I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Jesus declares Himself the divine, true and chief Shepherd who willingly lays down His own life by divine authority as a ransom to save His flock. Unlike the hireling who cares only for wages and flees when danger comes, He does not abandon the sheep to the wolf but dies to secure their deliverance. He knows each one by name and need, tirelessly seeks the lost at infinite cost, and rejoices with heaven when the wanderer is found. Those who are His hear His voice, refuse a stranger's voice, follow where He leads, and are kept secure in His and the Father's hands so none can be taken from Him. His self-denying love is the measure and command for all ministers and followers, who are to feed, seek, guard and give themselves for the sheep as He did.
Shepherd Picture and Setting
The verse belongs to the familiar shepherd-and-sheep illustration by which immortal truth was taught, drawn from the facts of life and experience and from the surroundings of daily life. It was chosen because it had something to interest every mind and appeal to every heart, so that seeing such familiar things would make the truth a living reality. By linking familiar daily work with the unseen, the daily task instead of being a mere round of toil bereft of higher thoughts was brightened and uplifted by constant reminders of the spiritual and the unseen. That teaching shapes character, deepens the knowledge of God, leads to doing good, and reaches into eternity.
The picture shows the shepherd's actual work of staying with the flock day and night, leading to green pastures and grassy fields by the river and to living waters and living streams to quench thirst and refresh the spirit. It shows defending the flock from wolves, wild beasts and robbers, always being with them to keep and guard them. It shows seeking the lost sheep and carrying them back to the fold, patiently caring for the afflicted and straying, strengthening the weak, nourishing the suffering and fainting, lovingly providing for the young and weak, laboring for sheep and lambs, gathering lambs and bidding the flock draw near. The familiar sight of a shepherd watching his flock was to remind the disciples of that care after He left them. Yet they little understood His care and the loneliness of His life among humanity until, when His body was taken from the cross, they grieved as sheep without a shepherd and recognized the love they had failed to show.
The verse presents Him as the divine I AM, God with humanity, the assurance of deliverance from sin and the source of power to obey God's law. The shepherd image fulfills the prophecies and symbols of the promised Redeemer as the one who feeds and gathers His flock, seeks the lost, restores the injured, strengthens the weak, and carries the lambs in His bosom. His self-giving care stands in contrast to Israel's unfaithful leaders who failed their trust and to thieves and false claimants who seek their own gain. His life, mission and death fulfill those prophecies, as the gentle and self-sacrificing Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep.
Jesus the Good Shepherd
Jesus is the true Shepherd, uniquely qualified above all others, the chief, great and divine Shepherd, the one Chief Shepherd and Captain under whom all who bear His name serve. He is the only begotten Son, one with the Father before the world was, and one with the Father in claim and work. As Elder Brother He came to dwell among humanity to teach the way of life, joining His interests to fallen people, sharing human weakness and being tempted in every way yet without sin. He seeks grace from the Father, prays earnestly for His followers and for their safety from temptation and loss, and comes from prayer strengthened to give them assurance and hope and to strengthen them for duty and trial.
After the fall He saw His sheep in pitiable condition as wandering, miserable and ready to perish, exposed to sure destruction, and He left the honors and glories of His Father's house to become a Shepherd to save them. He calls them with a winning voice to His fold as a safe and sure retreat from robbers, a shelter from scorching heat and chilling blasts, and a protection for their good. He goes before them, they love Him, hear His voice and follow Him, and will not follow a stranger but flee because they do not know strangers' voices. His care is continually exercised for their good in strengthening the weak, nourishing the suffering and fainting, gathering the lambs in His arms and carrying them in His bosom, and leading them to safety.
He is gentle in spirit, tender, compassionate, kind, caring and merciful, meek and lowly in heart, with no jealousy, envy or iniquity in Him. His shepherdly care joins the affection of a parent with the grace of a compassionate Saviour, giving His life and His precious blood for His people and presenting His blessings in ways that awaken desire to receive them. Those who follow His example are led aright, pass over the same ground where Adam fell to show temptation can be overcome, and keep obedient without trampling any holy precept.
He knows His own and is known by them, knows every sheep by name however large the flock, knows the wants of each, reads hidden unspoken grief, and is touched with the feeling of infirmities. The distress of every sheep and lamb touches His heart of sympathizing love, their cry reaches His ear, He watches with greater care than any human shepherd, and He died even for the little ones so that injury to one calls the offender to account. He loves precious souls for whom He died with deep affection as the Father's gift and the reward of His work and for their own sake as His children, so no tribulation can separate them and they can trust Him continually even when suffering for truth, for He identifies with them and regards harm to them as done to Him. He welcomes weary workers with encouragement, sees prayers and charity as with Cornelius, prayed through the night for strength to meet temptation and for those who did not pray for themselves, bids His flock draw near to lead them to green pastures and living streams to quench thirst and refresh spirits, and leads each seeker step by step from error into scriptural light.
He tirelessly seeks the lost and helps those in need, ministering with tender grace to sin-sick, burdened, guilty and helpless people threatened by Satan's snares and in danger of destruction to bring them back to God. He pities and rescues from darkness, brings heavenly truth simply so all can understand, speaks at the yearly festivals, assures the poor and lowly of God's love, and brings healing and strength to those burdened by sin and sorrow. Even when crowds frustrate His hope for rest He ministers throughout the day in love and pity, and those driven from the fold through lack of love are to be sought, pleaded with, prayed for and drawn back.
No straying sheep is overlooked or left without help, for He searches for the wanderer at cost of suffering shown by blood along the way and thorn-pierced hands. Everyone who submits to being ransomed will be saved from sin, for His pierced hands testify to power to save those purchased at infinite cost, giving wanderers reason for courage and confidence. When the lost is found heaven rejoices and He calls others to rejoice with Him, which calls for patience toward those not yet ready to rejoice. Beholding Calvary reveals God's love, moves to repentance and changes character, while despising those He seeks, as in scorning the blind man restored to sight, stands condemned.
