We often appreciate the Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd in His death (Joh 10:11), as the Great Shepherd in His resurrection (Heb 13:20), and as the Chief Shepherd who will appear in His glory (1Pe 5:4). To these, Peter adds another marvelous title: “For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1Pe 2:25).1
The Shepherd
Peter is writing to encourage suffering saints. For some of his recipients, their submission to a difficult master resulted in their “suffering wrongfully” – even as they “do good” (2:18-20). But Peter urges them to “take it patiently” (v20) and in so doing follow Christ. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (v21). Peter then expands on each of the points he’s just made as he turns their attention (and ours) fully on Christ. We are to “do good” (v20), as Christ “committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth” (v22). We are to “take it patiently” (v20), as Christ, “when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” (v23). Christ “suffered for us” (v21) as He “bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (v24). And Christ’s “leaving us an example, that [we] should follow His steps” (v21), is possible because “we, having died to sins, might [now] live for righteousness” (v24).
With that last parallel, it may be that Peter envisions a shepherd with a rescued sheep now following his steps, and he may have Isaiah 53:6 in his mind. Regardless, Peter fittingly quotes from the previous verse, Isaiah 53:5, “by whose stripes we were healed” (v24). This proves that the One whose steps we are called to follow, even into suffering, is no casual, half-hearted shepherd. He is, as Isaiah described Him, the One who suffered the divine stripe to give us life. He bore “the iniquity of us all.” Consequently, there is no suffering we experience when following in His steps now that He hasn’t already endured. He’s been through it all – for us!
His care is seen in the suffering, but also in the bringing: “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (v25 KJV). Peter does not say the sheep returned; the verb is passive: you “are … returned.” The emphasis here is on divine action. The Shepherd who gave Himself for the sheep is the One who brought them into the sphere of His possession and protection. Knowing how much He did, and that it was He who brought us to Himself, we can be confident that His care will never falter.
And Overseer
To “Shepherd” Peter adds “Overseer.” If in “Shepherd” we’ve seen His sacrificial and tender care, in “Overseer” we can appreciate His watchful, intelligent care. Christ is not distant. His knowledge of His people is full, and His attention is up close and unbroken.
This truth would have been especially precious to scattered believers facing intense suffering. Their circumstances have not placed them beyond His ever-watchful care. They remain under His direct, personal oversight. And unlike mere human observation, which is limited by partial knowledge, His oversight never misjudges, overlooks or fails to understand.
Of Our Souls
Peter emphasizes the soul through this epistle. He writes of “the salvation of your souls” (1:9), “purifying your souls” (1:22), “lusts which war against the soul” (2:11), “commit[ting] their souls to Him in doing good” (4:19), and in our verse, the “Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” The soul, in this context, speaks of our inner life – our thoughts, ambitions, and our spiritual lives meant to be lived in fellowship with God. As the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls, Christ’s care reaches deeper than our circumstances and our physical challenges, even to the most inward parts of who we are. His shepherding and oversight include not just our physical needs but more importantly our ongoing spiritual development. In the words of the Shepherd Psalm, “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psa 23:3).
He Calls
We’ve already seen that the context of His title “the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” is the call to follow Him, even through suffering (v21). And, as our Lord explained earlier, He “calls His own sheep by name and leads them” (Joh 10:3). His relationship with His own is more than collectively; He knows and calls each sheep personally. Individually, He saves, shepherds and oversees our lives.
This truth of His present shepherding and overseeing work is beautifully exemplified in His post-resurrection appearances. Taking one example, consider Mary Magdalene in John 20 as she stood weeping at the tomb. Although the risen Lord was present, she did not recognize Him. Grief clouded her perception, and she supposed Him to be the gardener. But then He spoke her name: “Miriam” (translated “Mary” in John 20:16, distinct from verse 1 and verse 11, where John used the equivalent of “Maria” to refer to her in the narrative). He spoke to her in a way only One who knew her personally would. And with a word He addressed the need of her sorrowing soul. Everything changed at the sound of His voice.
Mary responded with a unique name for Him: “Rabboni,” “my Lord and Teacher,” or “my honored Master.” The Shepherd speaks, and the sheep hears and is reassured. The Overseer speaks, and the disciple responds with readiness to follow and to be directed. In all this we see that His shepherding care did not end at the cross. The One who saved Mary from seven demons revealed Himself to her in resurrection power, addressing her by name. He continued – and continues – to make Himself known to His own as the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. We rightfully appreciate His saving work. We hopefully look forward to His coming glory. But are we expectantly hearing His voice today? Are we reassured by His care? Are we responding with a readiness to follow Him, no matter where He leads? That’s how we are to know Him as the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.
