The Hireling - John 10:12

The apostle John wrote how Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep”, and in chapter ten and verse twelve of his book John shared how Jesus said, “a hireling … sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep” where we read:

But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep.

The verse reads, “But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, ...” John began with the words, “but he that is a hireling” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the person whether male or female who exists as wage-worker or hired servant”, “and not the shepherd” or “and does not exist as the herdsman whose care and control others have committed themselves and whose precepts they follow”, “whose own the sheep are not” which means “the sheep do not belong to the hireling”, “sees the wolf coming” or “beholds, views attentively, surveys, perceives and discerns the wolf, which is a metaphor of cruel, greedy, rapacious and destructive men, appearing, coming forth and arising” and does the following. John shared how Jesus said “a wage-earner” or “hired servant” who does not possess the “sheep” observes the “wolf” coming and does the following.

The verse goes on to say, “... and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep.” John continued with the words, “and leaves the sheep” which means “and goes away and departs from the four footed, tame animals which are accustomed to graze”, “and flees” or “and seeks safety by flight, vanishes, runs away and escapes”: “and the wolf catches them” which means “and the wolf, which is a metaphor of cruel, greedy, rapacious and destructive men, seizes, snatches out, plucks and takes the sheep by force”, “and scatters the sheep” or “and dissipates and wastes the sheep”. John shared how Jesus said the “hireling” “departs” and “runs away” from the “sheep” when a “wolf” appears. The “sheep” are left alone and vulnerable to the “wolf” who “captures” them and makes the fold of “sheep” spread abroad.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus referred to the “wage-earners” or “hired servants” who take care of “sheep” which belong to a “shepherd”. Because the “sheep” do not belong to them, they abandon them when trouble, “the wolf”, comes along. This leaves the “sheep” alone and without any protection, and the “wolf” not only “captures” them, but makes the remainder of the “sheep” “scatter”. Jesus cares for people who put their faith and trust in Him, and He will “never” leave His own. Though others abandon people when troubles and dangers arrive, Jesus promises to care for and protect those who believe in Him. Let all who read these words carefully examine the illustration of Jesus and submit themselves to Him as the “Good Shepherd” who will watch over them for all their lives.

Next time John shares how Jesus says, “a hireling … cares not for the sheep", so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".