The quote “all we like sheep have gone astray” comes from Isaiah 53:6 in the Bible. This verse is part of a passage describing the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice for humanity’s sins. The metaphor of sheep is used to illustrate how humans have wandered from God’s intended path for their lives.
Sheep are known to be wayward animals that easily become lost and disoriented without a shepherd to guide them. The prophet Isaiah states that similarly, in our natural fallen state, “all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6 ESV). This depicts how all people, in their sinfulness, willfully choose to rebel against God’s ways and pursue their own path in life. Just as sheep need a shepherd to keep them on track, people need the guidance of the Lord in their lives.
The concept of going astray expresses how sin leads us off course from God’s standards of righteousness. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7), sin entered the world, corrupting all humanity and alienating us from our Creator. Now all people are born with a sinful nature that predisposes them toward wrongdoing and ungodly living apart from God’s will (Psalm 14:2-3, Romans 3:23). Left in this state, mankind wanders aimlessly, pursuing sinful desires that lead to destruction.
Some key points about the meaning of humanity going astray like sheep include:
- We have all turned away from God’s ways to follow our own path.
- Sin has corrupted human nature, causing us to rebel against God.
- Without the Lord as our shepherd, we stray from righteousness.
- Our sinful wandering leads us into spiritual danger and death.
- On our own, we are helpless and hopelessly lost like sheep without a guide.
Yet Isaiah 53 presents hope – Jesus is the promised Messiah who came to be the Good Shepherd seeking the lost (Luke 19:10). Though we are prone to wander, Christ laid down his life to bear the punishment for our sin and rebellion so we could be forgiven and brought back into right relationship with God (Isaiah 53:5-6).
When we trust in Jesus, accepting his sacrifice for our sins, we pass from spiritual death into eternal life (John 3:16-17). God then sends the Holy Spirit to indwell believers, empowering them to turn from sinful ways and produce godly fruit (Galatians 5:16-26). He guides Christians to follow God’s will for their lives, transforming them to become more Christ-like in character and conduct.
In summary, “all we like sheep have gone astray” is a vivid word picture of the Bible’s central message – humanity is lost in sin without the saving grace of Jesus, but through faith in Christ, we can be brought back into proper relationship with God, who equips and guides us to live rightly through the Spirit working within us. This verse encapsulates the problem of sin, the solution found in the Messiah, and the hope of redemption for all who trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
1. The Nature of Sheep and How They Relate to Humans
To fully grasp the metaphor of humans going astray like sheep, it is helpful to consider the nature of actual sheep and how they compare to people. Here are some key traits of sheep that Isaiah likely had in mind:
- Sheep are prone to wander and scatter – Unlike cattle that graze together in a herd, sheep tend to wander and separate from the flock if not watched closely by the shepherd (Matthew 18:12-14).
- Sheep are unaware of dangers – With limited intelligence and defenses, sheep are oblivious to potential predators and hazards in their surroundings that could lead them to fall off a cliff or get killed. They need the shepherd’s protection (John 10:10-15).
- Sheep follow their senses and desires – Guided by their sight, smell and taste, sheep will graze wherever they want and pursue whatever appeals to them in the moment.
- Sheep can become cast or fallen – When sheep roll over onto their backs, they may not be able to get back on their feet without assistance. They become trapped and helpless.
- Sheep require care and guidance – Sheep need the shepherd to lead them to places with water and good pasture. Left alone, they are unable to find essential provisions on their own.
These sheep-like tendencies are mirrored in people’s natural spiritual condition and propensity toward sin:
- Like wandering sheep, we foolishly turn away from God to follow our own path (Isaiah 53:6).
- Blind to sin’s dangers, we ignorantly travel toward spiritual perils that can destroy us (Matthew 15:14).
- Led by carnal impulses, we go our own way pursuing whatever sins captivate us (Ephesians 2:3).
- Entrapped by sin, we are helpless and unable to set ourselves free from its grasp (John 8:34).
- Apart from divine guidance, we lack wisdom and ability to discern what is truly good (Jeremiah 10:23).
