What Is A Shepherd?

A Pastor’s Manual
By A. B.

“Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.”
—Proverbs 27:23 (KJV)

Introduction .................................................... 3
The First Shepherd – Abel ............................ 4
The Good Shepherd – The Lord Jesus Christ ............. 6
Other Shepherds In The Bible ............................. 8
The Hireling and Bad Shepherds ......................... 14
Biblical Aspects of Shepherding ............................ 17
Caring For One Another ..................................... 29
A Final Challenge and Important Consideration .......... 31

Introduction

As we begin, it is important to understand that in the New Testament the word in the original Greek for “pastor” and “shepherd” is the same. According to Vine’s An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, the definition of “pastor” is “a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks.”

When God enters into a relationship with a group of persons and calls them His people, He makes Himself responsible for their care as a shepherd looks after his flock. It is a blessing to know that God has always concerned Himself for His sheep and provided for them in the best possible way.

In this short study we will see:

How He provides and cares for those who are precious to His heart.
He Himself has given to some of His servants the very special charge of caring for His own.
The precious work that He has entrusted into the hands of those who have this great privilege and responsibility of being instruments of the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Shepherd work is a work of those who are valiant, not lazy or self-seeking. It is for the one who has been called by the Lord and is willing to serve sacrificially with his whole heart. There is One who gives this charge and to whom His servants are accountable.
Even though not all have been given the gift of a shepherd, each one of us has the privilege and responsibility to care for one another.

May the Lord bless this little study for our learning, help, direction, and blessing; for the better care, growth, and benefit of the Lord’s sheep; and most importantly for the glory and honor of our Savior and Lord.

The First Shepherd – Abel

God tells us in Genesis, “Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof” (Gen. 4:2-4).

We remember that Adam and Eve were put out of the garden after they sinned. Some time later they had two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain cultivated crops and Abel shepherded sheep and goats. As we consider this, it is interesting to see that God speaks of eating meat only after the flood. It seems that Abel did not have his animals for meat. So, what did Abel do with his sheep? He brought the best and the fattest as an offering to God! And, beginning with Abel, we see that most of the Old Testament sacrifices were sheep and goats.

What a beautiful example, full of significance, for all pastors! The first shepherd mentioned in the Bible had as his purpose of heart to care for the sheep in such a way that he could present them to God as a special offering – well cared for, strong, fat, healthy, pleasant, without defect or wound; something that would be very pleasing to the heart of God to His honor and glory. By contrast, during the time of Malachi the priests offered animals that were damaged, lame, and torn to God’s displeasure (Mal. 1:8). Abel is a wonderful example in his attitude, care, selflessness, and purpose of heart. What a challenge for the one who has been given the wonderful privilege and charge as a pastor of God’s flock. May the purpose of his heart be to present to God that which is pleasing, not for himself but for God!

The Good Shepherd – The Lord Jesus Christ

Our Lord Jesus Christ was the perfect shepherd. We read: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).

What was this joy that was before the Lord Jesus? It was to glorify God. Certainly, it had to do with our salvation and bringing many sons to glory, but His foremost desire was to glorify God and to restore that which Satan had robbed through sin. This was His joy. He was ready to suffer the mocking, the hate, the shame, the curse of being nailed to the cross, the abuses of man, and the weight of our sins – even to be made sin and to be forsaken by the Holy God. He did this for God and to have sheep from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. It was for these reasons that the Good Shepherd suffered, even to the point of giving His life for His sheep. “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28).

The Lord Jesus, our perfect example said, “I am the good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd giveth His life for His sheep”(Jn. 10:11). The Lord Jesus Christ came to seek that wayward, lost sheep. Finding that one, He carried it on His shoulders, rejoicing: “What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing” (Lk. 15:4-5).