A very critical look at the reality of the parable expounded by Christ in John 10 of the hireling. Looked at through analysis of history and use of the term a thought provoking study. It will enrich a lead to deeper studies of more passages of scripture.

1. The word hireling has often been referred to as a bad word when applied to persons that are in
charge of the flock of God. A closer look at the word as used throughout scripture shows us a
much different concept. Except for a single passage in John 10 all other references to the word
hireling are positive and even involve God, Himself defending the cause of the hireling.
The overseer of God’s flock is a guardian and research shows that there were four main types of
guardians in Jewish society at the time of Christ. The four guardians are:
• The gratuitous guardian – This is a guardian who doesn’t seek recompense for the labour
rendered. This is reminiscent of the Holy Spirit who is our comforter and counsels us out
of love without the expectation of gaining anything that is not His already
• The borrower – Satan is such a guardian. Having taken the Lord’s goods (us) but has
demonstrated his inability to properly manage the flock of God. He led God’s children
astray and as such must pay for all the damages incurred because of his actions
• The hired worker – We will take a closer look at this type of guardian soon
• The Hirer – Clearly God. He is our creator and by default our owner. All must seek His
permission to test us, comfort us, strengthen us because as the scripture so correctly puts
forward we were created by Him and for Him.
It then means that we need to study more clearly who is the hired worker (hireling) of John 10:12
The hireling is the English interpretation of the Greek misthoto meaning a wage-worker (good or
bad):--hired servant, hireling.
To correctly understand the text we must look at the individual verses that are revealed. First
Jesus makes it clear that the hireling has not climbed over the fence as the person who does this
is identified as a thief or robber. In some quarters stealing is considered borrowing without
permission. This is exactly what satan did, borrowed without permission. The hireling is
separated from this class as Jesus clearly states that the sheep do not find friendship with such a
one. Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed
and her seed. This passage assures us that we are at enmity with anyone influenced by satan.
Thus the hireling could not be referring to the thief.
Secondly the hireling is not a stranger. They certainly will not follow him. This does give us
completely that the hireling as tradition so readily agrees must be human. The principle here
been outlined as he continues in His rebuke is made even clearer when He says before me were
only thieves and robbers. This generalized statement certainly did not condemn such leaders as
David, Joshua, Moses and other great leaders who were faithful guardians of the flock of God.
Note now that it is the hireling that fleeth from the sheep in John 10:12. This is vitally important
as we recognize that the sheep had complete trust in the hired worker. How would the sheep trust

2. him? Where would he have gotten possession of them? How could he be called hireling without
an employer? The hirer is God without a doubt and this hireling has therefore received his flock
from God. It is God who employed him and it is God who inspects the work done. This hireling
is thus a guardian of the flock. Thus Paul admonishes: Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto
yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to
feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in
the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
1Titus 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing
this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Peter joins the call with these interesting words: 1 Peter 5:2-4 Feed the flock of God which is
among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy
lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples
to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory
that fadeth not away.
Under Jewish teachings the paid guardian had specific qualities and expectations to live up to.
These are as follows: A paid bailee or hirer must swear concerning an animal that was injured,
captured [in a raid] or that perished; but must pay for loss or theft (Baba Mezi‘a 7.8, in Soncino
ed. Of the Talmud p.537). The same tractate sets forth the responsibility of the Guardianas
follows:
“[If] one wolf [attacks], it is not an unavoidable accident; if two [attack], it is an unavoidable
accident .... [the attack of] two dogs is not an unavoidable accident. ... A robbers [attack] is an
unavoidable accident. [Damage done by] a lion, bear, leopard, panther and snake ranks as an
unavoidable accident. When is this? If they came [and attacked] of their accord: but if he [the
Shepherd] led them to a place infested by wild beasts and robbers it s no unavoidable accident”
(ibid p 540). [This is taken from the SDA bible commentary from the section dealing with John
10:12]
Note carefully that in verse 12 the flock is attacked by a single wolf and that is the cause of the
hireling fleeing. This wolf is a despondent wolf which scatters the sheep while killing the flock.
The hireling easily identifies the wolf thus it means the shepherd has given prior warning of the
nature of this wolf. It is not the wolf that is identified but the approach of the wolf. Sin, satan,
papacy all these elements are perfect examples of the wolf but all these examples correlate to the
one destroyer, satan. Your adversary, the devil, as roaring lion walketh about seeking whom
he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8
The real problem with the hireling leaving the sheep is that the weapons have been provided to
the hireling for the defence of the flock. 2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh,

