What Kind of Shepherd Are You?
“I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,” declares the Sovereign LORD. “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.” Ezekiel 34:15-16 (NIV 2011).
Jesus told the parable of The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7) in response to the grumbling of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. They didn’t like Jesus associating and eating with tax collectors and sinners.
The parable began with a question: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?”
The question is ironic. Jesus knew these men – symbolically called shepherds and their 
followers called sheep – weren’t doing their job. Shepherds were responsible to search for lost sheep. These men didn’t seek the lost; in fact, these shepherds went out of their way to avoid lost sheep.
The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were the false shepherds spoken of by Ezekiel in chapter 34, verses 1-10 of his book. They fed themselves, not the sheep. They didn’t help the sickly and diseased; instead, they caused the sheep to be scattered and lost. They were dominating and severe with the sheep.
They grumbled because Jesus sought the lost sheep who had drawn near to Him (Luke 15:1). He befriended the lost (Luke 7:34). He ate with tax collectors, including Zachaeus (Luke 19:1-10) and Matthew, also called Levi, whom Jesus called to become one of His disciples (Luke 5:27-29).
Jesus ended His parable with the shepherd returning home to celebrate with his friends and neighbors. Jesus said heaven celebrates every time a sinner repents, and He implied that those who don’t think they need to repent have no joy (Luke 15:7).
Perhaps you or someone you know has had a bad experience with a false shepherd who made it difficult to join the fold. Be assured that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). He searches for the lost, brings back the strays, binds up the injured, and strengthens the weak. He celebrates with all of heaven when lost sheep are brought into the fold.
What is your attitude toward lost sheep?
DIG DEEPER:
In Luke 5:29-32 how did Jesus respond to the complaints of the Pharisees and teachers of the law at Matthew’s banquet? In these verses, who are the healthy ones and who are the sick ones?
What does Paul say about Christ’s attitude toward sinners, especially himself, in 1 Timothy 1:12-17? Can you describe something you’ve done that would qualify you as “the worst of sinners”? Ask God to forgive you for this if you haven’t already done so.
Contrast the sheep in Isaiah 53:6-7 and 1 Peter 2:22-25. How is Jesus both a sheep and the Shepherd? What kind of sheep are you?
Jesus gave us a glimpse of what happens in heaven in this parable. For another glimpse, see The Great Shepherd of the Sheep.
Nancy J. Baker
This devotion is part of a series, The Parables.