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Jesus gathered his sheep in that he united his disciples under his guidance and protection. The "sending out" refers to their commission to preach the good news (not to any cessation of his care for them).
- The Shepherd has sheep gathered together rather than 'sending them out among the wolves' so what does the saying mean?
Because it is God's will that the good news be preached. God's people faced no danger of lasting harm and their success was guaranteed.
- Why would a shepherd send sheep out into dangerous situations?
There is no mention of the sheep "being eaten"
- How do the sheep get away with not being eaten?
That would depend on who or what is protecting the sheep (see above).
- What is the result of having sheep among the wolves?
Did Jesus mean to insult his followers by comparing them to sheep?
viewtopic.php?p=991216#p991216
Who were the sheep in Jesus illustration of "the sheep and the goats" referring to?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 4#p1005934
Who are the "other sheep" of John chapter 10?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 5#p1022935
Was this because they were wise as serpents?Because it is God's will that the good news be preached. God's people faced no danger of lasting harm and their success was guaranteed.
There is mention of the Shepard's flesh being eaten and his blood being swallowed. Aside from that, there is the mention of sheep in relation to shepherd. We know that shepherds farm the wool off the sheep's back. We also know that sheep go to the slaughter to be consumed. [eaten]There is no mention of the sheep "being eaten"
Q: What is the result of having sheep among the wolves?
Since we now have history - what was the result of having sheep among the wolves?That would depend on who or what is protecting the sheep.
I can't get enough of Larson. He's hilarious! Thanks for reminding me of that!JehovahsWitness wrote: ↑Wed Feb 24, 2021 3:01 am WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SPOKE OF SENDING HIS SHEEP AMONGST WOLVES?
Jesus gathered his sheep in that he united his disciples under his guidance and protection. The "sending out" refers to their commission to preach the good news (not to any cessation of his care for them).
- The Shepherd has sheep gathered together rather than 'sending them out among the wolves' so what does the saying mean?
Because it is God's will that the good news be preached. God's people faced no danger of lasting harm and their success was guaranteed.
- Why would a shepherd send sheep out into dangerous situations?
There is no mention of the sheep "being eaten"
- How do the sheep get away with not being eaten?
That would depend on who or what is protecting the sheep (see above).
- What is the result of having sheep among the wolves?
NOTE All posts I write represent my personal faith based beliefs as one of Jehovah's Witnesses
JW
RELATED POSTS
Did Jesus mean to insult his followers by comparing them to sheep?
viewtopic.php?p=991216#p991216
Who were the sheep in Jesus illustration of "the sheep and the goats" referring to?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 4#p1005934
Who are the "other sheep" of John chapter 10?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 5#p1022935
Without speaking directly to the one who said it, it's impossible to tell for sure. Seems anyone that sends sheep out to the wolves are doing so to eliminate some sheep. Or feed the wolves. Or both.The Shepherd has sheep gathered together rather than 'sending them out among the wolves' so what does the saying mean?
Some shepherds are good shepherds it seems.Why would a shepherd send sheep out into dangerous situations?
Maybe the wolves get full. Sort of like sea turtles. So many are born that the predators get full and some make it to the ocean.How do the sheep get away with not being eaten?
Full wolves and the thinning of the sheep's herd I suspect.What is the result of having sheep among the wolves?
No, in my opinion it was because they [the disciples of Christ] had God's blessing and protection.William wrote: ↑Wed Feb 24, 2021 1:40 pm [Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #2]
Was this because they were wise as serpents?Because it is God's will that the good news be preached. God's people faced no danger of lasting harm and their success was guaranteed.
The successful fulfillment of their divine commission to establish the congregation and preach the good news to people of other nations.
[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #2]
Because it is God's will that the good news be preached. God's people faced no danger of lasting harm and their success was guaranteed.
Was this because they were wise as serpents?
Yet Jesus counselled them to be as wise as Serpents. They thus had to figure out ways in which to survive in order to inject the good news into the human drama [among the wolves].No, in my opinion it was because they [the disciples of Christ] had God's blessing and protection.
The Church yes?The successful fulfillment of their divine commission to establish the congregation and preach the good news to people of other nations.
Yes. I like to think all my opinions align with the good shepherd's instruction.
So you too "figure out ways in which to survive in order to inject the good news into the human drama [among the wolves]."?Yes. I like to think all my opinions align with the good shepherd's instruction.
William wrote: ↑Thu Feb 25, 2021 12:25 am Yet Jesus counselled them to be as wise as Serpents. They thus had to figure out ways in which to survive in order to inject the good news into the human drama [among the wolves].
Does your opinion therefore align with the good shepherd's instruction?
[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #7]
So you too "figure out ways in which to survive in order to inject the good news into the human drama [among the wolves]."?Yes. I like to think all my opinions align with the good shepherd's instruction.
This is partly inaccurate. Lambs were often eaten by people in the ancient world, but sheep (ewes and rams over one year old) were kept for wool, milk or breeding. They were almost never eaten.William wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:49 pm It is an interesting expression given we usually see the phrase spoken as "Like Wolves Among Sheep." signifying how wolves come in to steal sheep away from the shepherd.
Usually the competition [for the sheep] is between the Shepherd and the Wolves. Both are going to eat the sheep but the Shepard farms his sheep whereas the Wolves hunt the sheep.
William wrote: ↑Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:49 pm The Shepherd has sheep gathered together rather than 'sending them out among the wolves' so what does the saying mean?
Why would a shepherd send sheep out into dangerous situations? How do the sheep get away with not being eaten? What is the result of having sheep among the wolves?
