John 10:13

13 Because he is a servant he has no interest in the sheep.

John 10:13 Meaning and Commentary

John 10:13

The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling
And has no propriety in the sheep; had he, he would abide by them, and defend them; but because he has not, he will not expose himself to any danger, but leaves them:

and careth not for the sheep;
what becomes of them, providing only for his own safety. Abarbinel ^F25 has a note on ( Isaiah 40:11 ) which may serve to illustrate this passage:

``"he shall feed his flock like a shepherd"; not as he that feeds the flock of others, for the hire they give him, but as a shepherd that feeds his own flock; who has compassion more abundantly on it, because it is his own flock; and therefore he saith, "behold his reward is with him", for he does not seek a reward from another; "and his work is before him"; for he feeds what is his own, and therefore his eyes and his heart are there.''

Which is not the case of the hireling; he does not care for them, he has not their good at heart; but the good shepherd has, such an one as Christ is.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Mashmia Jeshua, fol. 20. 4.

John 10:13 In-Context

11 I am the good keeper of sheep: the good keeper gives his life for the sheep.

12 He who is a servant, and not the keeper or the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming and goes in flight, away from the sheep; and the wolf comes down on them and sends them in all directions:

13 Because he is a servant he has no interest in the sheep.

14 I am the good keeper; I have knowledge of my sheep, and they have knowledge of me,

15 Even as the Father has knowledge of me and I of the Father; and I am giving my life for the sheep.