In this lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures, Ezekiel delivers the dual message of God\u2019s judgment and salvation. God warns that he will condemn the irresponsible \u201cfat and strong\u201d shepherd-kings of Israel (v. 16). Because the shepherd-kings neglected their duties, the weak sheep-people of Israel were scattered into exile in Babylon (vv. 12-13). God will also judge the sheep-people themselves, promising to feed with justice the corrupt \u201cfat sheep\u201d people who have mistreated their fellow \u201clean sheep\u201d people (vv. 20-22).<\/p>\n\n
The counterpoint to God\u2019s judgment of Israel is God\u2019s message of salvation. God promises that He will engage in a search-and-rescue mission. As the good shepherd of Israel, God will seek the lost, bring back the strayed, bind up the injured and strengthen the weak (v. 16). He will gather the people from exile, feed them with good pasture and make them lie down in good grazing land (vv. 13-14). God will re-establish his flock in Israel, and He will be their God (v. 24).<\/p>\n\n
In Psalm 100, the psalmist marries the image of God as king (\u201cserve the Lord,\u201d \u201ccome before his presence\u201d) with the image of God as shepherd (\u201cwe are \u2026 the sheep of his pasture\u201d) (vv. 1, 2). God is recognized as sovereign over creation (\u201call you lands\u201d) and over Israel (\u201che himself has made us,\u201d \u201cwe are his people\u201d) (vv. 1, 2).<\/p>\n\n
What response does God as shepherd-king deserve? Because he has created us, we belong to him (v. 2). We are to offer our whole selves to God in service. Our proper response to God\u2019s goodness, mercy and faithfulness is worship \u2013 joyful praise and thanksgiving (v. 3). We are to \u201center his gates,\u201d \u201cgo into his courts,\u201d and \u201ccall upon his Name\u201d (v. 3). We are to enjoy His presence in our lives.<\/p>\n\n
This pericope, or passage, from Paul\u2019s letter to the Ephesians may be divided into three sections.<\/p>\n\n
Verses 15 and 16 are a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the report Paul received about the Ephesians\u2019 faith in the Lord Jesus and about their putting love into practice.<\/p>\n\n
Verses 17 through 19 are Paul\u2019s intercessory prayer on behalf of the Ephesians. Paul names God as \u201cthe Father of Glory,\u201d which refers to God\u2019s power. Paul asks God to give the Ephesians wisdom and insight into God\u2019s saving act through Jesus Christ. Paul affirms that God\u2019s power is working in those who believe.<\/p>\n\n
In verses 20 through 23, Paul declares that Christ\u2019s resurrection and glorification is evidence of God\u2019s power at work in Christ. The exalted Christ is depicted in royal terms. He is \u201cfar above all rule and authority and power and dominion\u201d (v. 21). The name of Christ is \u201cabove every name that is named\u201d (v. 21). The Kingdom of God has been inaugurated \u2013 God has put all things under Christ\u2019s authority. The pericope draws to an ecclesial conclusion. Not only was God\u2019s power at work in Christ\u2019s resurrection and glorification, but God\u2019s power is still at work in Christ through his body, the church (vv. 22-23).<\/p>\n\n
This passage is the end of Jesus\u2019 eschatological discourse. The apocalyptic images reflect Christ\u2019s kingship and his roles as judge and shepherd.<\/p>\n\n
Jesus, referring to himself as the Son of Man, relates that when he comes in glory with his angels, he will be enthroned as king (v. 31). All human beings will be gathered before him (v. 32). Exercising his royal authority, Christ the King will separate the people, \u201cas a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats\u201d (v. 32). Both the \u201csheep\u201d and the \u201cgoats\u201d will be surprised by the King\u2019s judgment (vv. 37, 44). Neither group sees themselves as the King sees them.<\/p>\n\n
Christ the King invites the \u201csheep\u201d or the \u201crighteous\u201d to inherit the Kingdom of God that was prepared for them from the foundation of the world (v. 34). The righteous will enjoy eternal life (v. 46). He calls them, \u201cblessed by my Father\u201d (v. 34). On the other hand, the \u201cgoats\u201d or the \u201caccursed\u201d will be condemned to eternal punishment (vv. 32-33, 46).<\/p>\n\n
What distinguishes the blessed from the accursed? As described in the Beatitudes, the blessed act with unselfish, loving kindness toward needy people. The righteous welcome strangers, give clothing to the needy, visit the sick and imprisoned without knowing that they are ministering to Christ (vv. 35-36), while the accursed selfishly ignore those in need (vv. 42-43).<\/p>\n\n
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 In this lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures, Ezekiel delivers the dual message of God\u2019s judgment and salvation. God warns that he will condemn the irresponsible \u201cfat and strong\u201d shepherd-kings of Israel (v. 16). Because the shepherd-kings neglected their duties, the weak sheep-people of Israel were scattered into exile in Babylon (vv. 12-13)….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":201221,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[23,52,33,3],"tags":[115],"class_list":["post-767034","bible_study","type-bible_study","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bible-studies","category-sermons-that-work","category-the-season-after-pentecost","category-worship-and-prayer-menu","tag-christ-the-king-a"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":23,"label":"Bible Studies"},{"value":52,"label":"Sermons That Work"},{"value":33,"label":"The Season After Pentecost"},{"value":3,"label":"worship_and_prayer_menu"}],"post_tag":[{"value":115,"label":"Christ the King A"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/767034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bible_study"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/767034\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":951673,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/767034\/revisions\/951673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=767034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=767034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=767034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}