Feed My Sheep

[John Davidson]

The scripture says that this was the third time the Lord appeared to the disciples after his resurrection. I just noticed that.

Good observation! I never noticed that before.

 

[John Davidson]

I think "Feed My Sheep" has a significant correlation to the following passage:

Matthew 6:19-20
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

 

[W2L]

I think "Feed My Sheep" has a significant correlation to the following passage:

Matthew 6:19-20
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

How so?

 

[John Davidson]

How so?

How do we get treasure in heaven?

By feeding the sheep.

By loving our neighbor and meeting his needs both physically and spiritually.

 

[John Davidson]

This is also demonstrated in the following passage:

Matthew 25:31-46
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

 

[~Anastasia~]

So you don't believe that this charge to "feed the sheep" goes out to all Christians?

What of the verse that states, "I was hungry and you fed me" then? Matthew 25:35

Feeding the sheep has to do with teaching, preaching, leading the Church. This is an assignment for those to whom it is given.

Feeding the hungry is a charge to all Christians, to take care of all needy people as we are able, whether they are Chrustian or not.

Not the same charge, IMO. But each has their place, and we all have responsibilities to one another, to the Church, and to the world. But we need to know which charge belongs to each of us, and to whom we owe that service.

 

[John Davidson]

Feeding the sheep has to do with teaching, preaching, leading the Church. This is an assignment for those to whom it is given.

Feeding the hungry is a charge to all Christians, to take care of all needy people as we are able, whether they are Chrustian or not.

Not the same charge, IMO. But each has their place, and we all have responsibilities to one another, to the Church, and to the world. But we need to know which charge belongs to each of us, and to whom we owe that service.

Feeding the sheep can have to do with teaching and preaching but it's more than that. To feed the sheep is to shepherd them and nourish them. Loving them and taking care of them. There are many aspects of this and it could clearly involve feeding them a physical meal as well. This is the job of all Christians and disciples of Christ. We are all missionaries. We are all called to love our neighbors and do good to all men. We are all called to love and tend the lambs.

 

[W2L]

Feeding the sheep can have to do with teaching and preaching but it's more than that. To feed the sheep is to shepherd them and nourish them. Loving them and taking care of them. There are many aspects of this and it could clearly involve feeding them a physical meal as well. This is the job of all Christians and disciples of Christ. We are all missionaries. We are all called to love our neighbors and do good to all men. We are all called to love and tend the lambs.

Peter says a leader should lead by example as well. Leading by love, faith and hope.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Feeding the sheep can have to do with teaching and preaching but it's more than that. To feed the sheep is to shepherd them and nourish them. Loving them and taking care of them. There are many aspects of this and it could clearly involve feeding them a physical meal as well. This is the job of all Christians and disciples of Christ. We are all missionaries. We are all called to love our neighbors and do good to all men. We are all called to love and tend the lambs.

Oh I agree that there is much more to the job of pastoring than just teaching.

Believe me, in our Church, the shepherds are shepherds 24/7/365. Their lives belong to the Church, and we call them "Father" because they are always there for us and care for us in that way.

But I simply make a distinction between those kinds of responsibilities, and the responsibility we all share to take care of one another as parts of the Body of Christ, and the responsibility we have to the world at large. Sure, sometimes what we do practically looks the same - we feed people who need feeding, whether they are part of our parish family or people who wander in off the street.

But I simply read those Scriptures as applying in different ways.

No need for concern though. I suspect the way it actually works out is not so different in my estimation and yours, I am thinking.

 

[John Davidson]

Oh I agree that there is much more to the job of pastoring than just teaching.

Believe me, in our Church, the shepherds are shepherds 24/7/365. Their lives belong to the Church, and we call them "Father" because they are always there for us and care for us in that way.

But I simply make a distinction between those kinds of responsibilities, and the responsibility we all share to take care of one another as parts of the Body of Christ, and the responsibility we have to the world at large. Sure, sometimes what we do practically looks the same - we feed people who need feeding, whether they are part of our parish family or people who wander in off the street.

