Pastors and Shepherds
The shock hits when a young man, aiming to become a pastor or minister, searches for the word “pastor” and discovers how rarely it appears, while “shepherd” abounds. This shift in language can obscure the Bible’s earthy picture of care. The term shepherd gives us a better window into the ministry heart God desires.
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,” Ephesians 4:11 (NASB).
Similar to how “deacon” is often translated “servant,” the word “pastor” has accumulated professional connotations. Scripture’s shepherding model—protecting, guiding, tending—remains the better template for leadership shaped by love.
The Care of the True Shepherd
Ezekiel 34 offers a striking introduction to pastoral ministry and theology. Classic Near Eastern shepherding tasks included:
- Watch for enemies that threaten the flock
- Defend the sheep from adversaries
- Heal the wounded and sick
- Seek and rescue the lost
- Love them, share their lives, and earn their trust
Who Were Israel’s “Shepherds”?
In the Old Testament, priests and prophets largely filled the shepherding role. Ezekiel speaks into a chaotic moment, exposing leaders who leveraged office but neglected God’s flock.
“Feeding Themselves”
“Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? … The sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up…” Ezekiel 34:2–6 (NASB)
They prioritized themselves over the sheep. When leadership consumes rather than cares, the flock is scattered and vulnerable.
The Proper Care for the Sheep
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:11 (NASB)
Faithful shepherds feed first, themselves last—patterned after Christ. Churches must resist manipulative practices and choose sacrificial love and clear instruction that leads to health.
The Neglect of the Sheep
“The sickly you have not strengthened… the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost.” Ezekiel 34 (NASB)
Where leaders fail, sheep wander. Wise congregations build pathways to notice absence, pursue the straying, and restore the weak through Word-rooted care.
Conclusion
God’s sheep are His. By grace—and under the Chief Shepherd—we relearn boldness, patience, and love. Good shepherding is impossible without Him.
Ezekiel 34 – Study Questions
- How does Ezekiel 34 contrast faithful and unfaithful shepherds?
- What does self-feeding leadership look like in the modern church?
- How does Jesus model perfect shepherding in John 10?
- In what ways are Christian leaders called to protect and guide God’s flock today?
- What is the danger when shepherds neglect or exploit the sheep?
- How should churches respond when believers drift or become spiritually weak?
- Why must shepherding be rooted in sacrificial love rather than duty alone?
- What steps can we take to grow as shepherd-leaders who honor God’s example?