm 68:18)What does“ he went up” mean? It can only mean that he also came down to the lower, earthly places.The one who came down is the same one who went up. He went up higher than all the heavens. He did it in order to fill all creation.So Christ himself gave the gift of the apostles to the church. He gave the prophets and those who preach the good news. And he also gave the pastors and teachers as a gift to the church.He gave all these people so that they might prepare God’s people to serve. Then the body of Christ will be built up.

“ Send a message to all the people who were taken away. Tell them,‘ The Lord speaks about Shemaiah, the Nehelamite. He says,“ Shemaiah has prophesied to you. But I did not send him. He has made you trust in lies.So I say,‘ I will certainly punish Shemaiah, the Nehelamite. I will also punish his children after him. He will not have any children left among these people. I will do good things for my people. But he will not see them,’ ” ’ ” announces the Lord.“ ‘ “ ‘That’s because he has taught people to turn against me.’ ” ’ ”

“ Son of man, prophesy against those who are now prophesying in Israel. What they prophesy comes out of their own minds. Tell them,‘ Listen to the Lord’ s message!The Lord and King says,“ How terrible it will be for you foolish prophets! You say what your own minds tell you to. Your visions do not come from me.Israel, your prophets are like wild dogs that live among broken- down buildings.You have not repaired the cracks in the city wall for the people of Israel. So it will not stand firm in the battle on the day I judge you.The visions of those prophets are false. They use magic to try to find out what is going to happen. But their magic tricks are lies. They say,‘ The Lord announces.’ But I have not sent them. In spite of that, they expect him to make their words come true.

Jesus replied,“ What I’m about to tell you is true. No one can see God’s kingdom unless they are born again.”

“ Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Tell them,‘ The Lord and King says,“ How terrible it will be for you shepherds of Israel! You only take care of yourselves. You should take good care of your flocks.Instead, you eat the butter. You dress yourselves with the wool. You kill the finest animals. But you do not take care of your flocks.You have not made the weak ones in the flock stronger. You have not healed the sick. You have not bandaged those who are hurt. You have not brought back those who have wandered away. You have not searched for the lost. When you ruled over them, you were mean to them. You treated them badly.So they were scattered because they did not have a shepherd. They became food for all of the wild animals.

“ How terrible for you, blind guides! You say,‘ If anyone makes a promise in the name of the temple, it means nothing. But anyone who makes a promise in the name of the gold of the temple must keep that promise.’You are blind and foolish! Which is more important? Is it the gold? Or is it the temple that makes the gold holy?You also say,‘ If anyone makes a promise in the name of the altar, it means nothing. But anyone who makes a promise in the name of the gift on the altar must keep that promise.’You are blind! Which is more important? Is it the gift? Or is it the altar that makes the gift holy?So anyone making a promise in the name of the altar makes a promise in the name of it and everything on it.And anyone making a promise in the name of the temple makes a promise in the name of it and the one who lives in it.And anyone making a promise in the name of heaven makes a promise in the name of God’s throne and the one who sits on it.“ How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You give God a tenth of your spices, like mint, dill and cumin. But you have not practiced the more important things of the law, which are fairness, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the last things without failing to do the first.You blind guides! You remove the smallest insect from your food. But you swallow a whole camel!“ How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You clean the outside of a cup and dish. But on the inside you are full of greed. You only want to satisfy yourselves.Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish. Then the outside will also be clean.“ How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You are like tombs that are painted white. They look beautiful on the outside. But on the inside they are full of the bones of the dead. They are also full of other things that are not pure and‘ clean.’It is the same with you. On the outside you seem to be doing what is right. But on the inside you are full of what is wrong. You pretend to be what you are not.

I did not send these prophets. But they have run to tell you their message anyway. I did not speak to them. But they have still prophesied.

The Lord my God says,“ Take care of the sheep that are set apart to be sacrificed.Those who buy them kill them. And they are not punished for it. Those who sell them say,‘ Praise the Lord! We’re rich!’ And their own shepherds do not spare them.

Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke to the false prophet Hananiah. Jeremiah said,“ Listen, Hananiah! The Lord hasn’t sent you. But you have tricked these people. Now they trust in lies.So the Lord says,‘ I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. Before this year is over, you will die. You have taught the people to turn against me.’ ”In the seventh month of that very year, the false prophet Hananiah died.

Israel’s prophets are blind. They don’t know the Lord. All of them are like watchdogs that can’t even bark. They just lie around and dream. They love to sleep.They are like dogs that love to eat. They never get enough. They are like shepherds who don’t have any understanding. All of them do as they please. They only look for what they can get for themselves.“ Come!” they shout.“ Let’s get some wine! Let’s drink all the beer we can! Tomorrow we’ll do the same thing. And that will be even better than today.”

So here is what I am saying about the prophets who are prophesying in my name. I did not send them. But they are saying,‘ No war or hunger will come to this land.’ Those same prophets will die because of war and hunger.

I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land. He will not take care of those that are wounded. He will not look for the young ones. He will not heal those that are hurt. He will not feed the healthy ones. Instead, he will eat the best sheep. He will even tear their hooves off.“ How terrible it will be for that worthless shepherd! He deserts the flock. May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his powerful arm become weak! May his right eye be totally blinded!”

They must be stopped. They are making trouble for entire families. They do this by teaching things they shouldn’t. They do these things to cheat people.

They stare at women who are not their wives. They want to sleep with them. They never stop sinning. They trap those who are not firm in their faith. They have mastered the art of getting what they want. God has placed them under his judgment.They have left God’s way. They have wandered off. They follow the way of Balaam, son of Beor. He loved to get paid for doing his evil work.But a donkey corrected him for the wrong he did. Animals don’t speak. But the donkey spoke with a human voice. It tried to stop the prophet from doing a very dumb thing.These people are like springs without water. They are like mists driven by a storm. The blackest darkness is reserved for them.They speak empty, bragging words. They make their appeal to the evil desires that come from sin’s power. They tempt new believers who are just escaping from the company of sinful people.They promise to give freedom to these new believers. But they themselves are slaves to sinful living. That’s because“ people are slaves to anything that controls them.”