Page 21 - September 2026 - Truth & Tidings

e often appreciate the Lord possible because “we, having died to sins,
Jesus as the Good Shepherd might [now] live for righteousness” (v24).
Win His death (Joh 10:11), as the With that last parallel, it may be that
Great Shepherd in His resurrection (Heb Peter envisions a shepherd with a rescued
13:20), and as the Chief Shepherd who will sheep now following his steps, and he
appear in His glory (1Pe 5:4). To these, may have Isaiah 53:6 in his mind. Re-
Peter adds another marvelous title: “For gardless, Peter fittingly quotes from the
you were like sheep going astray, but previous verse, Isaiah 53:5, “by whose
have now returned to the Shepherd and stripes we were healed” (v24). This proves
Overseer of your souls” (1Pe 2:25). 1 that the One whose steps we are called to
follow, even into suffering, is no casual,
The Shepherd half-hearted shepherd. He is, as Isaiah
Peter is writing to encourage suffering described Him, the One who suffered
saints. For some of his recipients, their the divine stripe to give us life. He bore
submission to a difficult master resulted “the iniquity of us all.” Consequently,
in their “suffering wrongfully” – even as there is no suffering we experience when
they “do good” (2:18-20). But Peter urges following in His steps now that He hasn’t
them to “take it patiently” (v20) and in already endured. He’s been through it
so doing follow Christ. “For to this you all – for us!
were called, because Christ also suffered His care is seen in the suffering, but also
for us, leaving us an example, that you in the bringing: “For ye were as sheep
should follow His steps” (v21). Peter going astray; but are now returned unto
then expands on each of the points he’s the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls”
just made as he turns their attention (and (v25 KJV). Peter does not say the sheep
ours) fully on Christ. We are to “do good” returned; the verb is passive: you “are …
(v20), as Christ “committed no sin, nor returned.” The emphasis here is on divine
was deceit found in His mouth” (v22). We action. The Shepherd who gave Himself
are to “take it patiently” (v20), as Christ, for the sheep is the One who brought
“when He was reviled, did not revile in them into the sphere of His possession
return; when He suffered, He did not and protection. Knowing how much He
threaten, but committed Himself to Him did, and that it was He who brought us
who judges righteously” (v23). Christ to Himself, we can be confident that His
“suffered for us” (v21) as He “bore our care will never falter.
sins in His own body on the tree” (v24). And Overseer
And Christ’s “leaving us an example, that
[we] should follow His steps” (v21), is To “Shepherd” Peter adds “Overseer.”
If in “Shepherd” we’ve seen His sacrificial
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the and tender care, in “Overseer” we can
NKJV unless otherwise noted. appreciate His watchful, intelligent care.

277
TruthandTidings.com I September 2026 277