seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Luke 15:1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
My dad use to smirkingly ask, "Why is everything always in the last place you look?" Now when I hear this part of Luke 15, I remember a Sunday morning when I heard the preacher say, "When a sheep kept running off, they would break the hind leg to keep them from running off again. Look at verse 5, he "joyfully puts it on his shoulders". So, just to check it out, I Binged it.
Here's the first answer I got.
The short answer is yes, shepherds did actually break the leg of wandering sheep. While the practice may seem cruel today, it was a necessary part of sheep husbandry in the past. By breaking the leg of a wandering sheep, the shepherd was able to keep the flock together and prevent the sheep from getting lost.
But the same search also found this.The most poisonous myths never seem to die off quickly. Such is the case of the afflicting, malignant myth of the shepherd who broke the leg of a sheep to keep it from wandering; a grievous figuration of the Lord which has been percolating Western Christianity for 65 years.
I couldn't find a reliable witness to break the tie.It would make sense that a shepherd would indeed break an animal's leg to make it stay with the flock. It also makes sense that the shepherd would hobble an animal to make it stay with the flock. Or maybe hobbling made the animal just as vulnerable to wondering off, just the wondering slower and more dangerous. A hobbled animal would be just as easy to take down as one with a broken leg.
The only point some commentaries offered was, the shepherd went out to find the sheep. Apparently, that's what the church would have us concentrate on.
So, which is true, did the shepherds break the lamb's legs to save it or does the shepherd just carry the lamb back to the flock and put it down without restraint so it can wonder off again. It seems to me, God is willing to help us, even if it hurts.
I live in a community of old people across from the doggie doo area. There are two particular neighbors of mine who walk their dogs every day. Between them, there are three dogs. Now these women are well into their 70's and 80's. The dogs are perfect for these old ladies. One dog can hardly get her back legs working. She rides to the doggie doo area in a stroller. Then one of the ladies puts her down so she can work her way into the doggie doo area. The second dog is almost as old, she wonders off quite often, nose to the ground, probably slowly following the scent of a bunny or a quail. Her old lady keeps her on the leash, but sometimes, in the excitement of conversation, the leash gets loose and nose to ground she wonders out of the doggie doo area and has to be brought back. Then there is the third dog. She belongs to the second old lady. She wears no collar. Put one on her, she flops down, and she refuses to go anywhere. She won't doo if she has to put on a collar. She doesn't wander off though... she just goes where she intends. Sometimes she'll take off to the other lady's door and sit. Sometimes she just goes home on her own. It' s like she says, "I'm thru with the doo and I want to go back". She leaves her old lady sitting on the bench and goes off home on her own, to one home or the other. She generally goes home though.
There are differences here. The dogs are pets, the sheep is livestock. The dogs are worthless as they are old and worn. The sheep has value for its meat and skin. The wondering dog could get the women in trouble. The wondering sheep could cost the shepherd money and respect.
If it would save the shepherd and the sheep to break a leg and get back to the herd, wouldn't a good shepherd do so?
God would be quite happy to break our legs if that's what it takes to keep us safe.
So, is it myth or truth?
