John 10:12- What about the hired hand that cares about the sheep?

[jeffnevins]

Just noticed a slight area of confusion for the first time after years of hearing it:

12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

What about hired hands over the years that are dedicated workers?

I'd think the person that runs away is determined by their character. One hired hand would defend them, and the other wouldn't.

But maybe the hired hands always ran away in that time in Israel.

Thanks for any insight-

[JB Horn]

Just noticed a slight area of confusion for the first time after years of hearing it:

12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

What about hired hands over the years that are dedicated workers?

I'd think the person that runs away is determined by their character. One hired hand would defend them, and the other wouldn't.

But maybe the hired hands always ran away in that time in Israel.

Thanks for any insight-

Could the hired hands be political leaders? I would consider Church leaders to be other sheep, part of the body, not hired hands.

IMHO

JB

[OneLight]

The hired hands are those who do not have Christ. They claim to all that they are Christians, but they are not. Only the Shepard, Who lives in us, will cause us to not leave his sheep. This is Him, living through us, that will give us strength to fight every wolf that comes to the flock.

John 10:7-20 (New King James Version)

Jesus the Good Shepherd

Then Jesus said to them again,

[Hunterpoet]

I read several of the commentaries, but I think I like what Adam Clark has to say best.

"Whose own sheep they are not", A hireling priest, who has never been the instrument of bringing souls to God, will not abide with them in time of danger or persecution. They are not the produce of his labor, faith and prayers: he has no interest in their welfare than that of fleece and fat. The hireling counts the sheep his own, no longer than they are profitable to him, the good shepherd, looks upon them as his own, so long as he can be profitable to them.

[Paul 84]

Great answers OneLight and Hunterpoet. I really believe the hireling (hire hand) in this case refers to mininster who as Hunterpoet stated (quoting Adam Clark), care not for the sheep but themselves. Isaiah wrote of this in chapter 56 verses 10 thru 12.

"(10) His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. (11)Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one to his gain, from his quarter. (12) Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves, with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant."

Thee would be them which love money more than God and have erred from the faith (I Timothy 6:10) or even to be praise of man more than God (Matthew 6:5-6).

But the Good Shepherd is Jesus, who has other shepherds that are good, but not the Good or Chief Shepherds. Peter wrote to thee men in I Peter 5:1-4. "(1) The Elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. (2) Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; (3) Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. (4) And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." This is why Paul listed the qualification of a bishop twice once in I Timothy3:1-7; and again in Titus 1:5-9. Jesus spoke of needing labours for the harvest as He saw the children of Israel as sheep having no shepherd (Matthew 9:36-38).

[kross]

Look at pastors who take a small church as a stepping stone to a larger one. Look at the pastor who is hired, uses up the money until they can not pay him anymore, then goes to another church. Look at the man who negotiates for money to determine if he is called to that church. When the time comes, the one who is in it for a paycheck, will cut and run when things get tough.

The one who is there because he is serving JESUS will be there through the worst of it.

[jeffnevins]

I was a bit too caught up on the literal sheep protecting. Heh.

Thanks for the insights-

[Hunterpoet]

A deeper and correct understanding of scripture does not require commentaries or earthly "spiritual teachers", Christians have the best teacher available if only we would consult Him.

Very often, just by comparing many versions we can get a better idea of what is being spoken of and referred to (I regard the RSV to be very accurate and more explanatory than other versions).

What is being spoken of is "THE DOOR" (Jesus) and His true sheep. There are many "sheep" that follow Jesus, but only the "TRUE worshipers" (John 4:23) will "enter BY THE DOOR" (John 10:1) instead of "climb in another way".

The "hirelings" are self proclaimed "spiritual teachers" (modern day "moneychangers") who lead flocks/congregations for a LIVELIHOOD. Most pastors/ministers, priests, etc. have no intention of misleading anyone even one iota, but because of the bias to pay their bills, they are grossly irresponsible to the children of God and do not ensure that we are well equipped to hold steadfastly to the truth of God.

In "churchES" (the only true church is SINGULAR), we are taught to perform many ritualistic gestures, works/deeds, give money, and become accomplished scholars in order to "FORCE" the kingdom of heaven to, figuratively, "come to us".

Matthew 11:12

"From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence TAKE IT BY FORCE".

...but men of violence will not receive the final inheritance (eternal life, Ephesians 1:14). In order for us to receive eternal life, we must have the GUARANTEE and enter BY THE DOOR instead of taking the kingdom BY FORCE (having a PERSONALITY/phony of holiness is not what God wants, He wants us to have a true NATURE of holiness)...

If you don't have an RSV, you can click on the link and read the whole chapter of John 10.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/tran...;t=RSV&sf=5

I looked at the link...blue letter bible, seems to rely heavly on commentaries, so I don't understand your opening comment.

And what does RSV stand for???

[Openly Curious]

Just noticed a slight area of confusion for the first time after years of hearing it:

12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

What about hired hands over the years that are dedicated workers?

I'd think the person that runs away is determined by their character. One hired hand would defend them, and the other wouldn't.

But maybe the hired hands always ran away in that time in Israel.

Thanks for any insight-

Hello jeffnevins,

The Lord is opening your eyes to another realm of His glory and of His love.....The hired hand is a minister who is only in the ministry for the gain not having the truth as he is a person picked out by the congregation and he is paid for his services. (Now I wasnt to say not every hired servant is a bad apple.) It is important that there is not anyone in the human race that owns the sheep of God. But the Lord puts His sheep under faithful servants that He has called into the ministry to keep His sheep from harm.

A hired servant will not protect you from harm but instead he will leave the sheep of the the Lord abandoned. Wide open as he will leave the flock running out on the people of God then Satan who is the wolf can just come right in and attack the children of God.

This is a hard truth to have ones eyes opened too but it is also a blessing to know this truth and how the Lord is keeping you from harm. We somehow do not like to think that there is a servant of Satan over our congregation and then when tough times come the hired hand (the wolf) just up and runs without any regards for the sheep and instead of getting a stick (so to speak) running the wollf out of the congregation they only open the door so the sheep will be scattered and attacked no leadership at all.

But there are men and women of God who knows what the fight is all about who watches over the sheep and warns when the wolf tries to come into their midst the true servant of God will not run out on the sheep as they will remain faithful preaching the word faithfully perfecting the saints to the work of the ministry.

Just remember jeff that there are servants of the Lord that are faithful do His will. Then there are the servants of Satan who do the work of their master Satan it is these we must keep watch for so we want be left vunerable. Jesus is our Rock and we have to build our Christian walk upon Him for He is the True Shephard of the sheep. We always base what we do and choose on the truth in the Word of God.

Last, I want to say that pastors who are paid a salary for their work is "NOT" wrong by any means for we must not muzzle the ox as it threads the corn--&--for the laborer is worthy of his hire for the problem comes in when our enemy the devil get's into those positions. Please stay balanced in this knowledge and lean on the Word.

hope I have helped

OC

[Hunterpoet]

Sorry your response went missing.

Looked up RSV and read up on NRSV. I have a copy of ASV on my power bible CD.

I shouldn't have troubled you and looked these things up myself. I really don't care much for abbreviations, cause I have a hard time remembering what they mean.

Well, thanks for responding anyway.