The word of the Lord came to me: 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them: To the shepherds, thus says the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds pasture the flock? 3 You consumed milk, wore wool, and slaughtered fatlings, but the flock you did not pasture. 4 You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the stray or seek the lost but ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts. They were scattered 6 and wandered over all the mountains and high hills; over the entire surface of the earth my sheep were scattered. No one looked after them or searched for them. 7 Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As I live—oracle of the Lord God—because my sheep became plunder, because my sheep became food for wild beasts, for lack of a shepherd, because my shepherds did not look after my sheep, but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep, 9 therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 Thus says the Lord God: Look! I am coming against these shepherds. I will take my sheep out of their hand and put a stop to their shepherding my flock, so that these shepherds will no longer pasture them. I will deliver my flock from their mouths so it will not become their food. 11 For thus says the Lord God: Look! I myself will search for my sheep and examine them.
23 I will appoint one shepherd over them to pasture them, my servant David; he shall pasture them and be their shepherd. 24 I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be prince in their midst. I, the Lord, have spoken.
Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry occurred in the 6th century B.C., during a tumultuous period marked by the Babylonian exile of the Israelites. This exile followed the conquest of Jerusalem in 587/586 B.C. by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, leading to the deportation of many Israelites to Babylon. In Ezekiel 34, the prophet uses the powerful imagery of the shepherd to critique Israel's leaders, an image later echoed in the New Testament with Jesus’ depiction of Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10). Ezekiel’s message in this passage is also highly relevant to the Christian Church, providing a profound framework for understanding the responsibilities of church leaders, the importance of pastoral care, and the necessity of divine guidance in shepherding the faithful.
In contemporary religious communities, this passage serves as a powerful reminder to church leaders—whether pastors, priests, bishops, or other religious leaders—about the importance of their roles. God’s direct message to Ezekiel, “the Son of Man” also applies to modern religious leaders. Leaders are entrusted with the spiritual well-being of their communities and must prioritize the needs of their congregation over personal gain. Throughout Scripture, leaders are judged by their failure to fulfill their duties (e.g., Is.56:10-11, Jer. 23:1-4)
As a result of their leaders' failures, the people ("sheep") were scattered, becoming vulnerable to outside threats ("wild beasts"). This scattering far an wide can be seen both literally (in terms of exile and displacement) and metaphorically (in terms of spiritual and social fragmentation). The people were completely abandoned by their leaders, turned to idol worship, and became spiritually lost. God directly addresses the shepherds, holding them accountable for the dire situation. The use of "As I live" underscores the seriousness of God’s declaration. The shepherds are condemned for their negligence and selfishness, which led to the people being "pillaged" and devoured by "wild beasts"—likely symbolizing foreign nations and destructive forces.
In recent years, various Christian denominations have faced scandals involving abuse of power, financial misconduct, and moral failings among leaders. This passage challenges modern church leaders to hold themselves accountable and to lead in a way that reflects the values of the Good Shepherd, putting the needs of their community first and fostering a culture of transparency and accountability (Jn. 10:11-16).
The text also emphasizes the importance of caring for the most vulnerable of society—the weak, the sick, and the lost. The failure to "strengthen the weak," "heal the sick," and “go after the lost” (Lk. 15:4-7) speaks directly to the Church’s mission in the world today. In a world marked by inequality, poverty, and social unrest, this passage challenges religious communities to be active in social justice efforts. This includes advocating for the poor, providing for those in need, and working to bring about systemic changes that align with biblical values of justice and mercy.
While the passage primarily critiques leaders, it also implicitly calls the "sheep" to be discerning and faithful. In a modern context, this means that individual believers are responsible for their own spiritual growth and should actively seek out and adhere to sound teaching and spiritual practices. In an era where information is abundant and sometimes misleading, believers are called to exercise discernment in whom they follow and what teachings they embrace. The passage encourages believers to be active participants in their faith, rather than passive followers, ensuring that their lives reflect God’s will.
God announces that He will personally intervene against the corrupt leaders. He will remove them from their positions ("take my sheep out of their hand") and put an end to their exploitation. This is a divine promise of liberation for the people, who will no longer be prey to these self-serving leaders.
Even when human leaders fail, God Himself will step in to guide and protect His people. This calls for trust in divine providence, especially in times of crisis or when leadership is lacking. Moreover, the judgment between sheep and goats emphasizes personal responsibility within the community, where individuals are also accountable for their actions, particularly in how they treat others and share resources.
Heavenly Father, You are the Good Shepherd who never abandons Your flock. Guide our hearts to follow Your will with faithfulness and love. Strengthen our leaders to care for us with compassion, and inspire us to live in justice, mercy, and truth. May we always seek Your guidance and trust in Your providence. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
- McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.
Comments