We live in a health-crazed world. Not that everyone is healthy, they are not, but the health industry has exploded. They have exploded because people want to be healthy, but they want it easy. They want a special way, a new diet, or a new pill, to make the journey to health easier and more fashionable. If we want our bodies to function properly and be healthy, there are certain things we need to do. The church is no different. If it is to function properly, it must be healthy also. Peter starts with the elders, or as we would call them pastors, of the church.
He starts his exhortation by building credibility with them. He puts himself in their shoes by telling them that he also is an elder or pastor. Now that he has their attention, he strengthens his qualifications by reminding them he was taught by the Master himself. He was part of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He was an eyewitness to the sufferings in the garden as Jesus prayed to the Father before he was crucified. He was also one of the ones Jesus took with him to the transfiguration. In addition, Peter is looking forward to the day of Christ’s return when He will return in all His glory. That’s pretty good credentials.
I Peter 5:1 “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:”
Mark 14:32-35 “And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.”
Matthew 17:1-2 “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”
Now that he has established himself as someone they should listen to, he gives them their duties. He uses the analogy of a shepherd and his sheep. Jesus had done the same with Peter in John 21:15-17. Pastors are the overseers of the flock, the congregation. They are to do it, not for the money, nor as dictators, but as Shepherds taking care of the sheep.
God gives them authority over our lives. They are to live as an example to us in their own personal lives. They are to study to teach us correctly. They are to love and watch out for our spiritual well-being. Not because they must, but willingly, as a Shepherd would care for his sheep. This will also include us receiving corrections from them. I’ve heard the story many times, of how a shepherd would break the leg of a wandering sheep. He would then carry the sheep until the leg healed. After spending so much time with the shepherd, the bond would be so close, that the sheep would never leave him again. If we are living in sin, or have blind spots in our lives, it is only right that the pastor points it out to us and exhorts us to change.
I Peter 5:2-4 “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
Within this exhortation to pastors, there is also an underlying exhortation to us. No pastor can lead without someone to follow. This is where I believe the church in America is failing fast. We have the mentality of a cafeteria when we go to church. We go through the line looking at all the items available, and we choose the things we like. We fail to realize God gave the pastor his sermon for us! It is for our admonition and exhortation. If we fail to personalize the word of God that we hear, we will stand before God and give an account for our disobedience. Once the pastor has followed the example laid out in scripture to lead us, it is our responsibility to follow.
A good pastor loves his people, he longs for them to love Christ and grow in their faith. I have sat in the room with members and listened to a pastor beg a member living in sin to turn back to Christ. It was a great burden on the pastor’s heart because he was a good shepherd. A good pastor carries a heavy burden for you if you are part of his congregation. How much more could the church of God grow if we lifted that burden by being faithful to services, living according to the Bible, praying for the work of the ministry, and holding up the arms of the pastor as Aaron and Hur held up Moses while the Israelites fought the battle. How many more could be brought into the flock if most of the pastor’s time wasn’t spent concerned about us? How many more would be saved, if we were living according to scripture and following the pastors’ lead? We do ourselves, our children, and those who watch us, great harm when we do not live according to what a godly pastor teaches.
