Commanded to Obey your Pastor?

[Tarheel Baptist]

Do Hebrews 13:7, 17 and 24 offer instruction to church members in regard to their pastors/elders?

Obey peitho them? (The word is almost always translated 'obey', no matter the version.)
They 'keep watch over your souls' (NSASV)...they must give account.

Some here believe Pastors are almost never to be questioned, others believe Pastors are highly overrated and are just 'along for the ride'.
They should just preach and keep their collective mouths shut otherwise.

How do you interpret these verses as they relate to a Pastor's office, authority and responsibility?

[ALAYMAN]

Do Hebrews 13:7, 17 and 24 offer instruction to church members in regard to their pastors/elders?...

How do you interpret these verses as they relate to a Pastor's office, authority and responsibility?

Ever hear of she-bears?

[Tarheel Baptist]

Ever hear of she-bears?

Of course I have!
They're the doegs of the animal kingdom.

[T-Bone]

In keeping this with other passages dealing with this...I approach it this way!

The pastor is called by God to be the undershepherd to the Lord's flock

The pastor is to be honored for his God given position

The pastor is not to be a dictator, nor a shearer of the sheep

The pastor is not to be a hireling

The pastor is to rightly divid the Word

The pastor is to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry

The pastor is not the head of the Church, Christ is

The pastor is exhibit the same type of servant leadership that Jesus did

The pastor is to love the church and not abuse it

The pastor is not the final authority...the Word is


Just some thoughts!!

[TR3]

Do Hebrews 13:7, 17 and 24 offer instruction to church members in regard to their pastors/elders?

Obey peitho them? (The word is almost always translated 'obey', no matter the version.)
They 'keep watch over your souls' (NSASV)...they must give account.

Some here believe Pastors are almost never to be questioned, others believe Pastors are highly overrated and are just 'along for the ride'.
They should just preach and keep their collective mouths shut otherwise.

How do you interpret these verses as they relate to a Pastor's office, authority and responsibility?

Pastors rule under God's authority and are to be obeyed, because they are under authority. Renegade pastors who rule according to their own authority are imposters-- usurpers actually-- and they need not be obeyed, but resisted.

The same could be said for civil rulers, IMO.

[MailMan]

In keeping this with other passages dealing with this...I approach it this way!

The pastor is called by God to be the undershepherd to the Lord's flock

The pastor is to be honored for his God given position

The pastor is not to be a dictator, nor a shearer of the sheep

The pastor is not to be a hireling

The pastor is to rightly divid the Word

The pastor is to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry

The pastor is not the head of the Church, Christ is

The pastor is exhibit the same type of servant leadership that Jesus did

The pastor is to love the church and not abuse it

The pastor is not the final authority...the Word is


Just some thoughts!!

I have nothing to add. Good post.

[Tarheel Baptist]

To what extent and in what areas are they to be 'obeyed'?

Church administration issues?
Church policy issues?
Church ministry issues?
Doctrinal issues?


All, none or some of the above?

[Marji]

Mark is always telling the congregation NOT to just take his word for something. He wants people to seek God on their own and not think they have to have Mark teach them everything. He wants them to study the Word on their own.

The same Holy Spirit that lives in Mark lives in the people he shepherds.

[TR3]

To what extent and in what areas are they to be 'obeyed'?

Issues that have to do with the keeping of one's soul.

[Tarheel Baptist]

Issues that have to do with the keeping of one's soul.

That is the 'rub' as Shakespeare would say....exactly what does 'watching for your soul' require/include?