Breakk a Leg

“‘I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,’ says the Lord God. ‘I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick;…;’”
- Ezekiel 34:15-16

“Break a leg!”

That is the traditional encouragement to thespians before they take the stage. It most likely comes from Vaudeville performers of the early 20th century. The performers had to “break the leg line” (or side curtains of a stage) to appear on stage before they were paid for a performance. In a time of economic uncertainty, it was a wish of good luck that you got on to the stage and paid for the night.

In the church, it has a much worse tradition. Some of the most widely read authors, teachers and speakers have shared the story of the Good Shepherd breaking the legs of unruly sheep so they won’t run off. It has been published in bestselling books and preached from lofty pulpits.

The idea of the story is of a “loving” shepherd who carries his hook as a walking staff, prod and hook to grab a sheep by the leg. However, as it is told, occasionally you will have a sheep that continues to walk away from the herd. The “loving” shepherd will use his hook to break the leg of the sheep. In that way, it will learn to stay close and depend on the shepherds care for life. The only problem is: it is completely false!

There is no evidence in the Bible, history or methods of husbandry (sheep herding) of any shepherds ever intentionally breaking a sheep’s leg to discipline it. It is counterintuitive to do so. It would destroy the value of a sheep and leave it vulnerable to predators. Anyone who has ever raised sheep, as I have, knows they don’t need an excuse to die. They are born looking for a way to die! That is why they need a shepherd, to help keep them alive.

The true Biblical picture of a shepherd is the complete opposite of this story. Every time the Bible talks about the work of a shepherd it is to describe how “He makes me lie down in the green pastures,” “restores my soul,” gathers His lambs in His arms, carries them close to His heart, and “the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Note: No breaking of legs! That’s what mobsters do to gain obedience, not our Lord.

Our Lord does not inflict injury as a form of corporal punishment to straighten us out. Many times, through our own choices, we bring that upon ourselves. And, at times, the world inflicts it on us. This is when the Shepherd is willing and able to step into our lives. As Ezekiel 34:15-16 says, “‘I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,’ says the Lord God. ‘I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick;…;’”

We go through rough times. We are often broken and wounded. We wander off and get lost. However, the Shepherd is always willing to heal us and bring us home. All we have to do is call out to Him and trust Him. No matter how lost you are today, He is searching for you, and He will never stop.

The only leg breaking the Good Shepherd is interested in is that of us breaking a leg to step onto the stage of life as the person He created us to be. To step out from the wings and take center stage. He has an amazing part planned for each of us to act out. It is a fully paid gig, because He paid it in full. All we have to do is trust Him, take a step and walk onto the stage of life in faith. He is faithful to complete the work begun in you (Philippians 1:6).

My challenge this week: BREAK A LEG! Step on the stage of life in faith and trust the Good Shepherd to guide me, heal me, care for me, and make me the person He created me to be.

© 2026 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.