5:18); only he who _serves for hire_, whether emoluments or reputation; who accordingly is not a shepherd, _i. e._, has none of the shepherd’s instincts and none of the shepherd’s love for his flock; _whose own the sheep are not_, _i. e._, who has none of that sense of ownership in his flock which Paul experienced and expressed (1 Cor. 4:14, 15; 1 Thess. 2:11; 1 Tim. 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 10); who, therefore, _careth not for the sheep_ (ver. 13), but only for himself. Here, as everywhere in Christ’s instructions, it is the evil spirit which he condemns and the right spirit which he exalts. The hirelings of Christ’s day were those among the chief rulers and the priests, the religious teachers of Israel, who believed on Jesus, but would not confess their faith for fear of the hierarchy (ch. 9:22; 12:42, 43; 19:38). The hirelings ever since have been those in the church, whether paid preachers or no, who have feared to withstand falsehood and danger, and have suffered popular sins to pass unrebuked lest they should bring obloquy upon themselves, or loss of friends, or personal peril, or any martyrdom, large or small. The hireling, too, does not merely _flee_; the true shepherd has sometimes to do this (Matt. 10:23); Christ himself did this repeatedly (Matt. 14:13; Luke 4:30; John 8:59; 10:39). It is characteristic of the hireling that he _leaveth the sheep_ and fleeth. Caution may lead the true pastor to avoid a conflict which will bring greater disaster on the flock than battle; but his caution is always to be exercised for the sheep, not for himself. It is caring for one’s self more than for the church that marks the hireling.--=The wolf catcheth them and scattereth the sheep.= Any and every willful and determined opponent to truth and righteousness is a wolf; whether he is a persecuting power like that of pagan and papal Rome, or a false teacher, a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29). The wolf at this particular juncture was the Pharisaic party, which was ravaging the church of God, and binding heavy burdens on the people, whom Christ denounced, and in battle with whom he suffered death. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and[398] know my _sheep_, and am known[399] of mine. [398] 2 Tim. 2:19. [399] 1 John 5:20. 15 As[400] the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and[401] I lay down my life for the sheep. [400] Matt. 11:27. [401] ch. 15:13; Isa. 53:4,5.