Sheep have a natural inclination to assemble in flocks, a characteristic that enables a lone shepherd to handle hundreds of them. They require constant care, as they are creatures of habit, following the same trails until they become ruts, grazing the same hillsides into wastelands, and polluting their ground with disease and parasites. Thus, they must be continually led to fresh pasture, highlighting the critical role of the shepherd, who herds, guards, and cares for the sheep. The Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, has ordained human shepherds to oversee the flock, as seen in the exhortation to elders to shepherd the flock of God willingly and eagerly. These shepherds are tasked with protecting the flock from savage wolves and false prophets who seek to lead the sheep astray, even arising from within the flock itself. The sheep recognize their true shepherd by his voice, which they follow, while fleeing from strangers whose voices they do not know. This voice represents a message or disclosure that the sheep understand, distinguishing the true shepherd from those of the world. The shepherd's duty is to oversee the flock in all respects, leading them down the right path, ensuring they do not go astray but return to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls.