Topical Bible: Shepherds: The Unfaithfulness of Hireling, Alluded To

◄ Shepherds: The Unfaithfulness of Hireling, Alluded To ►

Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical literature, the role of a shepherd is often used metaphorically to describe leaders, particularly spiritual leaders, who are entrusted with the care and guidance of God's people. The imagery of shepherds is rich throughout Scripture, symbolizing protection, provision, and leadership. However, the Bible also contrasts the faithful shepherd with the unfaithful hireling, highlighting the dangers and consequences of neglectful leadership.

The concept of the hireling is most explicitly addressed in the Gospel of John. Jesus, in His discourse on the Good Shepherd, contrasts Himself with the hireling, emphasizing the hireling's lack of genuine care for the sheep. In John 10:12-13 , Jesus states, "The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep."

This passage underscores the hireling's primary motivation: self-preservation rather than the welfare of the flock. Unlike the true shepherd, who is willing to lay down his life for the sheep, the hireling's commitment is superficial and contingent upon personal safety and gain. The hireling's unfaithfulness is marked by a lack of ownership and responsibility, leading to vulnerability and harm for the sheep.

The Old Testament also alludes to the unfaithfulness of leaders who act as hirelings. In Ezekiel 34, God, through the prophet, rebukes the shepherds of Israel for their failure to care for the flock. Ezekiel 34:2-4 declares, "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock. You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.'"

Here, the shepherds' neglect and self-interest are condemned, as they prioritize their own needs over the needs of the people they are meant to serve. This dereliction of duty results in the scattering and suffering of the flock, much like the consequences of the hireling's abandonment in the New Testament.

The unfaithfulness of hirelings serves as a warning to those in positions of leadership within the faith community. It calls for a reflection on the nature of true shepherding, which is characterized by selflessness, sacrifice, and a deep commitment to the well-being of the flock. The biblical narrative consistently elevates the ideal of the Good Shepherd, who embodies these virtues, as the model for all who are entrusted with the care of God's people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 10:12
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep.
Torrey's Topical Textbook