Christ eminently deserves the title of a “good shepherd.” He is infinite in knowledge, to discern all the necessities of His flock. He is infinite in pity and wisdom, to deal tenderly with them (see Isaiah 40:11). Good and faithful shepherds put the good of their flock ahead of even their own life. And as Christ not only gives life to his sheep, but His own life for them, so His faithful servants should not “account their life dear,” but worth nothing unless they fulfil their ministry, and bear testimony to the truth (Acts 20:24). 

Few things are as devastating in the experience of a congregation as a trusted pastor or minister turning out to be guilty of sins which completely disqualify them from the office and invite the contempt of even the world. That one cheated on his wife, that one hit his wife, that one turned to drink, that one interfered with children, that one took advantage of a disabled member of the congregation, that one got involved with young men, that one became addicted to gambling, and all of it was while they continued preaching, soaked up other people’s respect, and made out to everyone that they were godly, faithful ministers. Reeling and bruised congregations wonder what their minister’s reputed doctrinal purity is worth now, or his conservative approach to various topical issues, or his vocal commitment to denominational distinctives. None of these things ever provide any guarantee against catastrophic moral failure, or any comfort in the wake of the exposure of shameful wrongdoing. We realise, too late perhaps, that we were distracted by something secondary, such as gifts or personality, and overlooked the primary qualification of character. But Jesus remains the one shepherd and bishop of our souls. When under-shepherds turn out to be wolves, Jesus remains the good shepherd. In a discussion of Jesus’ teaching on the good shepherd, George Hutcheson points out the various contrasts between Christ and the “thief” and the “hireling” in John 10:10–12. Looking at Jesus allows us to take comfort and remain settled in the gospel in spite of the betrayals of hirelings. It also equips to be better able to identify and exclude from pastoral office those whose character does not match His. Hutcheson explains in the following updated extract.

The Good Shepherd’s Work Is Gifting, Not Robbing

Christ declares in John 10:10 that He is the true shepherd, firstly in opposition to those whom He call “thieves and robbers.” Either they make out themselves to be the Messiah, or they run unsent and bring in false doctrine. These he declares to be enemies and not shepherds, who come only to harm the flock. By contrast, His errand is to give them life, and that in great abundance.

False teachers and seducers make so many attractive claims, and plausible appearances, that the evil of their way is not soon seen. That is why we must make sure to inculcate what it is that the thief comes to do.

Whatever attractive claims these seducers make, and however much people are taken with them, yet in reality they have come for the hurt of the flock. This is how it will turn out, and be seen, in the end. “The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” — that is the whole aim of their work. And this meets with the blind charity of at least some in the flock, who are not so much afraid of being hurt by their errors as they are expecting to get good by their displays of piety.

These false teachers are really nothing but “thieves,” both from the point of view that they only make a prey of souls, taking them away from Christ, stealing away their food in order to give them poison, betraying Christ of His glory, and tricking them out of their happiness; and also from the fact that they do all this in a clandestine and indirect way.

However happy the deluded souls may think themselves, when they have been made a prey to seducers, and deluded with their insinuations, yet all this leads only to their destruction, and to their eternal ruin, if mercy does not prevent it. These thieves are “robbers,” (v. 8), who come to kill and to destroy, as much as to steal.

But Christ is a shepherd who is be so far from destroying His flock that He gives them life, even to those of them who are dead. “I am come that they might have life.”

Christ’s great goal in coming to the world is to purchase and confer life on His own elect.

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