He does not abandon the wounded, weak, tried or tempted but strengthens and delivers them from the enemy, and His self-sacrifice makes it possible to believe and trust fully in His love and care. He is sufficient as tender, earnest, interested Shepherd as well as great High Priest and Advocate, far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named. Trusting Him gives power above all human power, and obeying Him in all things gives faith and courage and patience and love. Studying His life gives constantly increasing knowledge of His power and human weakness, beholding Him cultivates every Christian virtue and makes sin appear in all its terrible deformity.
Giving His Life
He gives His life willingly, and by divine authority He has power to lay it down and to take it up again as He chooses. His death is a ransom for many, bearing the punishment due to transgressors of God's law. By taking humanity and suffering without sin He upholds the law as holy, just, good and unchangeable, reveals sin's true gravity, preserves the honor of God's authority, and secures eternal life while magnifying and honoring the law. Unlike leaders who abandon those in their care, He is the true shepherd of God's people who knows them as they know Him, and He gives that life to secure salvation for people fallen into Satan's snare.
His betrayal, condemnation and crucifixion fulfilled the promise that He would give His life for the sheep. He bore human griefs and sorrows, was wounded for transgressions and bruised for iniquities, and bore the iniquity of all who had gone astray, bringing peace and healing. His sacrifice is sufficient evidence of His love and His power to save, so that those who believe in Him and His saving power can be freed from Satan's dominion, and He will not die a second time to persuade people to believe.
His death is a willing substitution in which He bears the transgressor's sin and liability while vindicating the holy, unchanging character of God's law. By dying He answers the claim that the law must be abolished or sin tolerated in order for sinners to be saved. He thereby opens a way for God's love, grace and power to reach all who come to Christ in penitence.
The price paid is not gold or silver but His own precious blood, suffering and cruel death to save perishing souls and set them free. By giving His life He gains people as His own in addition to ownership by creation, and the whole human family is entrusted to Him as a flock of sheep and lambs is entrusted to a shepherd. By that death He purchased every person, soul, body and spirit, and purchased all they have, so that everything possessed is only a loan from Him. Food for sustenance, time, gifts, offerings, learning, talents and money are entrusted trusts from Him as stewards of His grace and custodians of the Master's goods, securing willing service and cooperation as laborers together with God in using every talent to save souls for whom He died, with every person to give an account of entrusted talents, interest required according to entrusted capital and the measure of His gift. As the only begotten Son, one with the Father before the world was, His self-giving at Calvary is reason to honor and exalt Him, and all who obey the voice of the Chief Shepherd, who tends with pastoral care and guards through faithful under-shepherds, will not be left to be devoured by wolves.
His words express fullness of life, the abundant life He gives to His people. God breathes it into those who die to self and live to Christ. Receiving it requires entire self-renunciation and complete dying to self.
From infinite love He took human nature to reclaim the human race, like lost sheep that once rejected the shepherd's voice, and brings fallen man into close fellowship and union with divinity. Those who permit Him are returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of their soul, and He attaches them to Himself and unites and binds them to His great heart of love, without whom there is no happiness, His love not satisfied without them, and allegiance to God maintained by cordially believing in Him. As incarnate God He offered Himself so people may receive life through faith in Him, caring for every soul and making provision to save completely all who come to Him in faith, trusting that His blood cleanses from sin, with the salvation of souls as the result and reward of His suffering. His self-giving is the source of the true perfection offered in Him, fitting character for the courts above, restoring the moral image of God in man, leaving an example in His lessons for all teachers to follow and teaching human minds to escape the degradation of sin so mind and heart will not be filled with cheap imagery by following the low common tread of the world.
He laid down His life for all His sheep, not for one flock or nation only. Though scattered across hills and deserts, all are called, and everyone is invited to hear His voice, recognize Him as the true Shepherd, and follow Him. He gave His life for you personally, and doing duty and laboring for the souls of others confirms this fact, while His gift fits character and prepares people for His courts above when they receive the instruction given in His Word. His self-giving shows the worth He places on human souls, which can lead people to choose for themselves to be saved rather than be swayed by human influence, and His sacrifice is the ground of the appeal made on their behalf. It secures an eternity of bliss against Satan's play for those same souls, calls each person to value life and choose salvation, and gives power to overcome to the one who trusts in Him rather than in false self-confidence. His death restores the moral image of God in people, the youth are His purchased possession, and those who lead or care for the flock are responsible for protecting rather than corrupting it and causing its destruction.
Sheep Who Follow Him
Those who belong to Him are pictured as helpless and dependent sheep, wandering, miserable and ready to perish after the fall, exposed to sure destruction unless sought and rescued. Like a lost sheep that cannot find its own way back, they will perish unless the Shepherd seeks them, and they need to be led back to God's fold and to God Himself. His care reaches even those others despise, of every nationality, with consideration and courtesy.
Sheep and flock describe His relationship with believers: they hear His voice, are known by Him, receive eternal life, He goes before them and they follow Him. They will not follow a stranger but flee from strangers' voices because they do not know them. His voice is a sure Guide and Friend who can be trusted and who leads away from false paths into safety. Unlike fallible human leaders and human opinions and authorities, He does not lead astray, so believers are to trust God and listen to Christ rather than echo or defend men. Recognizing His voice means opening the heart to light, not resisting evidence of truth, heeding warnings, turning from selfishness, receiving the truth and light He sends, and submitting to the Holy Spirit's leading, by which they come to know God and the Saviour and receive Christ within as the hope of glory. As He led Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness, so watchmen must know His voice and warn the people, being accountable for souls left unwarned.
Those who follow are secure because He goes before them, faced danger to guard them, lived as man, overcame Satan and temptation so they may overcome, and died to save them. Though now in heaven He continually remembers and keeps His followers, so none who follows Him can be taken by the great enemy. They are secure in His and the Father's hands, will not perish, and have eternal life, with His works testifying that He acts in the Father's name and is one with the Father. He highly values and loves every sheep and lamb, knows each by name, and tenderly cares for them with utmost kindness, loving them as the Father's gift and the reward of His work and also for their own sake as His children, so no tribulation can separate them and they can trust Him. Therefore His followers can trust Him continually and at every moment, including when they suffer for the truth, because as kind, caring, merciful and tender Shepherd who gave His precious blood He identifies Himself with them and regards harm done to them as done to Christ in them.
