Shepherds, Thieves, and Hirelings: A Meditation on John 10

Then said Jesus unto them again, 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 

All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: 

but the sheep did not hear them.  

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, 

and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:

 I am come that they might have life, 

and that they might have it more abundantly.

I am the good shepherd: 

the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  

But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, 

whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, 

and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: 

and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  

The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, 

and careth not for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd, 

and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: 

and I lay down my life for the sheep.

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: 

them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; 

and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Jesus began a series of parables in John 10 which introduced themes common in Old Testament Scripture, and common to the lives of the people to whom He was speaking.  Not only were shepherds a common sight in ancient Israel, managing the flocks and herds which were vital to the lives and livelihoods of many, but two of the greatest icons of the Old Testament were also shepherds-- Moses and King David.  The Prophets, including Moses in the Pentateuch and David in the Psalms, reflect on God as the Good Shepherd of Israel who seeks and saves His people, and Jesus helps the people understand that all these images and shadows were pointing to Him.  Jesus was the Good Shepherd who was always seeking and saving the people throughout their history, and He was incarnate before them to fulfill that salvation through His life, death, and resurrection.  Jesus was, and is, the Good Shepherd who cares for His people so much that He lays down His life to save them, standing between them and the satanic horde of wolves who would devour them, rising victorious over every enemy of His people, and securing for them forgiveness, life, and salvation which He freely gives to them by His grace.  Thus Jesus' people have always lived by His grace through faith in Him, and He has always been the Good Shepherd who comes to give eternal life to all who will repent and trust in Him.

Conversely, Jesus also warns that there have been, and will continue to be until the end of time, Thieves and Hirelings.  Thieves were common enough in ancient times as they are in modern times, always angling to take from someone else the things they desire.  Thieves seek to take what is not theirs, often destroying the rightful owners in the process.  Unlike the Good Shepherd's selfless and sacrificial love which pours out grace, mercy, and life freely for all, the thief instead seizes and takes for himself that which he desires, stealing, killing, and destroying wherever he goes.  Such thieves are symbolic of the devil and demonically inspired men, who outwardly may appear righteous, respectable, and well dressed, but inside they are ravenous to devour the resources of whomever they meet.  Their feet are swift to shed blood, and there is no end to their appetite for destruction, whether they be petty and clumsy at their craft, or sophisticated and powerful.  We can see them rise and fall in the history of society and the church, just as we can walk into any dark ally on the rough side of town, and see them lurking in the shadows.  Such thieves are dangerous, and Jesus warns the people to steer clear of them.

The other category Jesus introduced was that of the hireling-- a person who does his job only for the money.  Surely there is nothing evil in workers receiving the wages of their labors from those for whom they labored, but Jesus wants to draw a distinction between himself and those who work for hire.  Jesus was not in the world to receive wages for saving it.  He is God Almighty, seated forever at the right hand of His Father's majesty, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever.  There is nothing made which was not made by Him, through Him, and for Him.  There is no compensation which He requires, as He holds all things in the palm of His omnipotent hands.  Jesus comes and gives to His people what they need, not because He needs anything from them, but because His love for them impels Him to offer His gifts of grace freely.  Jesus was not and is not a hireling, but the people to whom He spoke certainly knew what hirelings were.  They also knew that what was good and just in the fields, paying the laborers the full measure of their hire, was an abomination when applied to the things of God.  God's grace could not be bought, even if a person could offer the whole universe in exchange for it.  And the people knew what it was to have hirelings serving in God's temple who were there just for the money, whose primary purpose was to make a living from the work of distributing God's grace to the people.  We have seen them in the church throughout her history, too-- where pastors and even whole fellowships think of the Office of Word and Sacrament (which Jesus instituted in His own image for the proclamation of His Gospel,) as a profession to which they are hired, and from which they are to receive their hireling wages.  In Jesus' time as is now, such mercenaries are an unstable and undependable lot, who when the going gets tough, abandon the people in their care to save their own lives, resources, prestige, and careers from the ravenous wolves at the door.  Unlike Jesus, hirelings in the pastoral office make a business of the holy church, buying and selling the Bride of Christ like finely dressed pimps.

Of course, Jesus does not leave His people to simply suffer and be despoiled at the hands of thieves and hirelings.  In every age, He raises up from among His people those who will care for them according to His saving Word, offering freely the gifts of grace, mercy, life, and salvation which He purchased for them by His Cross.  While we may see thieves and hirelings all around us, Jesus gives us His Word which unmasks them and puts them to flight, so that His people of every time, tribe, race, and place, might know that there is really only one flock, and one Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep, that they might have life in eternal abundance.  Even while thieves and hirelings multiply, Jesus still raises up servants from among His people to distribute His gifts just as freely as they were received.  Even today, Jesus still shepherds His people, and gives to them everything they need.

Hear the Word of the Lord come to you this day.  Are you a thief, who has made havoc in the house of God, stealing what was not yours, and leaving broken people in your wake?  Repent-- and be reconciled to Christ, lest your eternity be cast into endless flame.  Are you a hireling, who has made the people of God your business, and yourself a prostitute in holy garb?  Repent-- be reconciled to Christ, lest your destiny be lost in the same perdition of all unrepentant human traffickers.  Are you one who has been wounded by the thieves and hirelings who abandoned and abused you in times of trial, attacked and torn by the wolves they so carelessly allowed to maul you?  See them for what they are by the Word of Christ, and find safer pasture in the care of the Shepherd who will never abandon or abuse you.  Hear the Word of Jesus come to you, that you may turn away from the thieves and the hirelings, and find rest for your souls under the care of Him who always sought to save you, and will forever stand between you and the howling darkness.  Return to the Good Shepherd who has given His life for you, that you might have joy, peace, love, and life forever more.  Hear Him.  Believe, and live.  Amen.