Popular Christmas songs, plays, and films often depict angels singing praises to God as shepherds watch over their flocks at night. But how does the biblical text itself describe the role of these shepherds in the birth narrative of Jesus? This article takes a closer look at the account preserved in the Gospel of Luke. Unlike the Gospel of Matthew, which focuses on figures like Joseph and the Magi, Luke’s nativity account introduces shepherds as key witnesses to the birth of Jesus. (Biblical quotations are from the NIV; Photo credit to: Godward Thoughts).
Their story appears in Luke 2:8–20: "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over heir flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.' When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." (Luke 2:8–20)
The text describes a group of shepherds—though it does not specify how many—keeping watch over their flocks by night in the fields near Bethlehem. The appearance of a single angel, followed by a larger "heavenly host," delivers the announcement that the Messiah has been born.
Notably, the shepherds are given a specific sign: the child will be found "wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Luke does not mention any guiding star (in contrast with Matthew’s Magi narrative), nor does he describe how the shepherds located the correct place in Bethlehem. However, it seems likely that a newborn in a manger would have stood out as an unusual sight, making their search easier.
The inclusion of shepherds in this scene has prompted many readers to reflect on broader biblical themes. Shepherd imagery appears frequently throughout both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament as a symbol of care, leadership, and guidance.
Psalm 23 famously begins, "The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing," emphasizing God's role as protector and guide. Other passages reinforce this metaphor: "Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock…" (Psalm 80:1), and "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young" (Isaiah 40:11). The use of shepherds in Luke’s account may reflect this long-standing biblical association between shepherding and divine care.
In first-century Judea, shepherds were generally considered part of the lower social strata. Their work was labor-intensive, and they often spent long periods outdoors, away from settled communities. The choice to have them as the first human witnesses to the Messiah’s birth is striking within the narrative world of Luke. It places emphasis on God’s message being delivered to ordinary people, rather than political or religious elites.
Elsewhere in the New Testament, the shepherd metaphor takes on additional theological weight. For example, in John 10:11, Jesus refers to himself as the "Good Shepherd" who "lays down his life for the sheep." This passage develops the idea of Christ as a caring leader willing to sacrifice himself for others.
Similarly, 1 Peter 5:2–4 urges leaders within early Christian communities to "be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care," drawing on the image to encourage responsible leadership and pastoral care.
After visiting Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus, the shepherds become the first public proclaimers of the news, spreading word about what they had seen and heard. Luke does not describe their later lives, but their testimony leaves a strong narrative mark. Mary’s quiet reflection—"treasuring up all these things and pondering them in her heart" (Luke 2:19)—suggests that their visit had a lasting emotional and spiritual impact on her as well.
In sum, Luke’s inclusion of shepherds at the nativity scene not only adds drama and humanity to the birth narrative but also aligns with broader themes in biblical tradition about leadership, humility, and divine outreach to the marginalized.
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