Woe To You Shepherds

“Woe to You Shepherds”

By: Joe Mack Cherry

I. Introduction

A. Much discussion about the passage amongst the scholars.

1. Many believe this is a Messianic Prophecy referring to the first coming of Christ and the establishment of His Kingdom.

a. FF Bruce says, “ It is a Messianic prediction in the fullest sense.”

b. If this was a true prophecy, I believe it had dual purpose.

• Coming of Christ

• Ousting of the evil, lazy, overseers of Israel from a spiritual standpoint.

2. Some believe that it only refers to the rulers and judges up to the day Christ came to earth.

a. Many of the Kings that led the children of Israel were evil.

b. Most every king that held the Israelites in bondage was evil.

c. Those of this persuasion seem to emphatically recuse the Israelites that shepherded the people during that

time.

d. There are several examples of priests bowing to evil.

• Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu were killed for offering up “strange” fire in regard to the burning of animals

sacrifices.

• In I Sam., Eli’s sons Hophni and Phineas were taking more meat from the sacrifices than the priestly

allocation God allowed. They also slept with women who were dedicated for the caretaking duties of the

Tabernacle.

3. There is a third interpretation offered that seems most reasonable to me.

a. Adam Clark writes, “The prophet is commanded to declare the dreadful judgments of God against the

covetous shepherds of Israel, who feed themselves and not their flocks; by which emblem the priests and the Levites are intended, who in Ezekial’s time were corrupt, and the chief cause of Israel’s apostacy and ruin.”

b. He also regards this passage as a Messianic prophecy.

c. If this refers to future renunciation of evil shepherds, these evil shepherds most assuredly would be the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Herodians who were erroneously leading the Jews when Christ came to earth.

B. Question

1. Why the controversy?

a. One scholar said that No one wants to be accused of neglecting the flock.

b. We must remember that commentators are human and not divine. Could it be that

some of these commentators were also leaders and guilty of the sins spelled out in this 34th Chapter of Ezekial?

c. It’s a lot easier to point out governmental flaws than it is to accept that the flock may be suffering from lack of leadership of which some of us are a part.

2. Will God intervene on behalf of the flock, if they are not being led properly? Yes!

3. Vs 10 – “I will take the shepherd away from the flock and tend to them myself…”

4. God gave us the Good Shepherd in Jesus Christ. John 10:27-28-“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me…”

II. Body

A. Vs 1-2

1. Feed my Flock read vs 2

a. As we will see in the following verses, there is a lot more to feeding the flock than just “spiritual” food;

however, this is the number one responsibility of a leader/shepherd.

b. There are many areas in which a flock needs nurturing and leaders must be willing to go at any time. In a sense, they are “spiritual” doctors who take an oath to God to tend to His flock.

2. Leaders must realize that God is forever watching and taking notice of how leaders carry out their duties. They are under constant scrutiny due to their position.

3. Some may think that God is being harder on leaders than He is on the congregation. Leaders will fail at times like all of us and God forgives them when they ask however:

a. Jas. 3:1 – “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.”

b. I am probably repeating myself but anyone who takes on the role of a leader is responsible for more than himself and his family. He has a flock to consider and a flock is more than just his family.

c. We see that it is no small thing to take on a leadership position.

B. Vs 3

1. These shepherds were feasting on the sacrifices of the people.

a. Like Eli’s sons were in I Sam. 2

b. Leviticus explicitly lays out the way priests were to take their portion of the offering.

c. They were to die on the same day which they did in a battle with the Philistines. I Sam 4.

2. They were shearing the sacrifices and making fine clothes for themselves.

3. Both offences without regard for those of the flock who were in need.

4. Remind you of any other people in the Bible? Pharisees

C. Vs 4

1. The weak you have not strengthened. The flock as a whole or individually can become vulnerable at times.