Not only is Jesus called the true Israel of God he is also called the Great shepherd of Israel.

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By Terry Cropper

Every ministry has its (priorities to take care of first). Moses priorities were to go to Pharaoh from God with a message to let his people go, so they can worship him. (Exodus 9:1) Daniel’s priorities were the coming kingdom of God Daniel 2:44-45 and the coming Messiah 7:13-14; 9:26-7. John the Baptist's priorities were to prepare the way for the Lord Jesus Isaiah 40:3-5; John 1:29.

One of the priorities of Jesus ministry was to confirm the promises made by God to the people of Israel concerning the Great shepherd. We need to grasp this before we can truly understand why Jesus said he was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Every ministry has its (priorities to take care of first).

Jesus was in the area of Tyre and Sidon, a coastal region in extreme northeastern Galilee (Matthew 15:21) when a Canaanite women came to Him with a request to heal her demon-possessed daughter. For a while, Jesus did not respond to the woman’s entreaties, and she followed Him and continued to beg for mercy. Finally, the disciples, feeling that the woman was a nuisance, asked Jesus to send her away. Then Jesus said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). Jesus explicitly declared his mission to be focused only on Israel.

We should understand Jesus’ words here not as an outright rejection of the Gentiles for moments later, He heals the woman’s daughter (Matthew 15:28) However Jesus was (fulfilling prophecy, and putting his priorities first), and testing the woman’s faith.

In Psalm 23, David refers to God by proclaiming, “the Lord is my Shepherd.” God used images of sheep and shepherds in the Bible many times. Sheep are often used to illustrate people and shepherds to illustrate leaders, such as God and kings. The nation of Israel was shepherded by Moses and Aaron, Joshua, the judges, and then the kings.

The shepherd is the dominant leadership metaphor in the Old Testament. One theme of the history of Israel, however, is the theme of the irresponsible Shepherds. Ezekiel pronounces a “woe” unto the Shepherds of Israel. We’re studying the leadership metaphor of “shepherding” in the Old Testament, in part because Jesus said he only came to the lost sheep of Israel. This message was given to the Jews in exile in Babylon. These are the subject of Ezekiel’s criticism in this passage.

1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, (prophesy against the shepherds of Israel), prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God (to the shepherds): “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! (Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?) 3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, (nor sought what was lost;) but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.” 7 ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”— 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! 10 Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.” Ezekiel 34:1-10 (emphasis mine)

In Jeremiah 50:6, God calls Israel His people “lost sheep.” God not only condemned the Jewish leaders for their injustice and oppression; He was going to judge the rulers for abusing their position and power and not feeding the sheep.

What was their primal offense? The shepherds were to commit themselves to protecting the sheep and provide the teaching of God’s Word. Instead they feed themselves and cared little for the flock of God. Very few of these Kings were like David at all.

What went wrong for Israel Shepherds’? How did the chosen nation end up scattered and reproached from one end of the earth to the other? The Prophet Ezekiel lays the blame squarely on the “Shepherds of Israel”, i.e. the Kings, and leaders of the nation. Israel’s leaders were a great disappointment.

In the first verses of Ezekiel, God promises woe upon these unfaithful shepherds, and then promises to gather his flock himself. Israel would come under the rule of another Great Shepherd. Ezekiel saw that the LORD himself would come to his own scattered flock, to regather them, and to heal them, and to deliver them from the scattering of the “Cloudy and dark day”.

Ezekiel 34: 11 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. 16 “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”

Now we come to the New Testament, where we discover a new Shepherd who is faithful and true. Matthew 2:6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ The One of whom Ezekiel spoke was none other than the great shepherd Jesus Christ.

The shepherd theme continues in Matthew 9:36 “When Jesus (the great Shepherd) saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed, like sheep without a shepherd.” The Messiah, spoken of throughout the Old Testament, was seen as the one who would gather these “lost sheep” (Ezekiel 34:11-16; Jeremiah 23, Micah 5:4-5). Shepherding is an image that pertains to a leader (or shepherd) exercising protection and authority over a group of people (his flock). This is clearly indicated in both the Old and the New Testaments. In contrast to these “evil shepherds” in Ezekiel and other Books. Jesus proclaims Himself to be the “Good Shepherd” in John 10.