To be a lamb of His fold is to belong to Him and receive His constant watchful care. The flock includes children who belong to Him and are watched over by Him, the youngest children and youngest members of His family, whom He loves, does not repulse, keeps His eyes upon, hears their prayers, and desires to have beautiful characters. When children give their hearts to Jesus and offer simple prayers and such service as they can give, He mingles their prayers with the incense of His own spotless merits, and the purity and loveliness of His character makes them fragrant so they rise before God as a sweet-smelling savor. Children and youth are His precious little flock, God's property, needing loving, careful protection from temptation and guidance into the fold of safety before it is too late, and they are to follow the great Shepherd. The flock is the church, which is His body and the bride, the Lamb's wife, and He is also the Father of the family, yet mere outward connection with any church does not save; only personal faith in a personal Saviour brings the soul into spiritual union with Christ.
Hirelings and False Shepherds
The good shepherd does not abandon the flock when the wolf comes and danger threatens, but dies to secure deliverance, while the hireling, whose own the sheep are not, cares only for wages, safety, ease and personal interest, and leaves and flees so that the sheep are caught and scattered. He left the honors and glories of His Father's house to save wandering sheep exposed to sure destruction, calling them with a winning voice to His fold as a safe retreat, shelter and protection, and continually caring for their good by strengthening the weak, nourishing the suffering and fainting, gathering the lambs in His arms and bosom, and leading those who know His voice and follow Him. His care is unselfish and steadfast, He knows His own and is known by them, and unlike false shepherds and hirelings who abandon the sheep when danger or trial comes, He protects them and gives them life abundantly. His self-denying love is the example and measure for ministers as under-shepherds entrusted with His flock, solemnly commanding the same interest, responsibility and diligence in feeding, strengthening the weak, nourishing the fainting and shielding from devouring beasts, with promise that the flock will prosper when His example is imitated.
His self-giving fulfills the prophecies of the promised Redeemer as the one who feeds and gathers His flock, seeks the lost, restores the injured and strengthens the weak, in contrast to Israel's unfaithful leaders who failed their trust and drove away the one He was drawing to Himself. Unlike the true Shepherd, false shepherds cast out and scatter His sheep, yet Jesus seeks the man expelled for witnessing to His power and gives him a place in the fold. The compassionate Shepherd seeks the wandering sinner because the sheep is precious as purchased by His blood, heaven is deeply concerned for its rescue, and beholding Calvary reveals God's love, moves to repentance and changes character, which condemns despising those He seeks, as when the Pharisees scorned as despised the blind man He restored to sight. The scribes and Pharisees sitting in Moses' seat stand as thieves and robbers set against Him, exercising authoritative power yet leaving the sheep unfed, which calls for examining what kind of guidance the flock receives, with far more well-organized effort to feed them and far less preaching, and modest instruction by teachers who do the Word they hold forth. The contrast between the good shepherd who cares and gives His life and the wolf who harms the sheep marks the papal pontiff as a tyrant rather than a faithful shepherd.
The verse gives the standard for testing men in trust as deacons, elders, leaders and religious instructors, exposing those who hold place without right and put a wrong mold upon the work by self-esteem, pride, dictatorial rule and love of ruling, neglecting responsibility and pursuing selfish courses instead of heeding light. Christ is the one Chief Shepherd who deals personally with each person, knows His sheep by name, calls them by name and leads them out, and because He alone is Shepherd and redeemed them by His life, no human is appointed to judge hearts and motives, force conscience, stand in mastery, rule over, whip or drive them, for judgment belongs to the Son who lived a pure sinless life on humanity's behalf. The sheep are His blood-bought people, and the marks of His crucifixion speak for every truly repentant person, so they are not the possession of human leaders. The true Shepherd's living interest for souls for whom He died does not recklessly disregard souls, push and crowd and thrust them out, work to be first, love honor and glory, or lord over heritage and shut the kingdom causing loss of souls, but humbles self, reforms self first, bears the cross, walks in His footsteps, willingly suffers reproach and practices self-denial to finish His saving work, continually counting one soul of more value than the whole world.
Ministers as Under-Shepherds
Christ as chief Shepherd is the great example and measure for ministers, Christian teachers and under-shepherds appointed under Him and entrusted with His flock. His self-denying, self-sacrificing love solemnly commands the same interest for the sheep and a felt responsibility of the charge, diligence in feeding the flock, strengthening the weak, nourishing and reviving the fainting, and shielding them from devouring beasts and danger, and when His example is imitated the flock prospers under their care. Those who serve under Him must reflect His character, being meek and lowly of heart, seeking and saving the lost and proving love by works and practical concern for others. The verse thereby exposes hirelings, who have no particular interest in the sheep because they are not their own, who labor merely for wages and study their own interests, safety and ease instead of the welfare of the flock, and who in time of danger or trial flee and leave the flock to be caught and scattered.
Through chosen, God-appointed representatives He guides and supervises the work, speaks to the people and carries forward His work for the church on earth, calling them to be reconciled to God. His church is His body and continued incarnation, with members as His working agencies to become one with Him as the great Head in unity of action, partaking of the divine nature and holding the doctrines of God's word in purity. Faithful shepherds put the sheep's interests and salvation before personal ease, convenience and wages, with commission from heaven and reward looked for when the work is finished. They willingly endure privations, weariness, hunger and hardship to save the lost and wandering, carrying the burden of laboring for souls with self-sacrificing faithfulness in the work the Master has given. They are not diverted by trifles such as bad roads, rainy weather or little matters at home, nor leave a raised interest to die out when minds are agitated in order to choose a more pleasant and easy field and be carried by the people, for unfaithfulness and carelessness in testimony and example lose souls while faithfulness is instrumental in the salvation of many, and ministers who abandon soul-work when it becomes difficult do not show the burden and self-sacrifice of a true shepherd.
