"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers." …
A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. (Jn 10:1-10)
Familiarity between the shepherd and the sheep is the underlying factor. The shepherd spends most hours of most days in their company. The shepherd knows their individual characters, markings, likes and dislikes. The sheep, in turn, know him. They know his voice. They trust his voice. They will not listen to others (thieves). Familiarity, constant and continuous presence with the sheep, makes the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep.
Those who are not familiar and those who do not spend time with the sheep are thieves. They are time bound. They come for their own advantage. They come to steal, slaughter and destroy. They do not come through the gate. They climb over.
Those who are concerned about the sheep and care for the sheep and available for the sheep and approachable by the sheep are shepherds. But those who are selfish and concerned about their own advantage and gain are thieves.
