False Shepherds

False Shepherds
Words of Faith 7-17-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Jude 1
[11] Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion. [12] These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm--shepherds who feed only themselves.

Why was Jude so deeply grieved? As Jesus' half-brother, Jude had himself once scoffed at the "divine identity" others claimed regarding Jesus. Jude had surely been impacted by the "family tragedy" of Jesus' death. Yet, as long as he could, Jude denied the grace offered through Jesus' death.
Eventually, Jude came to realize that the human brother he had shared meals with as a child was, in fact, divine-- the Messiah of God and the Lord and Savior of humanity. Having come to this realization, nothing could have grieved Jude more than to see false leaders and teachers at the Church's table.
These teachers used grace as a license to sin and denied the Lordship of Jesus, yet now they had made their way into the "love feasts" of the Church. These were the closest celebrations among believers' fellowship, followed by the Lord's Supper. The false teachers, though participating outwardly, were inwardly denying the Lord. This was an outrageous blasphemy. Such men were blemishes-- vivid stains of disgrace-- that marred the inner beauty of the Church.
Some of these unbelieving teachers had even taken a shepherding role but clearly did not function as shepherds. Instead of leading the sheep to the food that would nourish them, they led them astray to places of starvation. Instead of feeding the flock of God, they selfishly would feed only themselves.
Scripture uses the image of the shepherd powerfully. Psalm 23 speaks of the Lord as our Shepherd. The Lord Himself leads us to green pastures and brings us to waters that nourish. He defends us with His rod and rescues us with His staff. He leads us in the right path and walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death. Jesus is the Good Shepherd whose voice brings peace. He knows his sheep, and the sheep know Him. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep (John 10).
Scripture also marks the image of the "hireling" as the one who abandons the sheep when there is danger nearby (John 10:12-13). The hireling is not even called a "shepherd." He is not worthy of the name because he is there only for himself and not for the sheep.
Jude introduced the image of the "false shepherd." The false shepherd is not just a "hireling" who will flee in the face of danger. The false shepherd is a pretender whose real motivation is selfish. The false shepherd not only will run in the face of danger but exists to use the sheep.
Now, don't misunderstand. No human leader is perfect. They can't be. Both Jesus and Paul taught that a Christian worker is worthy of his pay (Matthew 10:10, 1 Tim. 5:18). But these "false shepherds" had faked the shepherd's call to attain a self-serving opportunity.
In the situation that Jude addressed, the false leaders failed to recognize that a shepherd protects and stewards a flock that is not his own. They saw the flock simply as a resource to fleece and an opportunity to meet their needs. It was unthinkable for a shepherd not to feed his sheep since that was his primary responsibility! Their leadership was false, deceptive, hardened, and selfish.
Wow. So, how do we guard against false shepherds? It is similar to false prophets. Jesus said that you will know the prophet by his fruit. The following few verses deal with this. But the key here is whether a shepherd is more concerned for himself or the sheep.
As we consider the shepherd's character, is the priority the feeding of the sheep or the meal for the shepherd? Does the shepherd manipulate the sheep for his own use, or does the shepherd lay down or lay aside his life for the sheep? At the core, does the shepherd see grace as a license, or does he honor the Lordship of Jesus personally?

Father God, give me discernment in matters of leadership and being led. Don't let me fall into fear, but keep me wise as I follow. Keep my eyes open for the marks of discipleship, the fruit of the Spirit, and the manner of the genuine shepherd. I lift my pastor before You. Give Him wisdom to teach, boldness to proclaim, freedom to lead, readiness to feed, a heart of compassion, and total dependence upon You. Feed my shepherd so that he is prepared to feed the sheep. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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