This comparison emphasizes why all people desperately need the deliverance, care and leadership that only Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, can provide.
2. How “Going Astray” Illustrates the Human Condition
“All we like sheep have gone astray” conveys the universality of human sin and rebellion. Several aspects of this phrase further describe the depths of mankind’s fallen condition outside of Christ:
a. “All”
The verse unequivocally declares that “all” people have strayed from God’s righteous standards. There are no exceptions. Romans 3:9-18 confirms that no one is righteous before God since “all have sinned and fall short” (Romans 3:23). From the highest rulers to the average citizen, every human inherits the same sinful nature that bends our desires away from what God commands (Psalm 14:2-3). No person is exempt from the corrupting influence of sin.
b. “We”
Isaiah includes himself with everyone else as he states “we have turned away.” As an esteemed prophet of God, Isaiah did not claim he was above the problem. Despite being used by God, Isaiah recognized that he also possessed a nature given to wandering and needed forgiveness. The “we” indicates that going astray is a universal human experience affecting even the most spiritual individuals. All people share an equality in their propensity toward sin and need for salvation (Romans 3:22-23).
c. “Like Sheep”
The metaphor of sheep powerfully depicts the foolish, ignorant, helpless condition of humanity in sin. Just as sheep are prone to foolishly wander off and are unable to find their way back, people lack understanding of what is good and are incapable of rescuing themselves from the slavery of sin. The image emphasizes our dependence on a Shepherd to lead our lives. It also suggests the irrationality and self-destruction of rejecting God’s wise directions. We are comparing ourselves to blind animals, highlighting our tendency to live by base impulses rather than higher wisdom.
d. “Have Gone Astray”
To “go astray” indicates a deliberate departure from the correct path. This describes how humanity willfully chooses to rebel against God’s standards of righteousness. Sin represents a moral failure to adhere to God’s laws and instructions for right living. Our rebellion severs us from intimate relationship with the Lord. Going our own way always leads us into disaster and bondage because it is a rejection of God’s wise and loving boundaries for human flourishing. Our sinful wandering brings great peril, yet we still knowingly and foolishly choose it.
e. “Turned…to His Own Way”
In addition to going astray, this verse says people have “turned, every one, to his own way.” We do not sin by accident but willfully redirect our lives toward selfish pursuits that gratify our sinful desires (James 1:14). Our rebellion frees us to do whatever pleases our fleshly cravings rather than what honors God. The lure of unrighteous living draws us to become a god unto ourselves, doing whatever we want without regard for the Creator and His principles for human conduct.
Overall, the phrase “all we like sheep have gone astray” encapsulates the foolish, careless, stubborn rebellion of human nature against God that plunges our lives into sin and misery. Thankfully, God did not leave humanity in this helpless condition but sent Jesus to rescue the lost.
3. How Jesus Rescues Us When We Have Gone Astray
If Isaiah 53:6 stood alone, it would depict a hopeless situation for humanity. Praise God, the redemptive work of the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, provides the solution to our dilemma!
When Jesus came, He proclaimed, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14). Unlike human leaders who exploit or mislead people, Jesus laid down His life sacrificially to save people from their sin (John 10:11). He sought the lost, pursuing wandering sinners with compassion to bring them back to God (Luke 15:3-7).
Jesus died on the cross to atone for our sins, receiving the punishment and judgment we rightly deserved for going astray spiritually (Romans 6:23, 1 Peter 2:24-25). His blood redeems us out of slavery to sin so we belong to God once again. Now Jesus enables the lost to be found and brought into the forever family and flock of God (Luke 15:4-7).
Not only does Jesus save people from the penalty of their sin through His sacrificial death, but He also empowers believers to overcome sin’s mastery. When someone trusts in Christ, they receive the Holy Spirit who enables them to produce godly character and conduct (Galatians 5:22-23). Whereas before we could only wander from God, now Jesus through the Spirit leads us into righteous living that pleases God. We still struggle with sin as believers, but we are no longer enslaved with no hope of change.