But I simply read those Scriptures as applying in different ways.

No need for concern though. I suspect the way it actually works out is not so different in my estimation and yours, I am thinking.

I think we have a fundamental disagreement.

You see it as the responsibility of the clergy to tend the sheep.

I see it as the responsibility of all believers to look after the flock.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I think we have a fundamental disagreement.

You see it as the responsibility of the clergy to tend the sheep.

I see it as the responsibility of all believers to look after the flock.

It depends on what you mean by "look after" but yes, I do believe that overseers and presbyters were appointed to look after the flock in particular roles, and I don't believe that has changed since the time of the Apostles.

Since you are asking in Traditional Theology, that will probably be the most common answer you would receive here.

I don't want to be misunderstood though. As I have said, we all have roles to look after one another, look after the Church as a whole, and look after those outside the Church. In some cases these roles will overlap, but in some cases the role of those appointed are different from the role of everyone else.

If there is no difference at all to you, does that mean your meetings/denomination has no pastors?

 

[John Davidson]

If there is no difference at all to you, does that mean your meetings/denomination has no pastors?

Of course I have a Pastor. But part of his job is to teach us to also be ministers.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Of course I have a Pastor. But part of his job is to teach us to also be ministers.

Ok.

I meant no insult, btw. Some groups do not have leadership, and I didn't know what kind of denomination you belonged to.

 

[W2L]

Ok.

I meant no insult, btw. Some groups do not have leadership, and I didn't know what kind of denomination you belonged to.

That depends on ones idea of leadership. Some, not all perhaps, who have no leadership still follow the spirit. They put faith in the Lords ability to teach them and lead them. Take this forum for example, they might seek fellowship in the spirit through the body, and follow the leadership of the spirit who leads us as individuals

 

[The Hammer of Witches]

Why did Jesus say "Feed My Sheep" three times to Peter?

John 21:15-17
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Because Peter denied him three times. Notice how Peter was grieved at the third saying? It is because Peter remembered where he told Christ he would follow him to death, and Christ prophesied his denial. He denied Christ three times, but Christ took him back in and cleansed him of his sins like he does all believers. That is why Christ repeated himself here, to put him in remembrance. This was also the third time that Christ appeared to them, and that is not a coincidence.

 

[timewerx]

Why did Jesus say "Feed My Sheep" three times to Peter?

John 21:15-17
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Good question.

Earlier, Peter disowned Jesus three times as well.

It gives an uneasy feeling to be honest. Was Jesus implying that Peter will fail to feed the sheep?

Because the consequences will surely affect even us. I mean if Peter did fail and we trusted him then we are surely in huge trouble. Many things we know would be in error...Those are going to be the consequences and of course, the incredibly few numbers that will be saved and most of us Christians will be condemned to death for following false teachings.

 

[W2L]

Good question.

Earlier, Peter disowned Jesus three times as well.

It gives an uneasy feeling to be honest. Was Jesus implying that Peter will fail to feed the sheep?

Because the consequences will surely affect even us. I mean if Peter did fail and we trusted him then we are surely in huge trouble. Many things we know would be in error...Those are going to be the consequences and of course, the incredibly few numbers that will be saved and most of us Christians will be condemned to death for following false teachings.

I guess we'll need to put faith in the Lord rather than speculate about peters intention. Gods mystery seems beyond our understanding. People think they understand Revelation but in the end they are merely speculating.

 

[John Davidson]

Ok.

I meant no insult, btw. Some groups do not have leadership, and I didn't know what kind of denomination you belonged to.

I go to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

 

[John Davidson]

Because Peter denied him three times.

Earlier, Peter disowned Jesus three times as well.

I think that may be part of the reason.

But I think the real reason Jesus repeated himself was because this is of extreme importance so he really wanted to pound it into Peter's head.

 

[W2L]

Jesus may have been commissioning peter to die. Right after he thrice says feed my sheep, the Lord indicates the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. He then says "follow me!", peter then asks about the disciple following them, and jesus says “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Jesus seems to be instructing peter to follow him to the cross via persecution by death