Who Were the Shepherds?

Keepers of the Flock

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The first people to hear that Jesus was born were not kings or priests. They were shepherds working the night shift. Who were they, and why did God choose them?

Living outdoors. The shepherds were “living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night” (Luke 2:8). In good weather they stayed with the sheep day and night.

A hard job. Sheep need grass and water every day. A shepherd walked his flock to green places, found water for them and brought every one back safely. He knew his sheep well and counted them to make sure none was missing.

Danger. Wild animals hunted sheep. David told King Saul, “When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it” (1 Samuel 17:34-35).

The sheepfold. At night shepherds often led the flock into a sheepfold, a pen with stone walls. Sometimes a shepherd slept across the opening, so that nothing could get in without passing him.

Looked down on. Shepherds were often poor. They smelled like their sheep and could not always keep the washing rules that religious leaders cared about. Many people did not respect them. But God does not see people the way others do (1 Samuel 16:7).

David the shepherd. Bethlehem was David's hometown. When Samuel came to anoint a new king, Jesse said of his youngest son, “There he is, keeping the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:11).

Bethlehem's promise. The prophet Micah wrote, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2).

God chose them. God sent His angel to these ordinary workers. “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

They believed. The shepherds did not argue. They said, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass” (Luke 2:15).

They told. After they saw Jesus, “they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child” (Luke 2:17). The first people to spread the news about Jesus were shepherds.

They praised. They went back to their sheep “glorifying and praising God” (Luke 2:20). Their work stayed the same, but their hearts were new.

What we learn. God does not look for important people. He looks for people who will listen and come to Jesus. He sent His best news to men working hard on an ordinary night, and that includes you.

What to do. This week, thank God for someone with an ordinary job who serves others. Then ask Jesus to use you right where you are.

God announced the birth of His Son in a sheep field, not in the temple or in Herod's palace. Knowing who shepherds were helps us see what kind of King Jesus is.

Living out (Luke 2:8). The Greek word agraulountes (say: ah-grow-LOON-tes) means living in the open fields. These men stayed out with the flock overnight and took turns at the watch.

A dangerous trade. David's report to Saul shows the risk. He fought a lion and a bear to rescue one lamb (1 Samuel 17:34-36). A good shepherd put himself between the flock and the danger.

Low status. Shepherding was humble, dirty work. Later Jewish writings sometimes listed shepherds among people whose word could not be trusted in court. Yet God made shepherds the first witnesses to the birth of the Messiah.

Shepherds in Israel's story. Abel kept flocks (Genesis 4:2). Moses was keeping Jethro's flock when God called him from the burning bush (Exodus 3:1). God took David from the sheepfolds to shepherd Israel (Psalm 78:70-71).

Leaders as shepherds. God called the leaders of His people shepherds. Through Ezekiel He rebuked shepherds who fed themselves instead of the flock. Then He promised to set one shepherd over His people, His servant David (Ezekiel 34:2, 23).

Micah 5:2. Micah promised that the Ruler would come from little Bethlehem, “Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.” This Ruler is older than Bethlehem itself, because He is the eternal Son of God.

Lambs near Bethlehem. Many Christians see a picture here. Flocks near Bethlehem may have included lambs raised for the sacrifices in Jerusalem, so shepherds who watched sacrifice lambs were the first to meet “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

Fear and favor (2:9-10). The shepherds were terrified, but the angel's first words were, “Do not be afraid.” The good news came first to people who knew they were nobody special.

First evangelists (2:17). They “made widely known” the news. Men whose word was not trusted carried the most trustworthy message in the world.

Returning changed (2:20). They went back to the same flock, “glorifying and praising God.” Meeting Jesus does not always change your job, but it changes your heart and your reason for working (Colossians 3:23).

1 Corinthians 1:27. God “has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.” He does this so that no one can boast before Him, and His invitation is open to everyone.

Application. You do not need to be famous or impressive for God to use you. Be faithful in ordinary tasks, listen to God's Word and be ready to tell others about Jesus.

The Good Shepherd

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The shepherds left their flocks to visit a baby. That baby grew up and said that He is a Shepherd too, the best one of all.

The Lord is my shepherd. David the shepherd wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). He knew how a shepherd cares for his sheep.

Green pastures. “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:2). A good shepherd gives his sheep what they need.

Like lost sheep. The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). Sin is like wandering away from the Shepherd.

Without a shepherd. When Jesus saw the crowds, “He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

The Good Shepherd. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

He gave His life. David risked his life for a lamb. Jesus gave His life for us on the cross. He died for our sins, and then He rose again.

He knows His sheep. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). Jesus knows you by name.

He leads them. A shepherd “calls his own sheep by name and leads them out” (John 10:3). Jesus goes ahead of His people.

He looks for the lost. Jesus told of a man with a hundred sheep who leaves the ninety-nine to “seek the one that is straying” (Matthew 18:12).

Joy in heaven. Jesus said, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:7).

Coming home. “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

The great Shepherd. God “brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20). Our Shepherd is alive!

What to do. Talk to Jesus every day and listen to His voice in the Bible. If you have wandered away, come back to Him. He is glad to bring you home.

The shepherds of Luke 2 visited the newborn Shepherd. The shepherd picture runs through the whole Bible, and it finds its center in Jesus.

Psalm 23. David, who had been a shepherd, called the Lord his shepherd. The psalm moves from food and rest (green pastures) to guidance (paths of righteousness) to healing: “He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:3).

Ezekiel 34. God condemned Israel's leaders as shepherds who fed themselves and left the flock scattered. Then He promised that He Himself would search for His sheep, and that He would set one shepherd over them, His servant David (Ezekiel 34:11, 23).

Isaiah 53:6. “All we like sheep have gone astray.” The problem is not only bad shepherds but wandering sheep. Every one of us has turned to his own way.

The Shepherd who is God. In Psalm 23 the Shepherd is the Lord. In Ezekiel 34 God says He will shepherd His flock Himself. When Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11), He is claiming to be that Shepherd.

Kalos. The Greek word for good in John 10:11 is kalos (say: kah-LOSS), meaning good, beautiful and true. Jesus is not a good-enough shepherd. He is the true and perfect one.

He lays down His life. A hired hand runs from the wolf (John 10:12-13), but the Good Shepherd “gives His life for the sheep.” David risked death for a lamb. Jesus actually died for His flock, and He took His life up again.

Hebrews 13:20. “That great Shepherd of the sheep” was brought up from the dead. The Good Shepherd who died is the Great Shepherd who lives.

1 Peter 5:4. Peter calls Jesus the Chief Shepherd, who will appear and give a crown of glory that never fades to those who faithfully care for His flock.

Matthew 18:12; Luke 15:7. The shepherd who searches for one straying sheep shows the heart of God. Heaven rejoices more over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who think they need nothing.

1 Peter 2:25. Believers are sheep who “have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” Overseer means one who watches over and cares.

Revelation 7:17. At the end of the story, “the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them.” Jesus is both the Lamb who was sacrificed and the Shepherd who leads.

From Bethlehem's fields. The men who watched flocks by night were the first to see this Shepherd. They came to Him, and then they went out telling others.

Application. Sheep stay close to the shepherd by hearing his voice. Read the words of Jesus, pray and stay near other believers. If you have wandered, the Shepherd is already looking for you.

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