1Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, 2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? 3“You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. 4“Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost; but with force and with severity you have dominated them. 5“They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered. 6“My flock wandered through all the mountains and on every high hill; My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was no one to search or seek for them.”’”
- Negative issues:
- Feed the sheep not yourselves – Ezek 34:2;
- Don’t kill the sheep – Ezek 34:3;
- Don’t clothe yourselves from the sheep – Ezek 34:3;
- Strengthen the weak, the sick and the diseased – Ezek 34:4;
- Bind up those with broken limbs – Ezek 34:4;
- Find those who are scattered – Ezek 34:4;
- Do not dominate the flock by force – Ezek 34:4;
- Protect them from all predators – Ezek 34:5;
- They are God’s flock, treat them accordingly – Ezek 34:6;
- Positive Things:
- The flock is God’s flock; He will protect them – Ezek 34:6;
1Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.
- Negative issues:
- Do do it voluntarily, not under compulsion – 1Peter 5:2;
- Do it according to the will of God – 1Peter 5:2;
- Do not do it for sordid gain, money – 1Peter 5:2;
- Do not lord it over the flock, as superior – 1Peter 5:3;
- Positive Things:
- Shepherd those among you, close by – 1Peter 5:2;
- Exercise oversight over the flock – 1Peter 5:2;
- Do it with eagerness – 1Peter 5:2;
- Be an example to the flock – 1Peter 5:3;
- The Church is God’s flock and Jesus is the Chief Shepherd. He will protect us – 1Peter 5:4;