Their care seeks the strayed and erring with kind invitations rather than harsh words or force, with special sustained attention to finding the lost sheep and lambs who need their care, and seeks the lost and straying to bring them back to the fold rather than abandoning them when they reject counsel or leave the church. It guards souls and watches for them, knows the people, shares sorrows, teaches, encourages in the way of life, draws to God and leads sinners from sin to a higher life and the reward of the overcomer, reflecting Christ's relation to the church and the world whose work centers on the flock's salvation. The work is more than preaching, for the faithful minister must also personally talk and pray with the people taught, visit the sick and absent, inquire after them, act on warning of spiritual condition, and restore those who gave up truth, and such care bears fruit to God's glory, while neglect leaves members vulnerable and makes a minister unworthy. Luther applied the shepherd's duty to lay down life for the sheep to the Wittenbergers entrusted by God to his care, being willing if necessary to expose himself to death for them.
Those who cooperate with God lead wandering sheep back to Him and to His fold and keep His fold for them, working on without losing time by living faith laying hold on the power of divinity. Leaders are to walk with fear and trembling before God while leading people to the cross and to the true Shepherd. Caring for the Lord's sheep is a sacred responsibility requiring fidelity to Christ, and one failing through unrepented sin cannot rightly be represented as faithful. Christ's trust in Peter to feed the lambs and sheep, entrusting to him the souls for whom He had died, was strong proof that Peter had been restored. Faithful shepherds labor to protect and save God's people, while unfaithful shepherds who abandon soul-work when difficult, wound and tear the flock apart, or corrupt the young, act contrary to duty toward sheep and lambs entrusted to their care.
Trusting and Sharing Him
The declaration is a blessed assurance of mercy and matchless grace that brings comfort and quiet. With such a Shepherd guarding them, believers show quiet loving confidence and cheerful constancy, with no striving for mastery, no desire to be first, and no peevish murmuring like fretful children. Those who need and receive that grace impart it to others and comfort them with the same assurance, trusting Him with soul and body and resting in mercy. Keeping communication with God open lets those around recognize the voice of the One who gave His life, while earnest seekers move forward in faith, follow where the true Shepherd leads through difficulty with humble trust, and bring their needs in prayer to the Advocate who loves more than any intercessor.
Because He is the Shepherd and all depend on His atonement, dissension over inferior things dishonors Him, especially when sheep crowd and push one another. His voice is a sure Guide and Friend leading away from false paths, and trust in Him calls for an end to contention over minor differences. His sheep are to be one with Him and the Father through Him, as He is one with the Father.
True religion consists in being under His guidance and following the Lamb wherever He goes, becoming like Him in thoughts, words and deeds. No path is more pleasant than the one He has pointed out and where He leads the way, and no better standard, rule or aim can be set than what He as the Way, the Truth and the Life has provided, with His gentle, meek and lowly life as the pattern to attain. His sacrifice at Calvary reveals the worth He places on each person and makes reconciliation possible, so His people imitate His example, live in obedience without trampling any holy precept, and are kept from dangerous paths and pitfalls as they follow. Those who open the Scriptures as His servants keep free from worldly entanglement, stay bound to the source of power, cut loose from whatever diverts the mind, work carefully without overtaxing their powers, and labor actively in some department under His leading; and when freedom from Satan's power is sought, faith in Christ stronger than the enemy with the strengthening of the Holy Spirit frees for service to God.
The Shepherd waits to receive the repentant and welcomes the pleading erring back to the fold rather than closing the door of hope. His self-denying, self-sacrificing love goes out to seek the lost, even fallen, perishing, bruised straying lambs ready to die, revealing mercy and pitying love with abundant grace to restore the moral image of God. He does not count sins against such a soul but counts His own righteousness to him, as shown in seeking after Edson White, in contrast to those without the Shepherd's love who pass by like priest and Levite, dishearten and discourage, and pour vitriol instead of oil. Those who live in His light receive His compassion, long forbearance and pitying tenderness and must show the same gentleness in comforting, blessing, tending the lone and fatherless, releasing captives and bringing the lost to God, never turning souls away by a harsh denunciatory spirit; and those who claim to be God's children yet neglect and discourage such a soul will answer for injustice and un-Christlikeness.
His infinite sacrifice calls followers to join Him in drawing others to the cross and to labor earnestly for the unsaved. Because He gave His own life, those who know the truth owe a debt of love expressed in earnest unselfish soul-winning, devising every means, staying wide-awake, letting no opportunity pass unimproved, doing all possible to win souls to love God and keep His commandments, and preparing a people to stand in the day of God. His followers are to devote talents, influence and even life, trusting Him to guide and sustain those who give their lives to His work.
His care is the model for guiding children and youth, the lambs purchased by His suffering, regarded as His own with deep affection and clothed with His righteousness. They need more than food but tender constant guarding, wisdom, sanctified love and gentleness reflecting Him, with seeking when they wander and wise help without delay. He loves children and youth, rejoices when Satan is repulsed, has tenderest sympathy for youth in peril through manifold temptations, sends angels to guard them, and is ever ready to go into the wilderness for the lost straying sheep. Those who guide the young must treat every soul as precious at infinite price, with patience, kindness and care after His self-denial and long-suffering, strengthening the tempted, avoiding words that turn souls wrong, feeding hungry sheep and lambs where need is rather than choosing only the convenient, encouraging obedience and righteousness, securing true education and guarded schools, correcting without overbearing mastery or uncorrected self-indulgence, protecting young workers from worldly influence with home shelter, and rebuking impatient domineering treatment.
As greater than any human physician He gave His life to save sufferers from death and pities them, and in dangerous illness when the afflicted feels at the physician's mercy the trembling soul should be pointed to Christ, who gives skill and wisdom to all physicians who ask. The sick are to look to Him in faith as the true and faithful Physician who hears prayer, bringing the sufferer into contact with the great Healer, and all may look to Him as source of health and strength, receiving His Holy Spirit and power to overcome through trust rather than false self-confidence. His Spirit in workers joins supernatural power with human effort, seeks what is ready to perish, strengthens what remains, watches for souls as those who must give account, and speaks a timely word in peril to draw souls into safe paths, in contrast to judging only from human calculation and manifesting the wolf spirit that bites, devours, ruins and destroys to meet a fearful account.
His self-sacrifice requires Christians to represent Him in all dealings with those for whom He died, without a domineering or overbearing spirit. Reading books that turn the mind from God separates the soul from the true Shepherd. Those who love darkness reject His call and follow strangers' voices instead.
