The Good, Great and Chief Shepherd of the Sheep

Heb 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Although we have Shepherds and Pastors in the earth realm whom we admire and love. There is one Shepherd who is above all shepherds and that is our LORD Jesus Christ. 

The Bible calls him the Great Shepherd of the sheep. This is why David said in Psalm 23:

Psa 23:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
Psa 23:2  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 
Psa 23:3  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 

In other words, the LORD supplies all my needs. He leads me, guides me, restores me, protects me and he keeps me!

Jeremiah said that God would do the following:

Jer 3:15  And I will give you shepherds (Pastors) according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 

So, a shepherd who has the heart of God will tend and lead the sheep (God’s people) with knowledge and understanding. This is how we know they are shepherds according to God’s heart!

Another characteristic of a shepherd or Pastor after God’s heart is one who has compassion for the sheep.

The Bible also says in Mat 9:36  But when He (Jesus) saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 

When Jesus saw the multitudes of people, the scripture says he was moved with compassion, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

A good shepherd has compassion and is always willing to bring lost sheep into the fold!

There are a lot of shepherds in the world today, but are they according to God’s heart?

Do they serve and lead with the compassion of God, the love of God, and do they feed God’s sheep with knowledge and understanding? 

The Bible tells us the following about shepherds:

Act 20:28  Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Act 20:29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 

God has given shepherds in the earth realm the responsibility of taking care of his flock and the church, which is truly a big responsibility!

Paul even said that when he departs, there will be wolves who will come in, who are false shepherds, hirelings, greedy for gain, who will not spare the flock, but will take advantage of them.

This is why just like anything else in the world, there are good shepherds and bad shepherds.

Never judge all shepherds and churches because of a bad experience in a church or with a shepherd or Pastor~!

Peter tells us:

1Pe 5:2  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 
1Pe 5:3  nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 
1Pe 5:4  and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 

So, we understand that the sheep belong to God. That anyone who is shepherding God’s people are only little shepherds who are taking care of the Great Shepherd’s (Jesus) sheep. Because the church and the sheep belong to God!

Paul tells us the following about who owns the church:

Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 
Col 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 

Shepherd’s are not called to lead the church for gain. If anyone leads the church specifically for gain, he is a hireling. 

A hireling is a hired hand who does the work of the ministry for prestige, money or gain only. Jesus said this about a good shepherd and a hireling:

Joh 10:11  “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 
Joh 10:12  But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 
Joh 10:13  The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 
Joh 10:14  I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 

God will always take care of his shepherds, because the worker is worth his wages, but we do not do it for gain, riches or fame.

It is important to note that God’s shepherds will have the heart of Christ, and will lead like Christ!

They will not lord over God’s people, but will lead by example with love.

The Bible then says, when the Chief Shepherd (Jesus) appears, we will receive a crown of glory that does not fade away. Why? Because we have done a good job in shepherding God’s sheep!

Saints, remember that Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd, Great Shepherd and Chief Shepherd!

There is none greater than him! And we know those that have the heart of God because they will lead like Christ, and have the heart of Christ, who is the Good, Great and Chief Shepherd!

God Bless!

Pastor Quinn