The shepherds overseeing them are indeed outsiders, as the ancient scribes and Pharisees, once responsible for teaching the descendants of Israel, became negligent and ineffective guides. Consequently, those under their care were led to destruction, for they had been seduced by the allure of silver. They taught human doctrines and traditions, distancing their followers from the knowledge of Christ, and asserted: "We ourselves know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not understand this" (John 9:29); and again, they spoke harshly, saying, "He has a demon and is raving: why listen to him?" (John 10:20). Thus, the Lord voiced through the prophets, declaring: "The shepherds have become timid and did not seek the Lord; therefore the entire flock has been scattered" (Jer. 10:21), and through Ezekiel He proclaimed: "O shepherds of Israel, feed yourselves rather than the sheep. Behold, you consume the milk but do not shepherd my flock" (Ezekiel 34:3). Furthermore, He said: "In lush pastures you shall graze, but you will trample on the remnants of your own pastures; you will drink the clear water yet muddy the rest with your feet, and my sheep will be harmed by the trampling and drink the contaminated water" (Ezekiel 34:18–19). The clean water and lush pastures signify nourishment through the law. Those who neglected this nurturing, tainting it with erroneous guidance, acted as if forcing their followers to consume foul water and feeding them from barren land. Therefore, they were rightly removed from tending to the Lord's people, and in their place, outsiders were summoned. The teachers of the churches are appointed by Christ to be wise and steadfast, possessing a keen understanding of the scriptures; they are often of Greek descent, not native Israelites, and they serve as speakers and caretakers of the vineyard (2 Tim. 2:15), advancing the gospel of Christ as written. They do not seek to revel in this honor but are called by God, as the wise Paul also emphasizes (Heb. 5:4). Despite his lineage from the tribe of Benjamin, he consistently refers to himself as a minister and a chosen apostle of Jesus Christ. Therefore, all who have embraced the dignity of priesthood will find their tongue's strength diminished, and in their wealth, they will be extraordinary. This "fortress" of the tongue may imply either the esteem awarded by the most esteemed men, drawn from the Gentiles, or it could refer to another interpretation. However, no one shall escape from the word, for in Holy Scripture, the term "mouth" frequently substitutes for "word"; for instance, "their mouths are full of curses and deceit" (Psalms 9:28). Thus it is said, "Tear down, He states, the might of the tongue." This prophetic discourse concerning the tongue may pertain to the notable among them or to the scholars endowed with worldly wisdom. We observe that just as the very word from the bearers of holy mysteries was potent, those accepting their calling were glorified, for the praise, crown, and honor of the teachers consist of those saved through their illuminating instruction. Hence He states, "In their abundance you shall be extraordinary." The divine message will spread across all nations, and one day, the leaders of the holy churches, who glorify Christ, will inherit the earth. As Joshua once apportioned the lands of the Gentiles to the Israelites, granting them regions such as the Amorites, Edomites, and Hivites, so too has Christ, who appeared in the world as the ancient Jesus, extended this inheritance to His ministers, encompassing the entire earth, not just Judah. This was the second inheritance following the first, for by His decree, His ministers and disciples have allotted lands and cities among themselves, rejoicing in Christ with spiritual joy, as if wearing a crown upon their heads. Such joy is eternal, grounded in the assurance that the reward lies not in temporal outcomes but in everlasting hope, eternal life, and blessings surpassing human understanding and expression.
THEOSIS