King James Bible
"But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep."
Jesus contrasts a hired worker with a true shepherd, emphasizing ownership and personal investment. The hireling works for wages alone and has no relational bond with the sheep, unlike the shepherd who owns and loves them. When danger approaches, the hireling's self-preservation instinct overrides any duty to protect. His abandonment reveals that his commitment was always conditional, based on personal safety rather than sacrificial care. The consequences of abandonment are devastating: the predator both captures individual sheep and destroys the unity of the flock. This scattering echoes Ezekiel's prophecy about Israel's failed shepherds, highlighting the spiritual destruction caused by unfaithful leadership.