Jesus told them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
In context
4When he has brought out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5A stranger they will never follow; they will run from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus told them this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7So Jesus spoke again: “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits, but the sheep did not listen to them.
