Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Tuesday, March 5, 2013 Read - Ezekiel 34:1-24 The prophet Ezekiel is one of the clearer places for us to hear the OT vision of God as the Good Shepherd who seeks to care for his sheep. Ezekiel contrasts the “bad shepherds” who were the religious leaders of his time. They trample the sheep. So, God will come and destroy those leaders and then God will himself be the shepherd. Once again, Christians have heard the words of Ezekiel and attributed them to Jesus. Jesus is God coming to care for the sheep. Again, it is likely that Luke was not thinking of this passage when he told his parables. But the point is clear – the religious leaders who heard Jesus’ parable are put in a position to ponder the words of Ezekiel. Are they the ones who trample the sheep? Will they submit to the good shepherd?