Publisher's Synopsis
The apostle Peter called Jesus "the Chief Shepherd" (1 Peter 5:4) But this same Peter also admonished earth-bound men, elders of the church, to be shepherds to the body of Christ. Many "Franchised (non-denominational) Body of Christ's" maintain the notion that they are following the Word of God. The unspoken (and sometimes spoken) charge is that there is no need to follow how the Holy Spirit leads, or what the Word of God says; but only what is dictated on the "order of service." If that is so, why then does God consider scattering He sheep as a very serious offense according to Jeremiah 23:1-4: "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" says the Lord. Therefore, thus says the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: "You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings," says the Lord. "But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds: and they shall be fruitful and increase. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking," says the Lord."The same principle is expressed in Ezekiel 34:2-10: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, 'Thus say the Lord God to the shepherds: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost: but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 'As I live, says the Lord God, surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock-therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them." The sheep are scattered, but they think they are in the fold. If their premise is correct, then why all the instruction in the Scriptures about gathering those who are scattered? The Scriptures give the impression that a person is not in the fold unless he is with the flock (Body of Christ). Why else did Jesus give the parable of leaving the ninety-nine sheep to rescue the one not with the flock? It is interesting that Jesus depicted the separated sheep in His parable in Matthew 18:12-14 (go to Scripture) as having gone astray, and in Luke 15:4-7 (go to Scripture) as being lost. Jesus has set certain men in His body as shepherds to tend His flock under Him.
