Feed the flock of God which is among you
Some read, "as much as in you is"; that is, to the utmost of your
power, according to your abilities, referring to the manner of
feeding the flock, doing it in the best way they are capable of;
but the phrase is rather descriptive of the flock to be fed,
which points it out, and distinguishes it from all others, and
for which they should have a particular regard; it being the
flock, as the Syriac version renders it, which "is delivered unto
you"; which was committed to their care, and they were made
overseers of, and stood in a special relation to; wherefore it
was incumbent on them to regard them, so as they did not, and
were not obliged to regard, any other distinct flock: by "the
flock of God"; or, "of Christ", as some copies read, is meant,
not the whole world, which Philo the Jew F18 calls
the greatest and most perfect, (tou ontov yeou poimhn) , "flock of the true God"; but
the church of God, over which they were elders or pastors,
consisting of Christ's sheep and lambs, he ordered Peter to feed,
as he now does his fellow elders; and because they are the flock
of God, which he has chosen, distinguished, and separated from
the rest of the world, and has made the care and charge of
Christ; put them into his hands, whence they are called the sheep
of his hand; which he has purchased with his blood, and
effectually called by his grace, and returned them to himself,
the Shepherd and Bishop of souls, who before were as sheep going
astray, and folded them together in a Gospel church state; all
this is a reason, and a strong one, why they should be fed; not
with every wind of doctrine, which blows up the pride of human
nature, and swells men with vain conceits of themselves; nor with
the chaff of human doctrines; nor with trifling and speculative
notions; but with knowledge and understanding of divine and
evangelical truths, with the words of faith and sound doctrine,
with the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ; with the
Gospel of the grace of God, which contains milk for babes, and
meat for strong men; and with a crucified Christ himself, who is
the bread of life, and whose flesh is meat indeed, and his blood
drink indeed; by directing them to his person, blood, and
righteousness, to live by faith on; by preaching the doctrines of
peace and pardon by his blood, atonement and satisfaction by his
sacrifice, and justification by his righteousness, and complete
salvation by his obedience and death: in short, feeding includes
the whole of the pastor's work, the ministry of the word, the
administration of ordinances, and the rule and government of the
church, in the several branches of it; for the same word
signifies to rule as to feed; and which work is further expressed
by
taking the oversight thereof;
that is, of the flock; or "take the care of it", as the Syriac
version renders it, and adds, "spiritually"; in a spiritual
manner; which is an interpretation of the phrase: an acting the
part of a bishop or overseer of it, as the word signifies;
looking diligently to it, inspecting into the various cases of
the members of the church; using diligence to know the state of
the flock, and performing all the offices of a careful shepherd;
as feeding the flock; and not themselves; strengthening the
diseased; healing the sick; binding up that which was broken;
bringing again that which was driven away, and seeking that which
was lost; watching over them that they go not astray; and
restoring of them in the spirit of meekness, when they are gone
out of the way; and overlooking both their practices and their
principles; admonishing, reproving them for sin, as the case
requires; and preserving them, as much as in them lies, from
wolves, and beasts of prey; from false teachers, and from all
errors and heresies: all which is to be done,
not by constraint;
or with force, in a rigorous and severe manner; for this may be
understood actively of pastors not forcing their flock, over
driving them, or ruling them with force and cruelty, complained
of in ( Ezekiel 34:4
) or passively, of their being forced to feed the flock, and
superintend it; as such may be said to be, who enter into the
ministry, and continue in it, because obliged to it for want of a
livelihood, and not knowing how to get one any other way; or
through the pressing instances of relations, acquaintance, and
friends; this ought not to be a matter of necessity, but of
choice; they should be induced to it by no other necessity than
what Christ has laid upon them, by calling them to the work, and
furnishing them for it with the gifts of his Spirit; and should
engage and continue in it by no other constraint than that of his
love; wherefore it follows,
but willingly.
The Vulgate Latin version adds, "according to God", and so some
copies; according to the will of God, and agreeably to his word;
and the Ethiopic version renders it, "with equity for God"; with
all uprightness and integrity, for the sake of the honour and
glory of God; this should be done with all a man's heart and
soul, and should spring from pure love to Christ; for no man is
fit to feed Christ's lambs and sheep but those who sincerely love
him; see ( John
21:15-17 ) , and from a cordial and affectionate concern for
the good of souls; and from, an hearty desire unto, and delight
in, the work itself; otherwise all he does will be as a task and
burden; he will do it grudgingly, and with negligence, and will
murmur under it, at least secretly. The Arabic version renders
it, "watching, not forced watches, but willing ones". This
contrast of phrases seems to be Jewish, or Rabbinical F19; it is
a tradition of the Rabbans;
``blood which is defiled, and they sprinkle it ignorantly, it is accepted; presumptuously, not accepted; of what things are these said? of a private person; but of a congregation, whether ignorantly or presumptuously, it is accepted; and of a stranger, whether ignorantly or presumptuously, (Nwurb Nyb onwab Nyb) , "whether by constraint or willingly", it is not accepted:''it follows here,
not for filthy lucre;
not from a covetous disposition, which is a filthy one; and for
the sake of gaining money, and amassing wealth and riches, as the
false prophets in Isaiah's time, who were never satisfied; and
the false teachers in the apostle's time, who, through
covetousness, made merchandise of men, and supposed that gain was
godliness; whereas there is no such thing as serving God and
mammon; and as the work of the ministry should not be entered
upon, and continued in, with any such sordid view; so neither for
the sake of gaining glory and applause, a presidency, and chief
place in the churches, and a name among the ministers of the
Gospel, and credit and esteem among men:
but of a ready mind;
or, "from the whole heart", as the Syriac version renders it; and
in a cheerful view of reproaches and persecutions, of the loss of
credit and reputation, of worldly substance, and of life itself;
and with a sincere concern for the glory of God, and the good of
immortal souls; being ready to do everything with cheerfulness,
that may contribute to either of these. The Ethiopic version
renders it, "in the fulness of your heart with joy".