Jesus explained that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him rather than being led astray (John 10:27). The Good Shepherd guides Christians on the path of righteousness for God’s glory. His presence and voice through the indwelling Holy Spirit transform believers progressively into His holy likeness as they submit to Christ’s lordship. We can now walk faithfully with God instead of wandering aimlessly in sin.
Whenever believers do sin and stray from intimacy with Jesus, He seeks us out and convicts us through the Spirit to turn back to Him. We are reminded of His unfailing grace to forgive and cleanse us, setting our feet back on the godly path (1 John 1:9). Jesus alone can ultimately heal our propensity to wander so that we follow Him faithfully.
4. Key Lessons for Believers Who Still Go Astray
Though Jesus saves people from the penalty of sin and breaks its dominating control, Christians still wrestle with temptation and sometimes yield to ungodly desires. Becoming like Jesus is a lifelong journey. Even maturing believers occasionally stumble and take their eyes off the Good Shepherd. Here are some important lessons from Isaiah 53:6 for Christians when they go astray:
- Quickly confess – Do not hide or excuse your sin but openly admit it to the Lord to receive His promised forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Confession restores intimacy with Jesus.
- Recall the high cost – Remembering Jesus died to redeem you from that sin should lead to godly sorrow and motivation to repent. Your sin grieves His Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).
- Repent and return – Do not continue down a path of willful rebellion but decisively turn back to pleasing Jesus through the Spirit’s power. He gladly receives you back.
- Recalibrate priorities – Examine how you may have let other loves displace Christ in your affections. Seek Him first again (Matthew 6:33).
- Request protection – Ask God to guard your heart from drifting back into sin and to strengthen you against those temptations (Matthew 26:41).
The Good Shepherd patiently works to conform believers into His image. We can take comfort that no sin or season of backsliding can ever snatch us from His hand (John 10:28-29). Jesus always seeks after His sheep when they stray. Through godly sorrow and repentance, we can return to the Shepherd and Redeemer of our souls.
5. How “Sheep Gone Astray” Applies to Evangelism
The understanding that all humanity has turned away from God like lost sheep is fundamental for evangelism. This realization should infuse Christ-followers with urgency, humility, and compassion for the lost.
Urgency – People who do not know Jesus remain under condemnation and in danger of eternal destruction, no matter how “good” they appear (John 3:18, Romans 6:23). Their lives stray aimlessly toward peril even if they deny it. So we must urgently spread the Gospel.
Humility – Recognizing our common sinful tendencies with unbelievers should dissolve any “us versus them” attitude. Apart from Christ, we would be just as lost. There is no place for pride, arrogance or judgment toward the lost (Matthew 7:1-5).
Compassion – Understanding the helpless condition of the lost as sheep with no shepherd should fill us with Christ-like compassion and stir us to graciously share the hope of the Gospel. Jesus heart broke for scattered sheep (Matthew 9:36).
When sharing Christ, we plead with people to turn from their futile ways to find forgiveness and restoration in the Good Shepherd. He is their only hope, as He was ours, to be brought back into right relationship with God. We must warn unbelievers of sin’s dangers while pointing them to the Shepherd’s open arms.
6. Key Gospel Truths from “Sheep Gone Astray”
Reflecting on humanity’s condition as described in Isaiah 53:6 leads to some important Gospel truths:
- All people are equally lost in our natural state, enslaved to sin’s power.
- Going our own way seems pleasing but actually leads to emptiness and destruction.
- We cannot save ourselves – our condition is utterly hopeless apart from Christ.
- Jesus came specifically to rescue lost sinners who do not deserve His mercy and grace.
- Trusting in Christ’s finished work is the only way to be forgiven and set free from sin.
- The Good Shepherd cares for and protects His sheep forever once they belong to Him.
- Following Jesus and relying on His provision is the path to joyful, meaningful life.
Understanding the metaphor of sheep going astray gives greater appreciation for the salvation Christ offers. His grace is so amazing because our plight was so desperate. Praise God that the wanderings of this wayward sheep have been firmly corrected by the Shepherd’s guiding hand. What we could not do for ourselves, Christ did for us at immense personal cost. As beneficiaries of God’s love, may we faithfully follow Jesus all our days.