Topical Bible: The Wolf: Destructive to Flocks of Sheep

◄ The Wolf: Destructive to Flocks of Sheep ►

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In biblical literature, the wolf is often depicted as a symbol of danger and destruction, particularly in relation to flocks of sheep. This imagery is used to convey the threat posed by false prophets, wicked leaders, and other malevolent forces that seek to harm the people of God.

Biblical References:

1. Matthew 7:15 : "Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." In this passage, Jesus warns His followers to be vigilant against those who disguise themselves as righteous but are, in reality, destructive and deceitful. The wolf, in this context, represents the hidden danger of false teachings and the need for discernment among believers.

2. John 10:12 : "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." Here, Jesus contrasts the good shepherd, who protects the sheep, with the hired hand, who lacks commitment and flees in the face of danger. The wolf symbolizes the external threats that can scatter and harm the community of believers when they are not under the care of a true shepherd.

3. Ezekiel 22:27 : "Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain." In this Old Testament passage, the wolf is used metaphorically to describe corrupt leaders who exploit and oppress the people for their own benefit. The imagery underscores the destructive nature of those who abuse their power and fail to uphold justice.

4. Acts 20:29 : "I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock." The Apostle Paul, addressing the Ephesian elders, warns of the impending threat of false teachers who will infiltrate the church. The wolf here is a metaphor for those who will introduce heresies and lead believers astray, emphasizing the need for vigilance and steadfastness in the faith.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

The wolf, as a predator, naturally evokes fear and caution. In the pastoral context of the Bible, where sheep represent the people of God, the wolf is a fitting symbol for any force that seeks to devour and destroy the faithful. This imagery serves as a powerful reminder of the spiritual warfare that believers face and the importance of remaining under the guidance and protection of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

Throughout Scripture, the wolf's destructive nature is consistently associated with deception, corruption, and the scattering of the faithful. This portrayal calls for a response of alertness, discernment, and reliance on God’s truth to guard against the insidious threats that can undermine the integrity and unity of the church.

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

Library

A Treatise to Prove that no one Can Harm the Man who Does not ...
... which ruins it; iron to rust, wool to moth, flocks of sheep ... regard that alone as
an injury, which is destructive to it ... of a wild beast, fiercer than a wolf or a ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/a treatise to prove that.htm

Book ii. Jerome Answers the Second, Third, and Fourth Propositions ...
... as though they were compelled to devour a wolf or a ... For nothing is so destructive
to the mind as a full ... houses, and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/book ii jerome answers the.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... of wings, the head of a lion, vulture, hyaena, or wolf; when they ... Nergal became the
feverish and destructive summer sun.* Merodach was transformed into the ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

St. Gregory the Great.
... was the hardest, the longest, the most destructive of all ... lead the proud, and hide
the wolf's teeth in ... true pastors feed and rule the flocks severally assigned ...
/.../allies/the formation of christendom volume vi/chapter v st gregory the.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... Cant 2:1)], shall be a fold for flocks, and the ... gather the remnant of Israel"as the
sheep of Bozrah ... been of old a rebellious city, and destructive to kings ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

part ii
... grassy pasture land of the Gospel and the writings of the Holy Fathers, in order
to know where to pasture his sheep; he ought ... Sin is foolish and destructive. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm