The sheep of His pasture
Shortly after moving to a rural county in Georgia, I purchased seven ewes and a ram. We raised sheep for eight years and had many eventful experiences—some quite humorous and others heartbreaking. One thing in particular stands out in my mind: being called a sheep is not a complimentary term. The Bible has so much to say about sheep and the shepherd. It was Isaiah 53:6 that my mother used to lead me to Christ. Sheep are known for “going astray” and “wanting their own way.”
The concept of the Lord’s people being portrayed as sheep is not unique to the New Testament. David, as a shepherd boy, used this correlation more than once. The much-loved 23rd Psalm starts out, “The Lord is my shepherd…” and describes the care of a shepherd for his sheep. Psalm 100 reminds us that “we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.” The prophet Ezekiel, in chapter 34, describes the slack shepherd of Israel in contrast to the divine Shepherd’s care. The chapter ends with the Lord’s words, “‘And ye are My flock, the flock of My pasture, are men, and I am your God,’ saith the Lord God.”
When we come to the gospels, we find sheep and shepherds mentioned 34 times. The context is primarily a continuation of the metaphor used of Israel and the Lord from the Old Testament. Some references are clearly for the nation of Israel, such as Matthew 10:6, “But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Other passages are more applicable to the disciples and followers of Christ in His earthly ministry, such as Mark 14:27, “All ye shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, ‘I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’” Some verses certainly include the New Testament believer, such as John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”
There are, however, some references specifically to the New Testament church. One of these is John 10:16: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd.” Writing to the Ephesians, Paul speaks of these two groups of sheep now made a single flock under the same Shepherd (Eph. 2:14-18; 3:1-7). Another passage which is clearly directed to the church is John 21:15-17. The Lord’s exhortation to Peter includes three lovely statements: “Pasture My lambs,” “Shepherd My sheep,” and “Pasture My sheep.” As Peter pens his first epistle, he quotes Isaiah 53 and completes the thought with these words: “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (1 Pet. 2:25).
The church as a flock
The church is beautifully presented within this metaphor in many ways.
1. The Lord Jesus Christ is portrayed in a lovely shepherd triad. He is the:
Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11) : His saving work
Great Shepherd (Heb. 13:20-21): His perfecting work
Chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4) – His glorifying work
2. The local oversight of a New Testament assembly is called by various terms, but the work specifically involves the thought of shepherding. Acts 20:28 is a good example: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed [lit. ‘to tend as a shepherd’] the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.”
3. One of the gifts given to the church, as recorded in Ephesians 4:11, is that of a pastor. Although this role has typically evolved into a position which is not supported by the Scriptures, the word actually refers to a work among the people of God. It is literally translated “a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks.” The operative word there is “tends.” It is far more than feeding. It involves the total care and protection of the sheep to ensure their health and well-being.
4. The local church is called a flock five times in the New Testament: Acts 20:28, 29; 1 Cor. 9:7; 1 Pet. 5:2, 3. It is interesting to note that, in all five instances, the context involves exhortation to shepherds regarding their conduct, relationship, and work within the flock.
5. New Testament believers are called sheep on at least seven occasions: Jn. 10:16; 21:15-17; Rom. 8:36; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25.
Practical consequences
Having seen clearly the biblical use of this metaphor, we might now consider some applications.
1. Within this concept of the flock we have an obvious transition of dispensations, from Law to grace, or from Israel to the church. First note this transition in John 10:16. Christ refers to the flock of Israel as a “fold”; at the end of the verse, when referring to the gathering together of Jewish and Gentile believers, He uses an entirely different word for fold, which is more accurately translated “flock.” Within this verse we move from the fold of Judaism to the flock of Christianity.
2. Shepherds in our Lord’s day lived and slept among the sheep. Sheep have a distinct odor—a pleasant odor if you like sheep. It has been said of the first century shepherds that they smelled like sheep. Peter makes a similar point: “Feed the flock of God, which is among you…neither as being lords over…but examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:2-3). The local shepherds are under-shepherds to Christ, the Chief Shepherd. They are also among the sheep, serving with humility.
3. In John 10:27, the Lord states, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” When we had a pasture full of sheep, I would often bring friends and visitors out to the back fence to see the sheep. They might be at the far end of the field grazing or resting. I would suggest to the friends that they call the sheep. They would call and call and to no avail. The sheep paid them no notice. Then I would say, “Let me try.” I would call them by their names. Immediately, their heads would turn and rise. Soon they were on their feet trotting over to the fence where we stood. I explained that I was the one who fed them, watered them, cared for their wounds, cleaned their feet, and killed their enemies. I was the one who sheared off the heavy wool in early summer and affectionately stroked their broad foreheads, while looking for mites and insects in their ears and nose. They knew me and I knew them. This is what God expects of His under-shepherds. It is hard work. And the work gets even harder when the sheep are rebellious (see Heb. 13:17).
4. Sheep are largely defenseless creatures. They have two things that provide a measure of protection, until the shepherd comes to their aid. Their heavy coat of wool which makes it hard for the wolves to penetrate at first. Secondly, they have each other. They are a flock, a group. When under attack, they huddle together for protection of each other. When a sheep gets away from the group, the wolf can quickly bring the sheep down. As believers, the wolves will attack (Acts 20:29-30). The protection offered by the group, the flock, with godly under-shepherds, becomes a haven of security. The wandering believer, away from the flock, is in grave danger. Shepherds, go after the straying sheep (Lk. 15:4).
Consider the Lord Jesus Christ. John declared Him to be the Lamb of God (Jn. 1:29). But He is also the Shepherd. He laid down His life for the sheep. He knows how to tend the sheep. He loves His sheep. We are precious to Him. How thankful we can be to be one of His flock!