Verse 16
In his new role Zechariah represented one who would fail to do for the sheep all that a good shepherd would do. Instead he would be self-serving. Israel’s preference for Barabbas over Jesus showed her willingness in the past to accept a bad individual in place of a good one.
"When one removes ’not’ from the sentence, he has an enlightening description of a truly effective pastoral ministry in the church today. (1) ’care for the lost . . .’ or . . . ’care for those in the process of being ruined or destroyed’; (2) ’seek the young . . . [or] ’the scattered’; (3) ’heal the injured,’ and (4) ’feed the healthy.’" [Note: Barker, p. 679.]
Tearing off the hoofs of the sheep probably represents the avaricious shepherd searching for the last edible morsel that he can extract from his charges whom he has consumed. [Note: Unger, p. 204.]
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