Feed My Sheep

[Wordkeeper]

So are you saying that Christians aren't responsible to feed the sheep?

Notice that God charged Moses to give bread to Israel. Why? Because Moses was a 'Christian':

Hebrews 11:24By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasure. 26He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward. 27By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king’s anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible.

1 Corinthians10: 1For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, 2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,3and all ate the same spiritual food,4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was 'Christ'.

A parallel is found in Jesus' life, who left power and privilege to rescue mankind, offering Himself to be used by God to give bread, because it was not Moses who fed the Israelites words and works, but God the Father:

John 14:10The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

In other words a 'Christian' is one who has eaten 'Christ', left self interest and focused on the interest of their fellow humans...

When I entered seminary, I wanted to have a big ministry, become a famous author. What difference is there in that from any other worldly person?

 

[All4Christ]

@John Davidson - I agree with Anastasia in regards to the command "feed my sheep" being a pastoral command. Why? Because all the references to Shepherds in the New Testament are referring to either Jesus Himself or those in pastoral positions. Yes, we all have a calling, and we each have a unique role in the body of Christ. However, the overseers - the presbyters - were referred to as shepherds. They were charged to tend their flock. So in this context, I believe it was a command to those who are pastors, priests or bishops.

An example:

1 Peter 5:1-4

 

[Wordkeeper]

Luke 14:3NET BibleIn the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions."

 

[W2L]

Luke 14:3NET BibleIn the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions."

Well, you need clothes, and peter needed his fishing boat, but we also learn to be content when suffering need. Praise the Lord.

 

[Wordkeeper]

Well, you need clothes, and peter needed his fishing boat, but we also learn to be content when suffering need. Praise the Lord.

Matthew 19:23Then Jesus said to his disciples,“Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26Jesus looked at them and said,“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wifee or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

 

[All4Christ]

.

 

[All4Christ]

Luke 14:3NET BibleIn the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions."

Well, you need clothes, and peter needed his fishing boat, but we also learn to be content when suffering need. Praise the Lord.

Matthew 19:23Then Jesus said to his disciples,“Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

26Jesus looked at them and said,“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

28Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wifee or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

]I'm not sure how this all relates to the subject? What are you trying to convey? Certainly, we agree with the scriptures you are quoting.

 

[Wordkeeper]

]I'm not sure how this all relates to the subject? What are you trying to convey? Certainly, we agree with the scriptures you are quoting.

Oh yes, I almost forgot!

The subject:

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

God told Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt.

Moses had three obstacles:

Getting Israel to leave Egypt: baptism.

Getting Israel to be loyal to God: sanctification.

Getting Israel to be blessings to the world : glorification.

Moses needed help. He felt there was no reason why anyone would listen to his urgings, to cross a desert to an uncertain future. God gave bread. Words and works that nudged Israel into the Promised Land.

The thread starter seemed to believe that all believers are called by God. God calls only those who know they are sojourners, aliens in the world. Men have a different destiny. Men who are comfortable in the world aren't going to be called. Peter dropped everything when he received 'bread'.

Feeding lambs (baptismal candidates) requires that impetus: 'bread' from heaven. The Father is pleased to give the Kingdom ( stock of bread) to his little flock: only those who have left home and family.

Luke 12:32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.

 

[All4Christ]

Oh yes, I almost forgot!

The subject:

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

God told Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt.

Moses had three obstacles:

Getting Israel to leave Egypt: baptism.

Getting Israel to be loyal to God: sanctification.

Getting Israel to be blessings to the world : glorification.

Moses needed help. He felt there was no reason why anyone would listen to his urgings, to cross a desert to an uncertain future. God gave bread. Words and works that nudged Israel into the Promised Land.

The thread starter seemed to believe that all believers are called by God. God calls only those who know they are sojourners, aliens in the world. Men have a different destiny. Men who are comfortable in the world aren't going to be called. Peter dropped everything when he received 'bread'.

Feeding lambs (baptismal candidates) requires that impetus: 'bread' from heaven. The Father is pleased to give the Kingdom ( stock of bread) to his little flock: only those who have left home and family.

Luke 12:32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.

Ok, thanks for your explanation. I see where you are coming from, though I disagree with some of your assertions. I appreciate you taking the time to explain!

 

[Wordkeeper]

Ok, thanks for your explanation. I see where you are coming from, though I disagree with some of your assertions. I appreciate you taking the time to explain!

You're welcome. I've set out a broad outline. If you want to critique you can.

 

[All4Christ]

You're welcome. I've set out a broad outline. If you want to critique you can.

I'm a bit limited on time right now, but I'd be interested in doing that sometime soon. We are on vacation, so I've only had time for brief posts so far.