The “Good Shepherd” cares for His sheep, so much so that He will lay down His life for them. When Jesus presented Himself as a shepherd to Israel, He was claiming to be the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy. (Ezekiel 34:11-16; Jeremiah 23, Micah 5:4-5).

The “Shepherds/leaders” at the time of Jesus, despised the people, and treated them in the contempt that Ezekiel saw by vision. In Matthew 23:4 Jesus describes the heavy burdens the Pharisees laid upon the people "but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." Obviously this is a burden of legalism. In the New Testament phortion fortivon, the Greek word used for burden, denotes the troubles of this life. Jesus uses the same word to describe his burden in Matthew 11:30: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." The reason for having a light burden is described in the previous verse: "I am gentle and humble in heart."

Another Greek word, baros bavro ", is used to describe the decision of the first church council in Jerusalem: "We will not place upon you any greater burden than these" (Acts 15:28). God not only condemned the Jewish leaders for their injustice and oppression; but for laying upon the people heavy burdens they themselves were not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Context means everything when studying scripture. Every ministry (must have priorities), and Christ’s ministry was no exception. It behooved God to send Jesus Christ to Israel *FIRST*! Why? 1) Salvation is of the Jews (John 4:22) 2) God promised to seek out the lost sheep of Israel.

When Jesus presented Himself as the good shepherd to Israel, (John 10:11). He was claiming to be the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies above. The salvation we enjoy is because of the promises to the Jewish patriarchs. Jesus came to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs. Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers.

When Jesus sent His disciples to preach the good news of the kingdom, He expressly told them, “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:5-6). Jesus did not forbid their preaching to the Gentiles because later they do. He did, however, narrow their focus to the areas which should be most receptive—those who knew the Law and were expecting the Messiah. Paul, in his missionary journeys, followed the same priority of preaching to the Jews first (Romans 1:16).

Later Paul writes in Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Paul has just used that wonderful word "everyone". "The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes." The good news is that Christ died for our sins, and he rose from the dead to open eternal life, and salvation is for everyone who believes. Not just Jews and not just Gentiles and no one race or social class or culture, but everyone who believes. Salvation is of the Jews first and then the Greek-gentiles. This statement sums up the entire ministry of Jesus.

God's goal was not in DNA, or race or genealogy but rather fulfillment of Messianic prophecy such as. (Ezekiel :34:11-16; Jeremiah 23; Micah 5:4-5) and confirming the promises given to the patriarchs. We have looked at the illustration of shepherds and sheep in the Old Testament. Some leaders were good and others were evil, selfish and rich. Is not hard to see from Ezekiel and other Old Testament just how the people within the nation of Israel were treated like lost sheep and being abused by the Shepherds of Israel. In fast Jesus said as much.

Such a lack of true leadership is like being a lost sheep who had gone astray. Unfortunately, this is exactly what was happening in the days of Jesus. The people were like lost sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Didn't God say through Ezekiel that he would be the good shepherd? He sure did and now Jesus is claiming to be that very shepherd! John 10:11

So we should NOT understand Jesus’ words to the Canaanite women I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel to mean DNA or race or genealogy and the refusal of gentiles. Jesus came to (fulfill prophecy, and He was taking care of these priorities first) And the same can be said for Jesus’ disciples.

As his custom was Paul first preached in the Jewish synagogue to those who knew the Law and were expecting the Messiah. Silas and Timothy soon joined him in the work. When the Jews refused to hear the Gospel, Paul left the synagogue and began preaching to the Gentiles. Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, became a believer. Many of the Corinthians heard the Gospel, believed it and were baptized (Acts 18:8).

Every ministry has its priorities to take care of first. In conclusion lest return to Romans 15:5–13 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.” 10 And again he says:“ Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”11 And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!”12 And again, Isaiah says:“There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we read here Jesus came to confirm the promises made to the patriarch and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy. These verses sums up the entire ministry of Jesus. There are not about DNA or race or genealogy and the refusal of gentiles.

I help this study helps you to understand why Jesus said that he was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel and why He is call Great Shepherd of Israel. Every ministry has its (priorities). And Jesus was fulfilling those priorities in (Ezekiel 34:11-16;Jeremiah 23; Micah 5:4-5).