“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them,
because they were weary and scattered, like sheep
having no shepherd.” (Matt 9:36, NKJV)
The previous three teachings focused on the false distinction between the so-called clergy and laity within the church structure, and pointed out that every born-again individual should function as a priest before God, and that this priesthood collectively forms the Body. This Body, guided by Christ as Head (Eph 5:23) is called to serve one another. As Eph 4:15-16 states – “[S]peaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
In 1 Cor 12:14-21 Paul spells out this consciousness and dependence of the different members of the Body, functioning as an organic whole: “For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’”
This obviously does not mean that the church should function without some form of directed leadership. Within the diversity of the Body there also exists an individual calling. A few verses later this is spelled out – “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” (verse 27). In the original Greek the word “individually” means “a part assigned to one” – your portion, your calling. In verse 28 Paul delineates a hierarchy of authority within this body: “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”
Within the church there are thus obviously those that lead the way (Heb 13:17), but it is a position and calling sanctioned by God, and not by theological education. 1 Pet 5:2-3 sees them as shepherds of the flock: “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock …” (We will return to these authority structures in a later teaching, when dealing with the altar of incense, a typological representation of these structures.)
Despite the leadership of the organised church, the flock is very often without a shepherd, because the true Godly sanctioned shepherding does not function in this system.
- Sela: Within this light, try to understand Christ’s conversation with Simon Peter in John 21:15-17
- Read: 2 Kings 16; Jer 17;
- Memorise: Jer 17:5 & 9.