 

[Thursday]

Actually some of it was pretty good but the Peter is pope nonsense I could do without.

Jesus started a single Church and he chose leaders for his Church. He told Peter alone among the apostles to feed his sheep. He gave Peter alone the keys to the Kingdom. He told Peter alone to strengthen the brethren.

If you want to discuss the instructions Jesus gave to Peter to feed his sheep, then you must acknowledge the unique role Peter played in the Church.

 

[John Davidson]

Jesus started a single Church and he chose leaders for his Church.

And that church is not the Roman Catholic Church.

He told Peter alone among the apostles to feed his sheep.

How do you know that he didn't give this command to the rest of his disciples?

He gave Peter alone the keys to the Kingdom.

How do you know that keys weren't given to other apostles?

He told Peter alone to strengthen the brethren.

No, if you've ever read the parable of the sheep and the goats you would know that all the sheep were responsible for aiding their brethren.

If you want to discuss the instructions Jesus gave to Peter to feed his sheep, then you must acknowledge the unique role Peter played in the Church.

Peter was certainly a leader in the early church but there were other leaders who shepherded the flock of God.

 

[Wordkeeper]

Moses left the group called world and joined Israel because he knew God had chosen Israel to save men.

Peter left the group called Moses and joined Jesus because he knew Moses had prophesied that someone like him would come to save men.

Paul left the group called world and joined Moses but he did not know that Jesus was the one Moses had prophesied who would come to save men.

God called all the people who left the world to save men. Not just Peter. It's a pattern...

 

[John Davidson]

@John Davidson - I agree with Anastasia in regards to the command "feed my sheep" being a pastoral command. Why? Because all the references to Shepherds in the New Testament are referring to either Jesus Himself or those in pastoral positions. Yes, we all have a calling, and we each have a unique role in the body of Christ. However, the overseers - the presbyters - were referred to as shepherds. They were charged to tend their flock. So in this context, I believe it was a command to those who are pastors, priests or bishops.

An example:

1 Peter 5:1-4

That is a good scripture reference to show that others are responsible to feed the flock of God and not only Peter. I was wondering though, do you think that it's only the Elders who are responsible to "feed the flock"? Jesus said that we will know his disciples by those who have love for one another. Does not love tend and feed it's brother. Surely this is a charge that goes out to every disciple of Christ.

 

[Wordkeeper]

That is a good scripture reference to show that others are responsible to feed the flock of God and not only Peter. I was wondering though, do you think that it's only the Elders who are responsible to "feed the flock"? Jesus said that we will know his disciples by those who have love for one another. Does not love tend and feed it's brother. Surely this is a charge that goes out to every disciple of Christ.

John 5:19So Jesus answered them, "I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.

John 6:32Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from
heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

What was the Ananias and Sapphira incident all about?

 

[John Davidson]

John 5:19So Jesus answered them, "I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.

John 6:32Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from
heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

What was the Ananias and Sapphira incident all about?

I'm not really sure how your post concerns the charge to tend the lambs?

 

[All4Christ]

That is a good scripture reference to show that others are responsible to feed the flock of God and not only Peter. I was wondering though, do you think that it's only the Elders who are responsible to "feed the flock"? Jesus said that we will know his disciples by those who have love for one another. Does not love tend and feed it's brother. Surely this is a charge that goes out to every disciple of Christ.

Certainly we tend to each other and care for each other. We love each other and feed each other. However, I personally believe there is a unique role of leadership, in which the presbyters or elders lead their flock. They are responsible for leading a group of Christians - shepherding their flock and feeding their lambs. While we all tend and feed each other, the presbyters feed their flock spiritually. This is what I believe Christ was saying. I don't think He was saying to literally feed us food, but rather to feed us spiritual food.

In the Orthodox Tradition, the priests (presbyters / elders) are representing Christ, the Shepherd. They are an extension of His shepherding and are given a responsibility to lead His flock towards His Kingdom. This is shown in the scripture I quoted earlier.

 

[John Davidson]

I don't think He was saying to literally feed us food, but rather to feed us spiritual food.

I actually think it's both. I think Christ's charge to tend the sheep deals with an overall and total loving and caring for God's children. I think it means to look after all their needs both spiritual and physical.

 

[All4Christ]

I actually think it's both. I think Christ's charge to tend the sheep deals with an overall and total loving and caring for God's children. I think it means to look after all their needs both spiritual and physical.

I can see that. However, I still believe that the New Testament references to sheep, shepherds, etc all are referring to the act of shepherding, or leading the flock. As Peter was one of the first leaders of the church, I see this as specifically as a pastoral command.