Jesus declares Himself the divine, true and chief Shepherd who willingly lays down His own life by divine authority as a ransom to save His flock. Unlike the hireling who cares only for wages and flees when danger comes, He does not abandon the sheep to the wolf but dies to secure their deliverance. He knows each one by name and need, tirelessly seeks the lost at infinite cost, and rejoices with heaven when the wanderer is found. Those who are His hear His voice, refuse a stranger's voice, follow where He leads, and are kept secure in His and the Father's hands so none can be taken from Him. His self-denying love is the measure and command for all ministers and followers, who are to feed, seek, guard and give themselves for the sheep as He did.
Shepherd Picture and Setting
The verse belongs to the familiar shepherd-and-sheep illustration by which immortal truth was taught, drawn from the facts of life and experience and from the surroundings of daily life. It was chosen because it had something to interest every mind and appeal to every heart, so that seeing such familiar things would make the truth a living reality. By linking familiar daily work with the unseen, the daily task instead of being a mere round of toil bereft of higher thoughts was brightened and uplifted by constant reminders of the spiritual and the unseen. That teaching shapes character, deepens the knowledge of God, leads to doing good, and reaches into eternity.
The picture shows the shepherd's actual work of staying with the flock day and night, leading to green pastures and grassy fields by the river and to living waters and living streams to quench thirst and refresh the spirit. It shows defending the flock from wolves, wild beasts and robbers, always being with them to keep and guard them. It shows seeking the lost sheep and carrying them back to the fold, patiently caring for the afflicted and straying, strengthening the weak, nourishing the suffering and fainting, lovingly providing for the young and weak, laboring for sheep and lambs, gathering lambs and bidding the flock draw near. The familiar sight of a shepherd watching his flock was to remind the disciples of that care after He left them. Yet they little understood His care and the loneliness of His life among humanity until, when His body was taken from the cross, they grieved as sheep without a shepherd and recognized the love they had failed to show.
The verse presents Him as the divine I AM, God with humanity, the assurance of deliverance from sin and the source of power to obey God's law. The shepherd image fulfills the prophecies and symbols of the promised Redeemer as the one who feeds and gathers His flock, seeks the lost, restores the injured, strengthens the weak, and carries the lambs in His bosom. His self-giving care stands in contrast to Israel's unfaithful leaders who failed their trust and to thieves and false claimants who seek their own gain. His life, mission and death fulfill those prophecies, as the gentle and self-sacrificing Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep.
Jesus the Good Shepherd
Jesus is the true Shepherd, uniquely qualified above all others, the chief, great and divine Shepherd, the one Chief Shepherd and Captain under whom all who bear His name serve. He is the only begotten Son, one with the Father before the world was, and one with the Father in claim and work. As Elder Brother He came to dwell among humanity to teach the way of life, joining His interests to fallen people, sharing human weakness and being tempted in every way yet without sin. He seeks grace from the Father, prays earnestly for His followers and for their safety from temptation and loss, and comes from prayer strengthened to give them assurance and hope and to strengthen them for duty and trial.
After the fall He saw His sheep in pitiable condition as wandering, miserable and ready to perish, exposed to sure destruction, and He left the honors and glories of His Father's house to become a Shepherd to save them. He calls them with a winning voice to His fold as a safe and sure retreat from robbers, a shelter from scorching heat and chilling blasts, and a protection for their good. He goes before them, they love Him, hear His voice and follow Him, and will not follow a stranger but flee because they do not know strangers' voices. His care is continually exercised for their good in strengthening the weak, nourishing the suffering and fainting, gathering the lambs in His arms and carrying them in His bosom, and leading them to safety.
He is gentle in spirit, tender, compassionate, kind, caring and merciful, meek and lowly in heart, with no jealousy, envy or iniquity in Him. His shepherdly care joins the affection of a parent with the grace of a compassionate Saviour, giving His life and His precious blood for His people and presenting His blessings in ways that awaken desire to receive them. Those who follow His example are led aright, pass over the same ground where Adam fell to show temptation can be overcome, and keep obedient without trampling any holy precept.
He knows His own and is known by them, knows every sheep by name however large the flock, knows the wants of each, reads hidden unspoken grief, and is touched with the feeling of infirmities. The distress of every sheep and lamb touches His heart of sympathizing love, their cry reaches His ear, He watches with greater care than any human shepherd, and He died even for the little ones so that injury to one calls the offender to account. He loves precious souls for whom He died with deep affection as the Father's gift and the reward of His work and for their own sake as His children, so no tribulation can separate them and they can trust Him continually even when suffering for truth, for He identifies with them and regards harm to them as done to Him. He welcomes weary workers with encouragement, sees prayers and charity as with Cornelius, prayed through the night for strength to meet temptation and for those who did not pray for themselves, bids His flock draw near to lead them to green pastures and living streams to quench thirst and refresh spirits, and leads each seeker step by step from error into scriptural light.
He tirelessly seeks the lost and helps those in need, ministering with tender grace to sin-sick, burdened, guilty and helpless people threatened by Satan's snares and in danger of destruction to bring them back to God. He pities and rescues from darkness, brings heavenly truth simply so all can understand, speaks at the yearly festivals, assures the poor and lowly of God's love, and brings healing and strength to those burdened by sin and sorrow. Even when crowds frustrate His hope for rest He ministers throughout the day in love and pity, and those driven from the fold through lack of love are to be sought, pleaded with, prayed for and drawn back.
No straying sheep is overlooked or left without help, for He searches for the wanderer at cost of suffering shown by blood along the way and thorn-pierced hands. Everyone who submits to being ransomed will be saved from sin, for His pierced hands testify to power to save those purchased at infinite cost, giving wanderers reason for courage and confidence. When the lost is found heaven rejoices and He calls others to rejoice with Him, which calls for patience toward those not yet ready to rejoice. Beholding Calvary reveals God's love, moves to repentance and changes character, while despising those He seeks, as in scorning the blind man restored to sight, stands condemned.
