Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 10:4

"When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice." — John 10:4 (ASV)

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

The essential character of the law is driving; the spirit of the Gospel is leading, and the joyful imitation follows.

And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them,—

Christ never drives his sheep; he leads them. As the Eastern shepherd always goes before his sheep, so does the Saviour go before his flock: He goes before them,—

And the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Christ's sheep are marked in various ways. They are marked on the foot: the sheep follow him. And they are marked in the ear, for they know his voice. They follow the track of their Shepherd, and they give heed to the voice of their Shepherd; and by these tokens they are known to be his sheep.