Commentaries:
Because of the unraveling of the church of God in recent decades, the overall flock has experienced a great deal of agitation. In some cases, sheep are distrustful or disdainful of sheep in other legitimate folds. What seems to happen more often, though, is that shepherds are suspicious—and even contemptuous—of other shepherds, and may even engage in turf wars and sheep rustling, inciting further unrest among the sheep. If sheep have suffered abuse or neglect at the hands of a hireling or derelict shepherd, they will be less inclined to trust other shepherds, and peace is the casualty.
God says through Ezekiel that some dominant sheep will push other sheep around, "butt[ing] all the weak ones with your horns, and scatter[ing] them abroad" (Ezekiel 34:21), all the while using up the pasture and then defiling it (verses 18-19). Some shepherds, in letting their attention slip away from the Good Shepherd, have filled the void by elevating themselves. When this happens, a tendency arises to use and abuse the sheep rather than tending and feeding them. Because of the pressures of the times, both sheep and shepherd risk becoming bogged down in the quicksand of the world.
These symptoms can all be understood in light of Jeremiah 18:15-17, where God says that He scatters His people because they have forgotten Him. If He is not the top priority in our lives, He will change our circumstances—our "pasture," which could have many different applications—until we remember and seek Him once again. Thus, the ongoing unrest in the church of God is partly attributable to the carnality remaining within it and partly to the Good Shepherd's skillful management in guiding His sheep into circumstances ideal for growth, which can seem quite disruptive.
It is crucial to understand that, despite the chaos and confusion in the greater church of God, none of it is out of the Shepherd's control. He knew what He was doing when He scattered Israel and Judah, when He scattered the first-century church from Jerusalem, and when He scattered the church in our time. His thoughts and ways are infinitely above ours (Isaiah 55:9), but His acts always accomplish a good purpose. He limits the harm the hirelings can cause, even using their harm for ultimate good, if the sheep continue to look to Him. He oversees the under-shepherds, working in their lives to ensure that His will is fulfilled. He has already literally laid down His life for His sheep; not one who is looking to Him will be lost (John 6:39; 10:27-28).
If we are intent on following the Shepherd's guidance, continually looking to Him for direction, He will lead us to the best pastures. His guidance typically requires us to look to Him for everything. Part of the cost of discipleship is renouncing control of the direction and contents of our lives and submitting to His guidance when our circumstances undergo changes out of our control. When He moves us, it may be uncomfortable, but what it produces is invaluable: a singular focus on Him and a faith—trust—that will carry us into the Kingdom. It is comforting to remember that the Good Shepherd assures us, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
David C. Grabbe
The Shepherd's Guidance (Part Three)
Hebrews 13 is an uncomfortable chapter for religious anarchists because it refers in three different verses (verses 7, 17, 24) to "those who rule [hêgeomai; lead or command] over you." It refers not to civil authorities but to church leaders. The strongest admonition appears in verse 17:
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
That some have "rule" over us is not the same as the "exercising [of] lordship" that Jesus Christ warns against (Matthew 20:25; Mark 10:42; Luke 22:25). Yet, the fact remains that God has given authority and rule to some of His servants for the benefit of all involved. Where carnality is in the mix, things are going to break down, but the problem is the carnality and not the structure.
A few more examples of the different levels of church authority should suffice for those who believe the Word of God. In Paul's epistles, he frequently speaks of the authority God had given to him (I Corinthians 9:18; II Corinthians 10:8, 14; 13:10; II Thessalonians 3:9; Titus 2:15). He calls the elders "overseers" (Acts 20:17, 28), indicating that they are to be watching over the spiritual state of the flock. The pastoral epistles are written by a servant of God to another of lesser authority, instructing the young pastors in how they should oversee their congregations, including other elders who were "under" them (I Timothy 3:5; 5:17). He points out that an overseer's function is akin to a man ruling over his house (I Timothy 3:1-5).
In I Peter 5:2-3, Peter likewise instructs the elders to
shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
On the other hand, the apostates in II Peter 2:10 and Jude 8 are those who "reject" or "despise" authority—the overriding principle of anarchism!
Today, we find ourselves in an environment that encourages us to think that those in authority are the cause of all our problems. A person's approach to authority tends to be consistent: If he despises it in the civil realm, he is also likely to do so in the religious realm and vice versa.
For the sake of our spiritual lives, it is advisable to look inside to see if we are encouraging seeds of anarchy to grow. The real issue in all this is whether we have faith in the sovereign God to work out His will, regardless of whom He has granted authority in the nation or in the church. Obviously, this does not mean following leaders into sin. But where our faith is weak, we often seek our own solutions. Yet everywhere anarchy appears in the Bible, whether in a nation or in a family, it is a pitiable condition and often a curse. While God may cause it on occasion, it is not the solution we should willingly seek—if we put stock in the whole counsel of God.
David C. Grabbe
Anarchy in God's Church? (Part Three)
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Hebrews 13:17:
Leviticus 19:32
Proverbs 28:2
Luke 21:34-36
Luke 21:36
Luke 21:36
1 Corinthians 7:35
1 John 2:27
Revelation 6:9
