John 10:12-16.
I am a good shepherd; a good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. But a hireling that is not a shepherd, that owneth not the sheep, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth and scattereth the sheep. But the hireling fleeth; for he is a hireling, and regardeth not the sheep. I am a good shepherd, and know mine own, and am known to mine own; as my Father knoweth me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. And these I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and shall become One flock and One shepherd.
He distinguishes three kinds of shepherds: first, the good shepherd; second, the hireling; third, the wolf. He thus describes a good shepherd, then the hireling, and finally the wolf.
2. first, the good shepherd is the one who owns the sheep: this one feeds, that is, he takes care of the sheep and protects them until death. These are three duties of a good shepherd: to feed, to protect, to care, that is, to help, to heal, to seek, to anoint, to cherish, to carry etc. This shepherd is followed by all righteous preachers, for the sheep are also their own as their limbs in Christ.
*) Cf. Erl. A. opp.. var. VII, 402 sqq. D. Red.
3 Secondly, a hireling seeks what is his: wealth, honor, favor. Though he feeds and teaches the doctrine rightly, he does not defend the sheep against the wolves, but leaves them and does not care for them. And here he actually speaks against the whole synagogue or Pharisees, who wanted to be shepherds, and he deals with it, that we, leaving all other shepherds, recognize him alone as the shepherd, that we do not follow different and many masters, but one shall be our shepherd, one shall be our master, one shall be our Lord; and all shall be drawn to him alone, so that also the teachers of the law shall listen and give place to him. For this
The Law and the priesthood of Levi served God as hirelings for the sake of the land of Canaan, so they were grazing for the reward. And this is the place which teaches that everything which has not been, which is not, and which will not be, must give way to Christ, because the Father has put all things under his hands and gathered them together in him, so that he alone may be all in all until that day.
Thirdly, the wolves are those who destroy the church, namely, the tyrants who do it by force, and the heretics who do it by cunning. Here the wolf must be described.
5 After this, the words of Christ are to be diligently considered, as: "I", that is, no other is shepherd; all things belong to me. Likewise, "the shepherd," that is, I am not a wolf; I am not fearful to good consciences and sinners, but I am a shepherd, protector, provider. Likewise, a "good" one, that is, a loving, gracious, tolerant, bearing, not an unkind, cruel one. I am kind, before me no one must be afraid; but only come to me, let me help you.
fen. I am not a driver like the law; I am not a judge like the law; I am not a tormentor like the law. Summa, I am the sweetest salvation and comfort of the afflicted. Item: "I know my sheep." Here should be a new speech. For the twofold and interrelated knowledge is to be described: Christ knows us, but in the spirit, so that he rather seems to know nothing about us and to have forgotten us. So he lets us be plagued by the power of the tyrants and cunning of the devils. It is therefore a great thing to know that we are known by Christ. We recognize Christ, but in faith, because he does not appear to be Christ, but our devil, if we follow appearances. For thus also the Father knew Christ, that is, he made him to act and to tract as the most unknown: but in the spirit he took him to be the most known; so that he made him heir over all. Christ again knows the Father, that is, he does not doubt the Father, although he proves himself to be an unknown one etc.