12. an hireling . . . whose own the sheep are not--who
has no property, in them. By this He points to His own peculiar
relation to the sheep, the same as His Father's, the great Proprietor
and Lord of the flock, who styles Him "My Shepherd, the Man that is
My Fellow"
(Zec 13:7),
and though faithful under-shepherds are so in their Master's interest,
that they feel a measure of His own concern for their charge, the
language is strictly applicable only to "the Son over His own house"
(Heb 3:6).
seeth the wolf coming--not the devil distinctively, as some take
it [STIER,
ALFORD, &c.], but generally whoever comes upon the flock
with hostile intent, in whatever form: though the wicked one, no doubt,
is at the bottom of such movements [LUTHARDT].
JFB.
Picture Study Bible