[Evil pastors are reproved. Christ the true pastor shall come, and gather together his flock from all parts of the earth, and preserve it for ever.] 1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 2 Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to the shepherds: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, that fed themselves: should not the hocks be fed by the shepherds? 3 You ate the milk, and you clothed yourselves with the wool, and you killed that which was fat: but my flock you did not feed. 4 The weak you have not strengthened, and that which was sick you have not healed, that which was broken you have not bound up, and that which was driven away you have not brought again, neither have you sought that which was lost: but you ruled over them with rigour, and with a high hand. 5 And my sheep were scattered, because there was no shepherd: and they became the prey of all the beasts of the field, and were scattered. 2 "Shepherds"... That is, princes, magistrates, chief priests, and scribes
Jesus was the promised Messiah, and He came first to His people. He came to seek out those among the Jews who were still truly faithful to Him, to God, even though their spiritual leadership was corrupted. These faithful ones were the lost sheep who had been scattered by the unrighteous shepherds. He was fulfilling His promise to His people. The gospel was preached first to them. Since the Jewish authorities rejected Him, Christ then offered Himself to the Gentiles by sending his apostles to them.
Paul testifies that, because the Jews rejected their Messiah, he then turned to the Gentiles to preach the gospel to them. Acts 13:46 - Then Paul and Barnabas said boldly: To you it behoved us first to speak the word of God: but because you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold we turn to the Gentiles.
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