Did All Past Leaders Mislead Before the True Shepherd Came?
In this article, you will learn how John 10:8 contradicts John 10:1, Acts 5:36, Jeremiah 23:1 and Ezekiel 34:2. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
In the passages from John and other parts of the Bible, we find contrasting views on the nature of leadership before Jesus' time. In John 10:8, Jesus presents the idea that all who came before Him were like thieves and robbers, suggesting that they led people astray. This paints a picture of universal misguidance prior to His arrival. But does this align with other scriptural accounts?
In John 10:1, we see a portrayal of leaders as those who do not enter the sheepfold by the door, implying deceitful intentions. They are likened to individuals who take shortcuts, akin to how thieves might bypass security to infiltrate a home. This reinforces the perspective of false leaders emphasized in John 10:8.
However, in Acts 5:36, we read about Theudas, who was a self-proclaimed leader. Although he failed and was slain, his existence presents a slightly different narrative—one not of outright thievery, but of misguided ambition and ultimate downfall. This nuance adds a layer of complexity to the blanket statement in John 10:8.
The Old Testament offers further insight. In Jeremiah 23:1, the condemnation of shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep highlights leaders who failed their duties. This verse criticizes incompetence rather than deceit. Similarly, Ezekiel 34:2 calls out shepherds who neglect the flock, focusing on neglect rather than malice.
These varying depictions of past leaders challenge the notion that all who came before Jesus were inherently corrupt. Like comparing night and day, there’s a spectrum of leadership qualities from ineptitude and neglect to outright deception. Might it be that Jesus' statement in John 10:8 is a sweeping metaphor intending to stress His role as the ultimate guide, rather than a literal condemnation of every leader before Him? This raises questions about the varying qualities and intentions of those who led before Him and invites reflection on the nature of true leadership.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | John 10:8 | All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. |
| 2. | John 10:1 | Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. |
| 3. | Acts 5:36 | For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. [obeyed: or, believed] |
| 4. | Jeremiah 23:1 | Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. |
| 5. | Ezekiel 34:2 | Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe [be] to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? |