THE HIRELING
JOHN 10:11-15
Introduction:
The hireling appears to be a genuine shepherd. He plays the part well, but in reality, he is just a hired servant who has no real interest or investment in the sheep.
The Lord Jesus on the other hand, has a real interest in His sheep having given His life for them. He leads them with great care.
The hireling is in the business for gain and has no care for the sheep. Observe,
I. THE HIRELING IS NOT THE SHEPHERD
A. He appears to be shepherds, Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
B. He speaks as if he was a shepherd, Romans 16:18, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
1. They speak smooth things, Isaiah 30:10, “Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:”
2. Their message is false, Jeremiah 8:11, “For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”
II. THE SHEEP ARE NOT THE HIRELING’S
A. The hireling is self-serving and has scattered the sheep, Jeremiah 23:1, “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.”
1. These false shepherds have caused the sheep to go astray, Jeremiah 50:6, “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.”
2. These shepherds have no care for the sheep, Ezekiel 34:6, “My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.”
B. What makes them false and self-seeking?
1. They are in it for the money, Isaiah 56:11, “Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.”
2. They undertook the shepherd’s office as a trade, 2 Peter 2:15, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”
3. They serve their own belly, Romans 16:18, “For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
III. THE TRUE SHEPHERD
A. Jesus knows and cares for the sheep, John 10:13-14, “The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”
B. We can put our trust in Him, 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
1. He knows our frame, our limitations, Psalm 103:14, “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”
a. The Lord is full of compassion, Psalm 78:38, “But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.”
b. The Lord is longsuffering with us, 1 Timothy 1:16, “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
2. He knows the secrets of our heart, Psalm 44:21, “Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.”
a. The Lord knows the good and the bad, Ecclesiastes 12:14, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
b. He sees our ways, Job 31:4-5, “Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? 5 If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;”
3. The Good Shepherd knows us so well that He knew that we needed life, John 10:10, “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.”