Jesus Christ embodies the role of the Good Shepherd, as He guides and supports His sheep with perfect goodness, sacrificing Himself for their sake. His benevolence surpasses all others, reflecting a nature that is morally beautiful, noble, and true. As the Great Shepherd, He was sent by the Father with authority and purpose, sacrificing Himself, rising from the grave, and ascending to heaven where He intercedes for His sheep. Both the Father and the Son share a unified love for the sheep, driving the Son to seek and save those who are lost. As the Ruling Shepherd, Jesus Christ will return to reward His faithful under-shepherds who care for the flock. He combines the qualities of shepherd, parent, and ruler, embodying the ideal of kingship by leading His little flock with authority and care, promising them the kingdom. Furthermore, as a good shepherd, He owns His sheep, leading them with a unique call to beneficial pastures and protecting them from danger. His personal connection to His sheep is evident as He refers to them as His own, emphasizing their unconditional obedience and submission to Him as their Creator and guide.

Sometimes, circumstances conspire to scatter Christians into small groups or even from all contact with other believers, leaving the sheep without a shepherd. However, if sheep choose to become without a shepherd, they reject one of the Chief Shepherd's major gifts to His flock, willfully taking themselves outside of His established order. Christ has gifted human shepherds to aid in bringing all the sheep to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Our Savior oversees the under-shepherds, holding them accountable for failures in their responsibilities, which there will be simply because they are human. To purposefully become a sheep without a shepherd is to put oneself in serious danger, for the Christian is then likely to turn to his own way, develop bad spiritual habits, become stuck in a rut, make himself a prey for Satan, and ultimately become malnourished and spiritually diseased. Christ clearly establishes that the sheep have the responsibility to submit to godly shepherds, comparing their instruction with what God has already established in His Word, following a shepherd's faith only as it complements and corresponds with the teachings of Jesus. Because of the unraveling of the church of God in recent decades, the overall flock has experienced a great deal of agitation. Shepherds may become suspicious and even contemptuous of other shepherds, engaging in turf-wars and sheep-rustling, inciting further unrest among the sheep. If sheep have suffered abuse or neglect at the hand of a hireling or derelict shepherd, they will be less inclined to trust other shepherds, and peace is the casualty. Some shepherds, in letting their attention slip away from the Good Shepherd, have filled the void by elevating themselves, leading to a tendency to use and abuse the sheep rather than tending and feeding them. Despite the chaos and confusion in the greater church of God, none of it is out of the Shepherd's control. He oversees the under-shepherds, working in their lives to ensure that His will is fulfilled. He has already laid down His life for His sheep, and not one who is looking to Him will be lost. If we are intent on following the Shepherd's guidance, continually looking to Him for direction, He will lead us to the best pastures.

Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, personally knows and cares for His sheep, embodying His role as the door through which they find salvation and pasture. He ensures their well-being, as sheep are far from self-sufficient, requiring constant attention and direction to thrive. Without His guidance, provision, and protection, His flock would face real trouble, as sheep left to themselves cause desolation through habitual and destructive behaviors. They follow the same trails into ruts, overgraze areas into wastelands, and pollute their fields with parasites and disease, necessitating a shepherd's vigilant oversight. A skilled shepherd, like Christ, keeps His flock moving to maintain their health and the quality of the pastures, changing their grazing areas to provide the best food and prevent re-infection from parasites. Similarly, as the church is His flock, He prevents destructive habits by changing the circumstances of our lives, ensuring they do not become static. Even with good intentions, we sin and create environments of spiritual disease, but under His care, we are guided away from such dangers. Sheep naturally wander off, each to their own way, mirroring the current state of the church, where spiritual disease, malnourishment, and desolation persist due to straying from Him. Yet, the Good Shepherd never abandons His flock; He faithfully calls us back before it is too late, often through uncomfortable circumstances that remind us of our absolute dependence on Him. His sheep hear His voice and respond willingly, trusting that He has a better path for them, even if it means leaving behind familiar trails and favorite spots.

Casting, a predicament unique to sheep, frequently occurs close to shearing time. Casting takes place when a sheep falls over and the weight of the woolly coat or the weight of the sheep causes it to get stuck on its back. The sheep will remain that way unless the shepherd intervenes. We too need our Shepherd to intervene for us. Focusing on Psalm 23:3, we are reminded that our Shepherd restores our souls and leads us in the paths of righteousness. Keeping God's Holy Days and removing the cares of the world enables the Shepherd's spirit to continue to restore our souls. King David was unable to worship at the Tabernacle while fleeing from King Saul and from the unjust man in Psalm 43, which resulted in the casting down of his soul. The wool most likely represents the cares of the world and prevents us from quickly following our Shepherd. As Christ leads us down the paths of righteousness, we are exhorted to watch and then follow His righteous example. Using the illustration of the "Seven Fresh Attitudes" listed by Phillip Keller, we are given suggestions on how to improve righteousness in our own lives, mostly through the principle of self-denial.