Be Shepherds of God''s Flock

1 Peter 5:2 - Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

John 10:9-11,14-16 - I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Ezekiel 34:2-3 - "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.

Titus 1:7 - Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.

Conclusions:

• “Be shepherds of God’s flock” is a metaphor that our Lord Himself had employed and that must have been etched on Peter’s mind
• Peter is fulfilling Christ’s command to feed His sheep as he writes 1 Peter
• The gate is the one way into salvation
• Inside the gate there is safety, and one is able to go out and find pasture, or the supply of all he needs
• The thief’s interest is in himself
• Christ’s interest is in His sheep, whom He enables to have life to the full
• A Palestinian shepherd might risk danger for his sheep, but he expected to come through alive
• Jesus said that the good shepherd will die for His sheep
• “I know…my sheep know” is a deep mutual knowledge, like that of the Father and the Son
• These other sheep already belonged to Christ, though they had not yet been brought to Him
• Those not of this sheep pen are outside Judaism
• Shepherds of Israel were those responsible for providing leadership, especially the kings and their officials, but also the prophets and priests
• “Eat…clothe…slaughter” were legitimate rewards for shepherds
• The shepherds crime was that they did not take care of the flock
• Elder indicates maturity and experience, overseer indicates responsibility

Application:

• Are you a shepherd of your flock?
• Have you entered through the gate?
• Do you have life to the full?
• Will you lay down your life for your sheep?
• Do you know your shepherd?
• Do you listen to your shepherd's voice?
• Do you only take care of yourself?
• Do you take care of your flock?
• Are you blameless?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible