Commentary of Charles Spurgeon, Adam Clarke & Matthew Henry
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that
feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and
have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your
doings, saith the LORD.
And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I
have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they
shall be fruitful and increase.
And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they
shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking,
saith the LORD.
Vs.1-4
Among the wicked prophets and priests,
whose bad character is here given at large in divers instances, especially their
imposing upon the people with their pretended inspirations, at which the prophet
is astonished, and for which they must expect to be punished.
Woe be to the pastors - who should be to those they are set over as pastors to lead
them, feed them, protect them, and take care of them.
They are not owners of the
sheep.
God here calls them the sheep of my pasture, whom I am interested
in, and have provided good pasture for.
---Woe be to those therefore who are
commanded to feed God's 
people, and pretend to do it, but who, instead of
that, scatter the flock, and drive them away.
Here is a word of comfort to the neglected sheep. Though the
under-shepherds take no care of them, no pains with them, but betray them, the
chief Shepherd will look after them.
If the under-shepherds do not feed the flock, God Himself will do it,
for His own redeemed flock shall not be torn of wolves, nor left to
perish in the lands whither they are driven.
That great Shepherd of the
sheep will do what others fail to do; but this does not take away from
them their responsibility, and it must be the most solemn responsibility
that rests on mortal man to profess to be a shepherd of souls, yet not
to be sent of God.
What a dreadful woe this is upon all false shepherds, — those who
profess to be sent of God to instruct the people, but who are not sent
of God at all, whose labors only result in the scattering of the sheep,
and destroying them, instead of gathering them to Christ for their
salvation!
