The thief comes not but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy I am come that they might have life, and might have [it] abundantly.
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The Setting
Standing in contrast to the false shepherds He has just exposed, the Lord sets two opposite figures side by side: the thief who comes only to harm the sheep, and Himself, who comes that they might have life in its fullness. The verse compresses the entire purpose of His coming into a single sentence — death and ruin on one hand, abundant life on the other.
The Thief Versus the Shepherd
The contrast is moral as much as it is figurative. Self-seeking marks the thief; the welfare of the sheep is everything to Christ.
C E StuartNow He necessarily contrasts Himself with a thief and with a hireling. Self-seeking characterised such. The everlasting welfare of the sheep was the Lord's concern. To further it was His aim, even at the cost of His life. The thief would kill, steal, and destroy, gratifying his will at the expense of the sheep. "I am come [or, came]," said the Lord, "that they may have life, and may have it abundantly" (10)... What a word for the Jews standing by! The One they despised, and would kill, if they could, came to give life to dead souls!
The thief stands for every false claim that came before Christ — religious systems and leaders that fed on the flock instead of feeding it.
The Purpose of His Coming
Darby reads the verse in two parts: the bare fact of His coming to give life, and then the character that life takes.
J. N. DarbyJesus, in contrast with all the false pretenders, who only came to steal and to kill, came that we might have life, and that we might have it in abundance. The first expression is the object of His coming in general... it is the Son of God come down, that we might live through Him. He is the eternal life which was with the Father, and gives life, and becomes Himself our life... The second part of the sentence shows the character and fulness of this life: this life is in the Son. Having the Son, we have life, and we have it according to the power of His resurrection.
"Abundantly" — Life in Resurrection
The phrase often translated "more abundantly" does not mean a larger quantity of the same thing, but life on a wholly new footing — life on the far side of death, life in resurrection power. Old Testament saints were quickened; Christians have life "abundantly."
J. N. DarbyThe disciples were already quickened souls, yet Jesus says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10.) The life more abundantly is now being realized — but it is in resurrection. It was something quite new in character and quality. It would not now be divine life struggling with difficulties, producing desires after God, and groaning with the pressure of evil surroundings, but life in the power of resurrection, where nothing can enter to disturb the peace or destroy the relationship which He who is the life has brought the objects of His love into.
Andrew Miller draws the same line between the Old Testament saint's life and the Christian's:
Andrew Miller"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) This abundant life, we doubt not, is life in resurrection. (John 20:22.)
Edward Dennett spells out the dispensational point: every believer at any time was quickened, but life "more abundantly" had to wait for the cross and the empty tomb.
Edward DennettEvery one, therefore, who believed on Him then was quickened, even as the saints of the old dispensation were quickened — born again but "life more abundantly" could only be received after His death and resurrection; and hence the bestowal of everlasting life upon those who believe in the present dispensation is the fruit and consequence of His finished work.
The Fullness Christ Wants for His Sheep
Pollock catches the warmth in the verse: the Lord is not satisfied to grant the bare gift of life — He insists on fullness.
A J Pollock"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." He is not merely content to give us life, but He wants to give us fullness of life... It is only Christ that can give life... "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9). Life is the sovereign gift of God; but it must come through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And as one writer puts it, the resurrection of Christ is the threshold where this abundance begins:
MagazinesThe resurrection of Christ has then left behind it, for us, our Adam-life and death; and this new life which succeeds death is necessarily eternal life, but eternal life in resurrection, life "more abundantly." (John 10:10.)
Summary
- Two comers. The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; Christ came to give — the contrast measures the moral distance between false shepherds and the Good Shepherd.
- Life is the object. The first half of the verse states the great purpose of Christ's coming: that dead souls might live through the Son who is Himself the eternal life that was with the Father.
- Abundance means resurrection. "Abundantly" is not more of the same thing but life of a new character — risen life, where evil cannot disturb the relationship into which He has brought His own.
- Beyond quickening. Old Testament saints were born again; Christians receive life "more abundantly" only after the cross and empty tomb, as the fruit of the finished work.
- At His own cost. The Lord's aim was the everlasting welfare of the sheep, even at the cost of His life — abundance for them flowed from death for Him.