Who's the Thief...

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy: I am come that they might have life, and have it abundantly.

John 10:10

If you ask within the Churches. Who is the thief? The overwhelming majority will answer without thinking: Of course it is the devil. We will now identify the characters of this parable, including the thief.

All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

I am the door, if anyone enters through me will be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy: I am come that they might have life, and have it abundantly.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

But the hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

The hireling flees because he is an hireling, and cares not for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

John 10:8-14

In this text we just read, without a doubt, Jesus is the good shepherd, as the thief, the thief and mercenary, represent a group of people. We will use to identify who is the wolf. Ok?

Jesus said: All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers. John 10:8 nd

Jesus says that everyone (priests) who came before him were thieves and robbers. For Jesus came to assume the priesthood was once exercised by the tribe of Levi, as the priesthood has changed, also changed the law, ie, the old law was canceled. See for yourself!

Because changing the priesthood is also necessarily change the law.

For he of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar,

It is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah, and concerning which tribe Moses spake nothing of priesthood.

Hebrews 7:12-14

Why is it that Moses never spoke of the priesthood of the tribe of Judah? Moses stated that the tribe of Levi exercised the priesthood in Israel, therefore, all the other tribes had a responsibility to work to sustain the tribe of Levi, coincidence or not, Moses was of the tribe of Levi. Actually what Moses did, was what we know today as nepotism = Valimento that certain popes enjoyed with his nephews or relatives. [By extension] excessive favoritism given to relatives person well placed. = AFILHADISMO, cronyism (Priberam Portuguese Language Dictionary) This practice is still happening today in some churches (all members work to support the pastor and family, and their relatives).

Hear another parable: There was a man, householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it a ditch, and built a winepress in it and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into himself away.

And when the time of the fruit, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

And the husbandmen took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.

Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first: and they did unto them likewise.

And lastly, he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.

But when the tenants saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

And he took him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

When therefore the lord of the vineyard do to those tenants?

Matthew 21:33-40

In the parable we just read. The priests, who were responsible for the spiritual part of the nation of Israel, were not exercising their craft correctly. God then sends his prophets to correct them. What happened? Beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Finally God sends his Son. What happened? Said among themselves, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.

As we saw in Hebrews 7:12-14, Jesus came to remove the tribe of Levi, the priesthood, or the good life came to an end, they would have to work to support their families. As the priests (the tribe of Levi) does not want to give up the priesthood, which would be occupied forever by Jesus, then decided to kill the Son of God, believing that with this, would be ensuring your life good.

Mercenary = What or who is moved only by personal interest and stuff. = Selfish

There is no doubt that the priests were mercenaries. I suggest you read Article: Synopsis of Malachi! For the book of Malachi aims to show how the priests were stealing and destroying (robbing God and destroying people's faith). But Jesus came to give us life and life abundantly.

Well, only the left lobe. Who is the wolf?

But the hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.

John 10:12

The wolf yes, is the enemy of our souls (the devil). Already the priest (pastor) who is a mercenary and thief when he sees the sheep (church member) in danger (through necessity), just ignore and let the sheep get lost, unless, if a member with too much money, there yes it goes back, because he is a hireling and cares only wool and sheep fat (money)

Did I become your enemy by telling the truth?

Galatians 4:16