Zechariah 11:15-17 - Homilies By W. Forsyth

The evil shepherd.

I. CHARACTER . Vain. Selfish. Hypocritical Greedy of gain and popularity. Worthless for real good. Permitted, but not approved.

II. OFFENCE .

1 . Coldness. No "pity." His heart is not in his work.

2 . Neglect . Takes no pains to seek out the poor and needy. Does not "visit."

3 . Unfaithfulness, No warnings. False teaching. Making gain of godliness. God's ideal of the shepherd lost. God's benign purposes in the ministry of grace frustrated. Souls perish, and their blood calleth from the ground,

"The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed,

But, swoln with wind and the rank mist they draw,

Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread:

Besides what the grim wolf with privy paw

Daily devours apace, and nothing fed:

But that two-handed engine at the door

Stands ready to smite once, and smite no more."

(Milton, 'Lyeidas.')

(Cf. Ruskin's exposition in 'Sesame and Lilies.')

III. Doom. "Woe."

1 . Hardened in evil . Degradation. Judicial blindness.

2 . Cursed with uselessness .

3 . Destined to destruction .

"Alas, my brother! round thy tomb

In sorrow kneeling and in fear

We read the pastor's doom,

Who speaks and will not hear."

(Keble.)

F.