3. we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty
through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) casting down imaginations, and every
high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all
disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Seeing that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal then it means we must be provided with
extraordinary armour. Our equipment is described as the equipment of light. Romans 13:12 The
night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let
us put on the armour of light.
What are the components of this armour of light? The components are fully explained in
Ephesians 6:10-20 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his
might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of
the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all,
taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with
all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given
unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for
which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
The greatest weapon at our disposal is the word of God which is referred to as the sword of the
spirit in the previous passage. It is Christ who ensured that the flock would be protected from
error and wrong practices. It is the word that was meant to be the strongest defence from all form
of attack. The word reveals error it is both for defence and offence its use is not merely in the
written form but the living Word, Christ, would empower its use. The scriptures says:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God
Ro 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be
afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to
[execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil.

4. Heb 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Re 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp
twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.
Re 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the
sword of my mouth.
Re 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the
nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Re 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which
[sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Christ is THE avenger of all that comes and He has guaranteed each overseer the power that
David was able to call on when the lion and the bear came to steal a lamb from the flock. With
full confidence in God David went and took the lamb out of the mouth and smote the enemy of
the flock.
What then becomes of the hireling who fails to recognize his responsibility to the flock of God?
Well there are several woe passages in the bible starting with the major prophets and also the
woes of Luke and Matthew all these woes were aimed at the spiritual leaders at the time of
Christ’s coming. Woes were sent to the shepherds, pastors, watchmen, scribes, Pharisees and the
lawyers. The woes were not condemnation; they were warnings. Note what Christ says to the
Laodicean church Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous
therefore, and repent. Only those who are loved by Christ receive rebuke and chastening in
order for them to recognize the error of their ways and repent.
As we read John 10 remember that THE GOOD SHEPHERD says:
Mt 20:1 ¶ For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went
out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his
vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you.
And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

5. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto
them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into
the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the
labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Unless hired how will we receive our penny (eternal life)? How will the stars be allotted to our
crowns? The heavenly reward is sure only if our work stands the test of fire that every man’s
work will be tested with.
The prophetess exhorts us with the following: “Every Christian should study the life of Christ,
and should labor as he labored, with the same unselfishness and devotion that characterized his
whole life, from his cradle in the manger to the cross of Calvary. The claims of Christ upon our
service are new every day. However complete may have been our consecration at conversion, it
will avail us nothing unless it be renewed daily; but a consecration that embraces the actual
present is fresh, genuine, and acceptable to God. We have not weeks and months to lay at his
feet; tomorrow is not ours, for we have not yet received it; but today we may work for Jesus.
Today we may lay our plans and purposes before him for his inspection and approval. Work,
then, while it is day, remembering that the ‘night cometh, wherein no man can work.’ THIS IS
GOD’S DAY, AND YOU ARE HIS HIRED SERVANT. No matter how far his plans and
purposes may be from harmonizing with yours, you should do his bidding, answer every call,
patiently take up every duty lying in your path. – {RH January 6, 1885 Par. 6}
Are we willing to be hired of God; are we ready to do service in the master’s vineyard?

6. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto
them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into
the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the
labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
Unless hired how will we receive our penny (eternal life)? How will the stars be allotted to our
crowns? The heavenly reward is sure only if our work stands the test of fire that every man’s
work will be tested with.
The prophetess exhorts us with the following: “Every Christian should study the life of Christ,
and should labor as he labored, with the same unselfishness and devotion that characterized his
whole life, from his cradle in the manger to the cross of Calvary. The claims of Christ upon our
service are new every day. However complete may have been our consecration at conversion, it
will avail us nothing unless it be renewed daily; but a consecration that embraces the actual
present is fresh, genuine, and acceptable to God. We have not weeks and months to lay at his
feet; tomorrow is not ours, for we have not yet received it; but today we may work for Jesus.
Today we may lay our plans and purposes before him for his inspection and approval. Work,
then, while it is day, remembering that the ‘night cometh, wherein no man can work.’ THIS IS
GOD’S DAY, AND YOU ARE HIS HIRED SERVANT. No matter how far his plans and
purposes may be from harmonizing with yours, you should do his bidding, answer every call,
patiently take up every duty lying in your path. – {RH January 6, 1885 Par. 6}
Are we willing to be hired of God; are we ready to do service in the master’s vineyard?