Contrasting Shepherds: Herod's Selfishness vs. Jesus' Compassion

In Ezekiel 34, God rebukes the shepherds of Israel—its rulers—for feeding themselves at the expense of the sheep, neglecting the weak, the sick, and the lost. God promises that He Himself will come to shepherd His people, seeking the lost, binding up the injured, and feeding them with good pasture. This sets the stage for the contrast in Matthew 14 between two kings: Herod, who rules for his own pleasure and self-preservation, and Jesus, who embodies the selfless shepherd God promised.

Herod is a ruler after his own heart, driven by lust, fear, and guilt. When confronted with his sin by John the Baptist, Herod does not repent but instead silences the prophet, ultimately having him killed to preserve his own reputation and satisfy the demands of others. Herod’s feast is a grotesque celebration of self-indulgence, resulting in death and depravity. He is so consumed by himself that even news of Jesus becomes a mirror reflecting his own paranoia and guilt, rather than a window into the kingdom of God.

In stark contrast, Jesus, upon hearing of John’s death, seeks solitude but is met by a needy crowd. Instead of frustration or annoyance, Jesus is moved with compassion. He heals the sick and feeds the multitude, not with mere scraps, but until all are satisfied, with abundance left over. This miracle is not just about provision, but a sign pointing to Jesus as the true Shepherd-King, fulfilling God’s promise in Ezekiel. Where Herod devours, Jesus gives; where Herod enslaves, Jesus satisfies.

The world is full of “Herods”—leaders, influencers, and even our own desires—that promise fulfillment but leave us empty. We are tempted to classify people, to see them as objects to use or avoid, and to respond to others with annoyance or anger. Yet Jesus shows a different way: compassion that is grounded in truth, that acts to alleviate suffering, and that ultimately leads to the cross. True compassion is measured by sacrifice, and Jesus’ sacrifice is the greatest of all. We are called not just to imitate this compassion, but to see ourselves as the needy crowd, recipients of the Shepherd’s grace.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The contrast between Herod and Jesus reveals two fundamentally different kinds of rulers: one who feeds on the sheep for his own gain, and one who lays down his life to feed and heal the sheep. This distinction challenges us to examine the motivations of our own hearts and the leaders we follow, asking whether they (and we) are driven by self-interest or by sacrificial love. [04:44]
• 2. When confronted with sin, Herod doubles down in self-preservation, while David, though flawed, repents when confronted. The difference is not in the absence of sin, but in the response to truth. True repentance opens the window to God’s kingdom, while self-absorption turns every encounter—even with Christ—into a mirror reflecting only our fears and guilt. [10:50]
• 3. Jesus’ compassion is not mere sentiment or empathy that is swallowed by the suffering of others. Instead, it is a merciful, active desire to alleviate suffering, grounded in truth and leading to action. Compassion, unlike empathy, does not lose itself in another’s pain but brings the strength and truth needed to lift others out. [28:20]
• 4. Our tendency to classify people—by race, morality, politics, or worth—dehumanizes them and justifies our avoidance or exploitation. Jesus, however, sees the crowd not as “human trash” but as sheep in need of a shepherd. His gut response is compassion, not annoyance or frustration, and this challenges us to examine our own first reactions to those we find difficult or different. [27:40]
• 5. Ultimately, the greatest measure of compassion is sacrifice. Jesus, the perfect Shepherd-King, crosses the cosmic divide, not because we are worthy, but because of His love. He does not merely feel for us; He acts, even to the point of the cross, so that we might be healed, fed, and brought home. Our hope is not in our own compassion, but in receiving and reflecting the compassion of Christ. [37:40]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:39] - Setting the Stage: Ezekiel 34 and the Shepherds
• [04:44] - Herod: A Ruler After His Own Heart
• [06:11] - The Sheep’s Slaughter: John the Baptist’s Fate
• [10:11] - David vs. Herod: Two Responses to Confrontation
• [12:57] - Herod’s Self-Absorption and the Mirror Analogy
• [15:43] - Jesus Withdraws: The Sheep’s Sustenance
• [16:24] - Compassion in Action: Healing and Feeding
• [19:50] - The Disciples’ Dilemma and Jesus’ Response
• [21:46] - The Miracle of Abundance and Its Meaning
• [23:41] - Herod vs. Jesus: The True Shepherd-King
• [25:06] - The World’s Classification Systems
• [27:40] - Jesus’ Compassion vs. Our Gut Reactions
• [29:42] - Compassion vs. Empathy: A Critical Distinction
• [32:54] - Learning Compassion from Christ
• [34:52] - Our Need for the Compassionate Shepherd
• [37:40] - The Measure of Compassion: Christ’s Sacrifice
• [38:22] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Reading

Ezekiel 34:1-6, 11-16 (ESV) — > The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. ... For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.”

Matthew 14:1-21 (ESV) — > [Read aloud in group or individually]

Observation Questions

1. In Ezekiel 34, what specific failures does God accuse the shepherds (leaders) of Israel of committing? ([01:59])
2. How does God describe His own promise to shepherd His people in Ezekiel 34:11-16? What actions does He say He will take? ([03:21])
3. In Matthew 14, what are the two “feasts” or gatherings described, and what is the outcome of each? ([05:28])
4. When Jesus sees the crowd after hearing about John’s death, what is His immediate response, and what does He do for the people? ([16:24])

Interpretation Questions

1. What is the main difference between the way Herod and Jesus respond to the people around them? How does this reflect the kind of “shepherd” each one is? ([23:41])
2. The sermon mentions that Herod, when confronted with his sin, “doubles down” instead of repenting, while David repented when confronted. Why is the response to truth so important, and what does it reveal about a person’s heart? ([10:50])
3. The miracle of feeding the 5,000 is described as more than just provision—it’s a sign. What does this sign point to about who Jesus is? ([21:46])
4. The sermon draws a distinction between compassion and empathy. According to the message, how is true compassion different from empathy, and why does this matter for how we relate to others? ([29:42])

Application Questions

1. The world is full of “Herods”—leaders, influencers, and even our own desires—that promise fulfillment but leave us empty. Can you think of a time when you followed a “Herod” in your life, whether a person, a desire, or an influence? What was the result? ([04:44])
2. When you are confronted with your own sin or failure, is your first instinct to defend yourself and “double down” like Herod, or to repent like David? What would it look like to respond with true repentance this week? ([10:50])
3. Jesus’ compassion led Him to act, even when He was tired and grieving. Think of a recent situation where you felt annoyed or frustrated by someone’s need. How could you have responded with compassion instead? ([19:50])
4. The sermon challenges us to examine our “classification systems”—ways we divide or judge people by race, morality, politics, or worth. Are there groups or types of people you tend to avoid, look down on, or write off? What would it look like to see them as “sheep in need of a shepherd”? ([27:40])
5. Compassion is measured by sacrifice. What is one specific, sacrificial act of compassion you could do for someone this week, even if it costs you time, comfort, or reputation? ([37:40])
6. The message says we are not just called to imitate Jesus’ compassion, but to see ourselves as the needy crowd—recipients of His grace. Is it hard for you to admit your own neediness before God? Why or why not? ([34:52])
7. The sermon warns against a kind of “empathy” that gets lost in others’ pain without offering truth or hope. How can you offer both compassion and truth to someone who is suffering, rather than just feeling bad for them? ([29:42])