He does not abandon the wounded, weak, tried or tempted but strengthens and delivers them from the enemy, and His self-sacrifice makes it possible to believe and trust fully in His love and care. He is sufficient as tender, earnest, interested Shepherd as well as great High Priest and Advocate, far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named. Trusting Him gives power above all human power, and obeying Him in all things gives faith and courage and patience and love. Studying His life gives constantly increasing knowledge of His power and human weakness, beholding Him cultivates every Christian virtue and makes sin appear in all its terrible deformity.
Giving His Life
He gives His life willingly, and by divine authority He has power to lay it down and to take it up again as He chooses. His death is a ransom for many, bearing the punishment due to transgressors of God's law. By taking humanity and suffering without sin He upholds the law as holy, just, good and unchangeable, reveals sin's true gravity, preserves the honor of God's authority, and secures eternal life while magnifying and honoring the law. Unlike leaders who abandon those in their care, He is the true shepherd of God's people who knows them as they know Him, and He gives that life to secure salvation for people fallen into Satan's snare.
His betrayal, condemnation and crucifixion fulfilled the promise that He would give His life for the sheep. He bore human griefs and sorrows, was wounded for transgressions and bruised for iniquities, and bore the iniquity of all who had gone astray, bringing peace and healing. His sacrifice is sufficient evidence of His love and His power to save, so that those who believe in Him and His saving power can be freed from Satan's dominion, and He will not die a second time to persuade people to believe.
His death is a willing substitution in which He bears the transgressor's sin and liability while vindicating the holy, unchanging character of God's law. By dying He answers the claim that the law must be abolished or sin tolerated in order for sinners to be saved. He thereby opens a way for God's love, grace and power to reach all who come to Christ in penitence.
The price paid is not gold or silver but His own precious blood, suffering and cruel death to save perishing souls and set them free. By giving His life He gains people as His own in addition to ownership by creation, and the whole human family is entrusted to Him as a flock of sheep and lambs is entrusted to a shepherd. By that death He purchased every person, soul, body and spirit, and purchased all they have, so that everything possessed is only a loan from Him. Food for sustenance, time, gifts, offerings, learning, talents and money are entrusted trusts from Him as stewards of His grace and custodians of the Master's goods, securing willing service and cooperation as laborers together with God in using every talent to save souls for whom He died, with every person to give an account of entrusted talents, interest required according to entrusted capital and the measure of His gift. As the only begotten Son, one with the Father before the world was, His self-giving at Calvary is reason to honor and exalt Him, and all who obey the voice of the Chief Shepherd, who tends with pastoral care and guards through faithful under-shepherds, will not be left to be devoured by wolves.
His words express fullness of life, the abundant life He gives to His people. God breathes it into those who die to self and live to Christ. Receiving it requires entire self-renunciation and complete dying to self.
From infinite love He took human nature to reclaim the human race, like lost sheep that once rejected the shepherd's voice, and brings fallen man into close fellowship and union with divinity. Those who permit Him are returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of their soul, and He attaches them to Himself and unites and binds them to His great heart of love, without whom there is no happiness, His love not satisfied without them, and allegiance to God maintained by cordially believing in Him. As incarnate God He offered Himself so people may receive life through faith in Him, caring for every soul and making provision to save completely all who come to Him in faith, trusting that His blood cleanses from sin, with the salvation of souls as the result and reward of His suffering. His self-giving is the source of the true perfection offered in Him, fitting character for the courts above, restoring the moral image of God in man, leaving an example in His lessons for all teachers to follow and teaching human minds to escape the degradation of sin so mind and heart will not be filled with cheap imagery by following the low common tread of the world.
He laid down His life for all His sheep, not for one flock or nation only. Though scattered across hills and deserts, all are called, and everyone is invited to hear His voice, recognize Him as the true Shepherd, and follow Him. He gave His life for you personally, and doing duty and laboring for the souls of others confirms this fact, while His gift fits character and prepares people for His courts above when they receive the instruction given in His Word. His self-giving shows the worth He places on human souls, which can lead people to choose for themselves to be saved rather than be swayed by human influence, and His sacrifice is the ground of the appeal made on their behalf. It secures an eternity of bliss against Satan's play for those same souls, calls each person to value life and choose salvation, and gives power to overcome to the one who trusts in Him rather than in false self-confidence. His death restores the moral image of God in people, the youth are His purchased possession, and those who lead or care for the flock are responsible for protecting rather than corrupting it and causing its destruction.
Sheep Who Follow Him
Those who belong to Him are pictured as helpless and dependent sheep, wandering, miserable and ready to perish after the fall, exposed to sure destruction unless sought and rescued. Like a lost sheep that cannot find its own way back, they will perish unless the Shepherd seeks them, and they need to be led back to God's fold and to God Himself. His care reaches even those others despise, of every nationality, with consideration and courtesy.
Sheep and flock describe His relationship with believers: they hear His voice, are known by Him, receive eternal life, He goes before them and they follow Him. They will not follow a stranger but flee from strangers' voices because they do not know them. His voice is a sure Guide and Friend who can be trusted and who leads away from false paths into safety. Unlike fallible human leaders and human opinions and authorities, He does not lead astray, so believers are to trust God and listen to Christ rather than echo or defend men. Recognizing His voice means opening the heart to light, not resisting evidence of truth, heeding warnings, turning from selfishness, receiving the truth and light He sends, and submitting to the Holy Spirit's leading, by which they come to know God and the Saviour and receive Christ within as the hope of glory. As He led Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness, so watchmen must know His voice and warn the people, being accountable for souls left unwarned.
Those who follow are secure because He goes before them, faced danger to guard them, lived as man, overcame Satan and temptation so they may overcome, and died to save them. Though now in heaven He continually remembers and keeps His followers, so none who follows Him can be taken by the great enemy. They are secure in His and the Father's hands, will not perish, and have eternal life, with His works testifying that He acts in the Father's name and is one with the Father. He highly values and loves every sheep and lamb, knows each by name, and tenderly cares for them with utmost kindness, loving them as the Father's gift and the reward of His work and also for their own sake as His children, so no tribulation can separate them and they can trust Him. Therefore His followers can trust Him continually and at every moment, including when they suffer for the truth, because as kind, caring, merciful and tender Shepherd who gave His precious blood He identifies Himself with them and regards harm done to them as done to Christ in them.
