Ezekiel 34:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What justification can those have who are given the responsibility of nurturing spiritual lives yet neglect their duty, allowing some souls to suffer while others go uncared for, even as they witness them being devoured by predators or taken by outsiders? Here, the burden is light, and the attentiveness needed is minimal, as the conscience is directed toward righteousness, whereas the labor for both body and spirit is far greater elsewhere. Consider the words of Jacob, the caretaker of livestock: ‘I languished by day from the heat, and by night from the cold, and my sleep fled from my eyes’ (Gen. 31:40). Today, can anyone sincerely claim to have faced dangers and hardships for the sake of their flocks? Among current shepherds, none can assert this.

Partake in the milk. For those who insisted on the tithes, offerings, and acts of gratitude mandated by the law, and reveled in the blessings they received from the congregation, were indifferent to their own salvation.

“O shepherds of Israel... do not the shepherds tend the flock? You have not supported the weary nor healed the sick. You allowed My sheep to be devoured by all the wild animals of the land.” The prophet admonishes the priests and leaders of Israel for their negligence and indifference, which led the people to forsake the divine laws and commandments of the Lord. Consequently, they fell victim to the wild creatures of the land, symbolizing the Babylonians and Assyrians—nations that, like feral beasts, strayed from the path of God's law.

The phrase "you consumed milk and adorned yourselves with a wave" serves as a metaphor directed at the leaders of the people, reflecting on them in light of another passage that states: "My people are consumed like a meal of bread" (Psalm 52:5). The term "milk" symbolizes various delicacies, while "a wave" represents a multitude of garments of diverse styles. The expression "and they slaughtered what was fat" pertains to the wealthy among the populace, indicating how they are figuratively harmed by corrupt leaders within the Church, who praise them without the courage to address their faults. The prophet also remarks, "My people, those who honour you, flatter you, and the paths of your feet are troubled" (Isaiah 3:12).

God asks you, what defines a true shepherd—does he seek his own benefit or tend to the flock? Observe how you indulge in milk, adorn yourselves in finery, and slaughter the well-fed, yet you neglect to care for my sheep. This is spoken in a metaphorical sense: you, as priests, have hoarded the offerings, tithes, and sacrificial gifts; and you, as rulers, when imposing tithes and taxes, were not content with what you received, instead oppressing the wealthy to seize their riches for yourselves. However, neither you nor your priests showed any concern for the well-being of the sheep. He then elucidates the stark contradiction in their actions.

Let us consider, if we may, the principle of righteousness in a more focused manner: “they that serve the altar,” as it is written, “shall share with the altar” (1 Cor. 9:13). This encapsulates our reality! This is our calling! We are engaged in serving at the altar, seeking God's mercy for our transgressions and the ignorance of humanity. From the altar, we receive the sustenance essential for our existence. If we, as the Prophet states, partake of spiritual nourishment but fail to tend to the Lord’s flock; if we receive the bread from the altar yet do not provide the word of life to those who approach it, failing to nourish them through prayer; if we instruct others while contradicting our own teachings: what truth do we uphold? Can our ministry truly bring peace to the people?