Answer: Peter wrote this letter to the churches of
Christ throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia
(see 1 Peter 1:1). Peter instructed the elders among them to
"be shepherds," (verse 2).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Shepherd: Pastor -- one who tends herds or flocks
(not merely one who feeds them). "Shepherd" is
used metaphorically of Christian "pastors,"
(Ephesians 4:11). Pastors guide as well as feed
the flock. Acts 20:28 along with Acts
20:17 indicates that this is the service committed to
elders (overseers or bishops); serving as overseers of the flock,
which has been entrusted to them by the Lord, and tending the flock
involves tender care and vigilant superintendence. The
consequences of being without a shepherd, having
"shepherds" who do not feed, tend and protect the
flock, are that the flock is plundered and scattered. The
example of the Christ, the Chief Shepherd is to be the
shepherds'/elders' example. (But, Christ is also
the perfect example for the flock, every individual member of
it. The Shepherd became the pure Lamb of God, and the flock
is washed in His blood.) Remember that "example"
is a master pattern to be traced (in this instance, by the
elders/shepherds) or a master mold (Christ, the Chief Shepherd)
into which one (elder/shepherd) is poured to produce an exact
replica of the master mold:
Numbers 27:15-17: "Moses said to
the Lord, 'May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all
mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in
before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the
Lord's people will not be like sheep without a
shepherd.'"
Psalm 23: "The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green
pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my
soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name's
sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your
staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup
overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the
days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever."
Psalm 28:8-9: "The Lord is the
strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed
one. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their
shepherd and carry them forever."
Isaiah 40:10-11: "See, the
Sovereign Lord comes with power, and His arm rules for Him.
See, His reward is with Him, and His recompense [to repay, or
reward; to compensate (as for a loss)] accompanies Him. He
tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms
and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that
have young."
Read Ezekiel 34 below in
b.
Micah 5:2, 4-5: [God said,] "But
you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of
Judah, out of you will come for Me One Who will be ruler over
Israel, Whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. He
will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in
the majesty of the Name of the Lord His God. And they will
live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the
earth. And He will be their peace."
Zechariah 10:2: "The idols speak
deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are
false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander
like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd."
Zechariah 11:17: [God said,] "Woe
to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the
sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be
completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!"
Matthew 9:35-36: "Jesus went
through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues,
preaching the Good News of the kingdom and healing every disease
and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on
them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a
shepherd."
John 10:1-18: [Jesus said,]
"'I tell you the Truth, the man who does not enter the
sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief
and a robber. The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd
of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the
sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads
them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on
ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his
voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they
will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's
voice.' Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did
not understand what He was telling them.
"Therefore Jesus said again, 'I tell you the
Truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before
Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to
them. I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved.
He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes
only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have
life, and have it to the full.
"'I am the Good Shepherd. The Good
Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand is
not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf
coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks
the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a
hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
"'I am the Good Shepherd; I know My sheep and My
sheep know Me--just as the Father knows Me and I know the
Father--and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have
other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.
They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and
One Shepherd. The reason My Father loves Me is that I lay
down My life--only to take it up again. No one takes it
from Me, but I lay it down of My Own accord. I have authority to
lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I
received from My Father.'"
Hebrews 13:20-21: "May the God of
peace, Who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back
from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
equip you with everything good for doing His Will, and may He work
in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be
glory for ever and ever. Amen."
1 Peter 2:21-25: "To this you were
called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,
that you should follow in His steps. 'He committed no
sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.' When they
hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He
suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him
Who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on
the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness;
by His wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep
going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and
Overseer of your souls."
Revelation 7:13-17: "Then one of
the elders asked me, 'These in white robes--who are
they, and where did they come from?' I answered,
'Sir, you know.' And he said, 'These are
they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and
night in His temple; and He Who sits on the throne will spread His
tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again
will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any
scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will
be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living
water. And God will wipe away every tear from their
eyes.'"