To be a lamb of His fold is to belong to Him and receive His constant watchful care. The flock includes children who belong to Him and are watched over by Him, the youngest children and youngest members of His family, whom He loves, does not repulse, keeps His eyes upon, hears their prayers, and desires to have beautiful characters. When children give their hearts to Jesus and offer simple prayers and such service as they can give, He mingles their prayers with the incense of His own spotless merits, and the purity and loveliness of His character makes them fragrant so they rise before God as a sweet-smelling savor. Children and youth are His precious little flock, God's property, needing loving, careful protection from temptation and guidance into the fold of safety before it is too late, and they are to follow the great Shepherd. The flock is the church, which is His body and the bride, the Lamb's wife, and He is also the Father of the family, yet mere outward connection with any church does not save; only personal faith in a personal Saviour brings the soul into spiritual union with Christ.
Hirelings and False Shepherds
The good shepherd does not abandon the flock when the wolf comes and danger threatens, but dies to secure deliverance, while the hireling, whose own the sheep are not, cares only for wages, safety, ease and personal interest, and leaves and flees so that the sheep are caught and scattered. He left the honors and glories of His Father's house to save wandering sheep exposed to sure destruction, calling them with a winning voice to His fold as a safe retreat, shelter and protection, and continually caring for their good by strengthening the weak, nourishing the suffering and fainting, gathering the lambs in His arms and bosom, and leading those who know His voice and follow Him. His care is unselfish and steadfast, He knows His own and is known by them, and unlike false shepherds and hirelings who abandon the sheep when danger or trial comes, He protects them and gives them life abundantly. His self-denying love is the example and measure for ministers as under-shepherds entrusted with His flock, solemnly commanding the same interest, responsibility and diligence in feeding, strengthening the weak, nourishing the fainting and shielding from devouring beasts, with promise that the flock will prosper when His example is imitated.
His self-giving fulfills the prophecies of the promised Redeemer as the one who feeds and gathers His flock, seeks the lost, restores the injured and strengthens the weak, in contrast to Israel's unfaithful leaders who failed their trust and drove away the one He was drawing to Himself. Unlike the true Shepherd, false shepherds cast out and scatter His sheep, yet Jesus seeks the man expelled for witnessing to His power and gives him a place in the fold. The compassionate Shepherd seeks the wandering sinner because the sheep is precious as purchased by His blood, heaven is deeply concerned for its rescue, and beholding Calvary reveals God's love, moves to repentance and changes character, which condemns despising those He seeks, as when the Pharisees scorned as despised the blind man He restored to sight. The scribes and Pharisees sitting in Moses' seat stand as thieves and robbers set against Him, exercising authoritative power yet leaving the sheep unfed, which calls for examining what kind of guidance the flock receives, with far more well-organized effort to feed them and far less preaching, and modest instruction by teachers who do the Word they hold forth. The contrast between the good shepherd who cares and gives His life and the wolf who harms the sheep marks the papal pontiff as a tyrant rather than a faithful shepherd.
The verse gives the standard for testing men in trust as deacons, elders, leaders and religious instructors, exposing those who hold place without right and put a wrong mold upon the work by self-esteem, pride, dictatorial rule and love of ruling, neglecting responsibility and pursuing selfish courses instead of heeding light. Christ is the one Chief Shepherd who deals personally with each person, knows His sheep by name, calls them by name and leads them out, and because He alone is Shepherd and redeemed them by His life, no human is appointed to judge hearts and motives, force conscience, stand in mastery, rule over, whip or drive them, for judgment belongs to the Son who lived a pure sinless life on humanity's behalf. The sheep are His blood-bought people, and the marks of His crucifixion speak for every truly repentant person, so they are not the possession of human leaders. The true Shepherd's living interest for souls for whom He died does not recklessly disregard souls, push and crowd and thrust them out, work to be first, love honor and glory, or lord over heritage and shut the kingdom causing loss of souls, but humbles self, reforms self first, bears the cross, walks in His footsteps, willingly suffers reproach and practices self-denial to finish His saving work, continually counting one soul of more value than the whole world.
Ministers as Under-Shepherds
Christ as chief Shepherd is the great example and measure for ministers, Christian teachers and under-shepherds appointed under Him and entrusted with His flock. His self-denying, self-sacrificing love solemnly commands the same interest for the sheep and a felt responsibility of the charge, diligence in feeding the flock, strengthening the weak, nourishing and reviving the fainting, and shielding them from devouring beasts and danger, and when His example is imitated the flock prospers under their care. Those who serve under Him must reflect His character, being meek and lowly of heart, seeking and saving the lost and proving love by works and practical concern for others. The verse thereby exposes hirelings, who have no particular interest in the sheep because they are not their own, who labor merely for wages and study their own interests, safety and ease instead of the welfare of the flock, and who in time of danger or trial flee and leave the flock to be caught and scattered.
Through chosen, God-appointed representatives He guides and supervises the work, speaks to the people and carries forward His work for the church on earth, calling them to be reconciled to God. His church is His body and continued incarnation, with members as His working agencies to become one with Him as the great Head in unity of action, partaking of the divine nature and holding the doctrines of God's word in purity. Faithful shepherds put the sheep's interests and salvation before personal ease, convenience and wages, with commission from heaven and reward looked for when the work is finished. They willingly endure privations, weariness, hunger and hardship to save the lost and wandering, carrying the burden of laboring for souls with self-sacrificing faithfulness in the work the Master has given. They are not diverted by trifles such as bad roads, rainy weather or little matters at home, nor leave a raised interest to die out when minds are agitated in order to choose a more pleasant and easy field and be carried by the people, for unfaithfulness and carelessness in testimony and example lose souls while faithfulness is instrumental in the salvation of many, and ministers who abandon soul-work when it becomes difficult do not show the burden and self-sacrifice of a true shepherd.
