Yēlìmǐshū 3:15

15 Wǒ yĕ bì jiang hé wǒ xīn de mù zhĕ cìgĕi nǐmen . tāmen bì yǐ zhīshi hé zhìhuì mù yǎng nǐmen .

Yēlìmǐshū 3:15 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 3:15

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart
Which is to be understood not of political rulers and governors, but ministers of the word; who are "pastors" or "shepherds" under Christ the great Shepherd, and are "gifts" of his to the churches, and "according to his heart"; or "conformable to his mind", as the Arabic version; whom he calls, qualifies, puts into the ministry, and sends forth; whom he holds in his right hand, and keeps as the apple of his eye; who do his will, as the Targum, and feed men according to his heart: and as this prophecy belongs to Gospel times, as appears both by what goes before and by what follows, the apostles of Christ and first ministers of the Gospel are chiefly designed; though it might have some accomplishment in Nehemiah and Ezra, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, at and after the Jews return from Babylon; but a more complete one in the times mentioned: so Kimchi says, these are they that shall be with the King Messiah, according to ( Micah 5:5 ) : which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding;
with things worthy to be known and understood; with the solid and substantial truths of the Gospel, and by faithfully administering the ordinances of it; and in all directing to Christ the bread of life: or, "shall rule you" ^F6 not in an arbitrary way, according to their own ills, but according to the laws of Christ: these words, with knowledge and understanding, may either intend the matter with which these pastors should feed the church; which is what tends to spiritual knowledge and understanding, and an increase thereof; and which is blessed of God to such a purpose, though they themselves cannot give it: or else the manner in which they should feed or rule; that is, wisely and "prudently", as the Arabic version renders it: they feed wisely and prudently when they rightly divide the word of truth, and give to every one their portion of meat in due season; and feed them in proportion to their age and capacity, give milk to babes, and meat to strong men: and they rule with wisdom and prudence when they govern according to the laws of Christ, and take care that they are put in execution; and do all things decently and in order; and, as David, feed the flock according to the integrity of their hearts, and guide them by the skilfulness of their hands, ( Psalms 78:72 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (werw) "regent", Gataker.

Yēlìmǐshū 3:15 In-Context

13 Zhǐyào chéngrèn nǐde zuìniè , jiù shì nǐ wéibeì Yēhéhuá nǐde shén , zaì gĕ qīng cuì shù xià xiàng bié shén dōng bēn xī paó , méiyǒu tīng cóng wǒde huà . zhè shì Yēhéhuá shuō de .

14 Yēhéhuá shuō , bēi dào de érnǚ a , huí lái ba . yīnwei wǒ zuò nǐmen de zhàngfu , bìngqiĕ wǒ bìjiāng nǐmen cóng yī chéng qǔ yī rén , cóng yī zú qǔ liǎng rén , daì dào Xī \'ān .

15 Wǒ yĕ bì jiang hé wǒ xīn de mù zhĕ cìgĕi nǐmen . tāmen bì yǐ zhīshi hé zhìhuì mù yǎng nǐmen .

16 Yēhéhuá shuō , nǐmen zaì guó zhōng shēng yǎng zhòngduō . dāng nàxiē rìzi , rén bì bú zaì dī shuō Yēhéhuá de yuē jǔ , bú zhuī xiǎng , bù jìniàn , bù jué quē shǎo , yĕ bú zaì zhìzào .

17 Nàshí , rén bì chēng Yēlùsǎlĕng wèi Yēhéhuá de bǎozuò . wàn guó bì dào Yēlùsǎlĕng , zaì Yēhéhuá lì míng de dìfang jùjí . tāmen bì bú zaì suícóng zìjǐ wán gĕng de è xīn xíngshì .