Figure of the Shepherd
Figure of the Shepherd John 10:1–18 Excerpt The figure of the shepherd and his sheep is important in the NT . Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gives his life for the sheep ( Mt 18:10–14 ; Mk 6:34 ; Jn 10 ; Heb 13:20 ). The analogy of the shepherd and the flock finds rich expression in Psalm 23 , Ezekiel 34 , and John 10 . God was the Shepherd of Israel ( Gn 49:24 ; Pss 23:1 ; 80:1 ; Is 40:11 ). When unfaithful shepherds failed Israel, God intervened and appointed his servant David as a faithful shepherd over them ( Ez 34:11–16 , 23–24 ). The NT imagery comes from an OT and Palestinian background. In the Jewish economy, the shepherd who tended a flock of sheep or goats held a responsible position. Great flocks had to be moved from place to place, and it was necessary that they are guarded against wild animals and robbers. Because of the fundamental role of shepherding in the ancient world, the word “shepherd” becam...