Their care seeks the strayed and erring with kind invitations rather than harsh words or force, with special sustained attention to finding the lost sheep and lambs who need their care, and seeks the lost and straying to bring them back to the fold rather than abandoning them when they reject counsel or leave the church. It guards souls and watches for them, knows the people, shares sorrows, teaches, encourages in the way of life, draws to God and leads sinners from sin to a higher life and the reward of the overcomer, reflecting Christ's relation to the church and the world whose work centers on the flock's salvation. The work is more than preaching, for the faithful minister must also personally talk and pray with the people taught, visit the sick and absent, inquire after them, act on warning of spiritual condition, and restore those who gave up truth, and such care bears fruit to God's glory, while neglect leaves members vulnerable and makes a minister unworthy. Luther applied the shepherd's duty to lay down life for the sheep to the Wittenbergers entrusted by God to his care, being willing if necessary to expose himself to death for them.
Those who cooperate with God lead wandering sheep back to Him and to His fold and keep His fold for them, working on without losing time by living faith laying hold on the power of divinity. Leaders are to walk with fear and trembling before God while leading people to the cross and to the true Shepherd. Caring for the Lord's sheep is a sacred responsibility requiring fidelity to Christ, and one failing through unrepented sin cannot rightly be represented as faithful. Christ's trust in Peter to feed the lambs and sheep, entrusting to him the souls for whom He had died, was strong proof that Peter had been restored. Faithful shepherds labor to protect and save God's people, while unfaithful shepherds who abandon soul-work when difficult, wound and tear the flock apart, or corrupt the young, act contrary to duty toward sheep and lambs entrusted to their care.
Trusting and Sharing Him
The declaration is a blessed assurance of mercy and matchless grace that brings comfort and quiet. With such a Shepherd guarding them, believers show quiet loving confidence and cheerful constancy, with no striving for mastery, no desire to be first, and no peevish murmuring like fretful children. Those who need and receive that grace impart it to others and comfort them with the same assurance, trusting Him with soul and body and resting in mercy. Keeping communication with God open lets those around recognize the voice of the One who gave His life, while earnest seekers move forward in faith, follow where the true Shepherd leads through difficulty with humble trust, and bring their needs in prayer to the Advocate who loves more than any intercessor.
Because He is the Shepherd and all depend on His atonement, dissension over inferior things dishonors Him, especially when sheep crowd and push one another. His voice is a sure Guide and Friend leading away from false paths, and trust in Him calls for an end to contention over minor differences. His sheep are to be one with Him and the Father through Him, as He is one with the Father.
True religion consists in being under His guidance and following the Lamb wherever He goes, becoming like Him in thoughts, words and deeds. No path is more pleasant than the one He has pointed out and where He leads the way, and no better standard, rule or aim can be set than what He as the Way, the Truth and the Life has provided, with His gentle, meek and lowly life as the pattern to attain. His sacrifice at Calvary reveals the worth He places on each person and makes reconciliation possible, so His people imitate His example, live in obedience without trampling any holy precept, and are kept from dangerous paths and pitfalls as they follow. Those who open the Scriptures as His servants keep free from worldly entanglement, stay bound to the source of power, cut loose from whatever diverts the mind, work carefully without overtaxing their powers, and labor actively in some department under His leading; and when freedom from Satan's power is sought, faith in Christ stronger than the enemy with the strengthening of the Holy Spirit frees for service to God.
The Shepherd waits to receive the repentant and welcomes the pleading erring back to the fold rather than closing the door of hope. His self-denying, self-sacrificing love goes out to seek the lost, even fallen, perishing, bruised straying lambs ready to die, revealing mercy and pitying love with abundant grace to restore the moral image of God. He does not count sins against such a soul but counts His own righteousness to him, as shown in seeking after Edson White, in contrast to those without the Shepherd's love who pass by like priest and Levite, dishearten and discourage, and pour vitriol instead of oil. Those who live in His light receive His compassion, long forbearance and pitying tenderness and must show the same gentleness in comforting, blessing, tending the lone and fatherless, releasing captives and bringing the lost to God, never turning souls away by a harsh denunciatory spirit; and those who claim to be God's children yet neglect and discourage such a soul will answer for injustice and un-Christlikeness.
His infinite sacrifice calls followers to join Him in drawing others to the cross and to labor earnestly for the unsaved. Because He gave His own life, those who know the truth owe a debt of love expressed in earnest unselfish soul-winning, devising every means, staying wide-awake, letting no opportunity pass unimproved, doing all possible to win souls to love God and keep His commandments, and preparing a people to stand in the day of God. His followers are to devote talents, influence and even life, trusting Him to guide and sustain those who give their lives to His work.
His care is the model for guiding children and youth, the lambs purchased by His suffering, regarded as His own with deep affection and clothed with His righteousness. They need more than food but tender constant guarding, wisdom, sanctified love and gentleness reflecting Him, with seeking when they wander and wise help without delay. He loves children and youth, rejoices when Satan is repulsed, has tenderest sympathy for youth in peril through manifold temptations, sends angels to guard them, and is ever ready to go into the wilderness for the lost straying sheep. Those who guide the young must treat every soul as precious at infinite price, with patience, kindness and care after His self-denial and long-suffering, strengthening the tempted, avoiding words that turn souls wrong, feeding hungry sheep and lambs where need is rather than choosing only the convenient, encouraging obedience and righteousness, securing true education and guarded schools, correcting without overbearing mastery or uncorrected self-indulgence, protecting young workers from worldly influence with home shelter, and rebuking impatient domineering treatment.
As greater than any human physician He gave His life to save sufferers from death and pities them, and in dangerous illness when the afflicted feels at the physician's mercy the trembling soul should be pointed to Christ, who gives skill and wisdom to all physicians who ask. The sick are to look to Him in faith as the true and faithful Physician who hears prayer, bringing the sufferer into contact with the great Healer, and all may look to Him as source of health and strength, receiving His Holy Spirit and power to overcome through trust rather than false self-confidence. His Spirit in workers joins supernatural power with human effort, seeks what is ready to perish, strengthens what remains, watches for souls as those who must give account, and speaks a timely word in peril to draw souls into safe paths, in contrast to judging only from human calculation and manifesting the wolf spirit that bites, devours, ruins and destroys to meet a fearful account.
His self-sacrifice requires Christians to represent Him in all dealings with those for whom He died, without a domineering or overbearing spirit. Reading books that turn the mind from God separates the soul from the true Shepherd. Those who love darkness reject His call and follow strangers' voices instead.