Who was told to feed the sheep? Why do we need to feed the sheep? How are the sheep to be fed today?
The apostle Simon Peter was commissioned by Jesus Christ to be the rock and pillar of the Christian congregation. Matthew 16:18, Revelation 3:12
John 21:15-17… When now, they had breakfasted, Jesus said to Simon Peter: “Simon (Listen / John 1:42) son of John (Yah is gracious), do you love me more than these?” He said to him: “Yes, Lord, you know I have affection for you.” He said to him: “Feed my lambs.” Again he said to him, a second time: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him: “Yes, Lord, you know I have affection for you.” He said to him: “Shepherd my little sheep.” He said to him the third time: “Simon son of John, do you have affection for me?” Peter became grieved that he said to him the third time: “Do you have affection for me?” So he said to him: “Lord, you know all things; you are aware that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him: “Feed my little sheep.
The first thing that we notice is that Jesus allowed Peter to three times publicly confess that he loved Jesus Christ. This basically canceled out the three times that Peter denied Jesus Christ publicly.
The next thing that we should identify is a little bit more subtle, and it has to do with the names of both Simon and John. The meaning behind the name of Simon is listen. And the meaning of the name John is Yah is gracious.
So, now we know the meaning of the names we can understand what Jesus was saying, we can extrapolate the deeper aspects. We see what Jesus was saying to Peter or what he was asking of him. Let us reconstruct the sentences with the deeper meanings and here’s what we have:
Listen son of Yah who is gracious, do you love me more than these? Then feed my little lambs! Shepherd my sheep! Feed my little sheep!
Once we understand this deeper meeting found in the sentence structure we can see the appointment of the apostle Peter over the physical congregation of God. This appointment took the form as of care taker, protector, and feeder. This oversight was one of letting his voice be heard as a leader. The apostle Paul also gave similar direction to those who are going to care for God’s sheep.
Colossians 3:15-16… let the peace of the Christ control in YOUR hearts, for YOU were, in fact, called to it in one body. And show yourselves thankful. Let the word of the Christ reside in you richly in all wisdom. Keep on teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, praises to God, spiritual songs with graciousness, singing in your hearts to Jah.
Let us focus our attention on to the two Greek words translated as teaching and admonishing.
Teaching as translated by Strong’s Concordance #G1321 literally means to impart knowledge or to disseminate information, to spread abroad, like the sowing of seed.
Now admonishing according to Strong’s Concordance #G3560 means to appeal to the mind, exert positive pressure by applying logic and reasoning.
How would we apply positive pressure to the sheep?
The apostle Paul identified that the way to apply the positive pressure is by first having the words of Christ Jesus read, then he referred to the reading of Psalms and the singing in our hearts to Jah.
Why do we need to feed the sheep today?
False Teachers
What are the motives of these false teachers? What are some of the characteristics of these false teachers?
2 Peter 2:1-3…However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among you. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner (G1203) that bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves. Furthermore, many will follow their acts of loose conduct, and on account of these the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively. Also, with covetousness they will exploit you with counterfeit words. But as for them, the judgment from of old is not moving slowly, and the destruction of them is not slumbering.
The apostle Peter identified the first thing that would happen with these false teachers as they would create divisions within the congregation as they introduced a sect, that division could be done by doctrinal, class or hierarchy, and even by your hope.
He next identified that they would minimize or exclude the role of the owner G1203. Who is this owner?
Strong’s Concordance #G1203 translated this Greek word as Lord, rightful owner, the one who exercises complete jurisdiction and wields unrestricted power, a prince, husband.
We can identify Jesus Christ as the rightful owner, he bought and paid for the right with his blood that is just the fact.
So, we ask how could they deny or disown the Lord Jesus Christ?
We could disown or deny Jesus Christ simply by not listening to him. We could minimize the role or authority that he has been given. Also, by refusing to come underneath the blood covenant that was provided to us.
Motives & Characteristics
What is a motive and what is a characteristic? A motive is the reason for doing something, it is something that is hidden or not obvious to all. Whereas a characteristic is a quality or feature that typically belongs to a type of person, place, or thing that helps identify it.
So, when we speak of false teachers we can identify them as such when we discern the motive or way they operate. Their true nature exposes their motive, the apostle Peter said that they would have acts of loose conduct, they would act in covetousness and would exploit us with counterfeit words.
What is an act of loose conduct? What is covetousness? And what is a counterfeit word?
Covetousness is a desire to have something that belongs to somebody else. Whereas acts of loose conduct referred to a disregard for higher morals or principles, a person with fleshly desires and unwilling to control them.
A counterfeit is something replicated that is intended to look like the real deal. So, they would use false words to substitute for what was real or true. Like hiding a true meaning of the word or substituting a like word for the real word.
Holding to the Principles of Truth
What is a principal? This definition refers to fundamental truth or position that serves as a foundation for our system of belief or behavior. It is the chain of actions related to our reasonings. This could be described as a compass that always points North, a principal is said to be the reason for why we act in a special way. Where we are always moving toward truth and away from falsehoods.
Poisoned Water
Jeremiah 23:15…Therefore this is what Jehovah of armies has said against the prophets: “Here I am making them eat wormwood, and I will give them poisoned water to drink. For from the prophets of Jerusalem apostasy has gone forth to all the land.
Jeremiah 8:14-15…Why are we sitting still? Gather yourselves together and let us enter into the fortified cities and be silent there. For Jehovah our God has himself put us to silence, and he gives us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against Jehovah. There was a hoping for peace, but no good [came]; for a time of healing but look! terror!
Writingwithlogos.com – Last Update 7/24/22