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I. CHARACTER. Vain. Selfish. Hypocritical Greedy of gain and popularity. Worthless for real good. Permitted, but not approved.

II. OFFENCE.

1. Coldness. No "pity." His heart is not in his work.

2. Neglect. Takes no pains to seek out the poor and needy. Does not "visit."

3. Unfaithfulness, No warnings. False teaching. Making gain of godliness. God's ideal of the shepherd lost. God's benign purposes in the ministry of grace frustrated. Souls perish, and their blood calleth from the ground,

"The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed,
But, swoln with wind and the rank mist they draw,
Rot inwardly, and foul contagion spread:
Besides what the grim wolf with privy paw
Daily devours apace, and nothing fed:
But that two-handed engine at the door
Stands ready to smite once, and smite no more."

(Milton, 'Lyeidas.') (Cf. Ruskin's exposition in 'Sesame and Lilies.')

III. Doom. "Woe."

1. Hardened in evil. Degradation. Judicial blindness.

2. Cursed with uselessness.

3. Destined to destruction.

"Alas, my brother! round thy tomb
In sorrow kneeling and in fear
We read the pastor's doom,
Who speaks and will not hear."

(Keble.) F.

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KJV: And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.

WEB: Yahweh said to me, "Take for yourself yet again the equipment of a foolish shepherd.