Choosing the Right Shepherd
In a real sheepfold, the shepherds and sheep
do not usually choose each other. The shepherd raises the sheep that are born
within the flock. Oh, there may be cases where a shepherd might choose sheep,
say, to purchase them, but a lamb is never given the opportunity to choose its
shepherd. Spiritually, the reverse is true. Sheep (people in a church
congregation) have the opportunity to choose their own shepherd (pastor).
Therefore, sheep need to know something about the different kinds of shepherds,
so they can make the correct choice.
Zechariah 11 contains the description of several kinds of shepherds: a wailing shepherd (Zech. 11:1-3), the true Shepherd (Zech. 11:4-14), the Messiah, and a false shepherd (Zech. 11:15-17). The false shepherd is called “foolish” (Zech. 11:15) and “worthless” (Zech. 11:17). The Hebrew word translated “foolish” means “foolish” but some commentators says here it means “worthless,” that is, “morally deficient” (Constable).
Notice what is said about the worthless shepherd: “For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off, nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still stand. But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces” (Zech. 11:16). The worthless shepherd will not take care of the perishing, straying, broken, or even the strong sheep.
Worthless shepherds do not care for the sheep that are cut off (Unger: “perishing”). They do not have enough concern to take care of a dying lamb! As the rest of the description indicates, the worthless shepherds are only interested in themselves, not the sheep. Good Shepherds care about and take care of the sheep; bad shepherds are only concerned about themselves.
Worthless shepherds do not seek the young sheep. The Hebrew word translated “young” means “a shaking, scattering” (NASB: “scattered”). Jerome and other ancient expositors translated it “the straying.” In the parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus said, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’” (Luke 15:4-6). True shepherds seek sheep that stray; false shepherds do not.
Worthless shepherds do not heal sheep that are broken. They do not set the broken leg of a lamb. Wise shepherds tend to the sheep that have broken bones; foolish shepherds do not.
Worthless shepherds do not feed the sheep. Instead, they will eat the flesh of the sheep and tear their hooves in pieces. Tearing off the hooves indicates “searching for the last edible morsel” (Unger). Valuable shepherds feed the sheep (Jn. 21:15-17); worthless shepherds do not.
When looking for a church, choose one with a good shepherd (pastor). If you already have one, pray for your shepherd.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 3/14/2015
Zechariah 11 contains the description of several kinds of shepherds: a wailing shepherd (Zech. 11:1-3), the true Shepherd (Zech. 11:4-14), the Messiah, and a false shepherd (Zech. 11:15-17). The false shepherd is called “foolish” (Zech. 11:15) and “worthless” (Zech. 11:17). The Hebrew word translated “foolish” means “foolish” but some commentators says here it means “worthless,” that is, “morally deficient” (Constable).
Notice what is said about the worthless shepherd: “For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off, nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still stand. But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces” (Zech. 11:16). The worthless shepherd will not take care of the perishing, straying, broken, or even the strong sheep.
Worthless shepherds do not care for the sheep that are cut off (Unger: “perishing”). They do not have enough concern to take care of a dying lamb! As the rest of the description indicates, the worthless shepherds are only interested in themselves, not the sheep. Good Shepherds care about and take care of the sheep; bad shepherds are only concerned about themselves.
Worthless shepherds do not seek the young sheep. The Hebrew word translated “young” means “a shaking, scattering” (NASB: “scattered”). Jerome and other ancient expositors translated it “the straying.” In the parable of the Lost Sheep, Jesus said, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’” (Luke 15:4-6). True shepherds seek sheep that stray; false shepherds do not.
Worthless shepherds do not heal sheep that are broken. They do not set the broken leg of a lamb. Wise shepherds tend to the sheep that have broken bones; foolish shepherds do not.
Worthless shepherds do not feed the sheep. Instead, they will eat the flesh of the sheep and tear their hooves in pieces. Tearing off the hooves indicates “searching for the last edible morsel” (Unger). Valuable shepherds feed the sheep (Jn. 21:15-17); worthless shepherds do not.
When looking for a church, choose one with a good shepherd (pastor). If you already have one, pray for your shepherd.
© G. Michael Cocoris, 3/14/2015
