How would you describe the job of a pastor? Where would you look for models? Perhaps you would ask a few other local churches about their options and make a few changes to reflect your church’s schedule and programs.
This, of course, assumes that everyone already knows what a pastor should be like and what he should do. But how do we know what the primary role of a pastor is?
Of course, we must turn to Scripture to find out who a pastor is. But where in Scripture? We could start with the work that is required by the qualifications of pastors (1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–10) and carefully consider the explicit commands given to church leaders. However, if we delve deeper into some of these commands, an interesting picture emerges. Consider Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:1–3, both of which are addressed to pastors of local churches:
«Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of [the Lord and] God, which he purchased with his own blood» (Acts 20:28).
«As a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory that is to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you: Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have it; not for covetousness, but eagerly; not as lording it over those who are your inheritance, but being examples to the flock» (1 Pet. 5:1–3).
In both of these passages, the main task of shepherding is summarized by the Greek verb «poimaino,» whose basic meaning is «to shepherd,» that is, to care for the flock (Luke 17:7; 1 Cor. 9:7).
Both Paul in the book of Acts of the Holy Apostles and Peter in his epistle summarize the work of pastoral care in one word: shepherd.
In Ephesians 4:11, Paul calls pastors «pastors and teachers,» demonstrating once again that the idea of shepherding is the foundation of pastoral ministry. In fact, the English word «pastor» comes from the Latin word pastor, which means "shepherd.".
Thus, shepherding is the basis of the term «pastor» and biblical descriptions of pastoral activity.
But where do we learn what it means to be a shepherd? If you have a basic understanding of sheep and their needs, you will understand the basic point. Sheep need to be fed, cared for, guided, and protected. Pastors do this for their people, transforming these needs into a spiritual context.
The History of Pastoral Care in Scripture
However, this metaphor takes on new depth as we see it unfold in the history of Scripture. Ultimately, pastors learn what it means to be a pastor by watching God Himself shepherd His people.
The Divine Shepherd of the Exodus
The story of shepherding in Scripture truly begins when God leads his people out of Egypt, leads them through the wilderness for forty years, and leads them safely into their own land. Psalm 77:21 describes this period of exodus and wilderness:
«"You led your people like a flock of sheep by the hand of Moses and Aaron.".
As a shepherd, God was personally present among his people (Ex. 33:15–16). As a shepherd, God protected his people (Num. 14:7–9; Deut. 23:14). As a shepherd, God provided for his people. He fed them (Ps. 78:19; 105:40–41). He healed them (Ex. 15:26; Num. 21:8–9).
Like a shepherd, God led his people to fertile pastures: «In your goodness you have led the people whom you have redeemed, and in your strength you have guided them to your holy dwelling» (Ex. 15:13). Like a shepherd, God gently and carefully led his people:
«I drew them with cords of humanity, with bands of love, and was to them as one who removes the yoke from their necks, leaning on their cheek, bending over them and feeding them» (Hosea 11:4).
In all of this, God shepherded His people through Moses, the human leader He appointed to shepherd them (Ps. 77:20). And Moses himself asked the Lord for a successor, so that «the congregation of the Lord would not be left like sheep that have no shepherd» (Num. 27:17).
So the Lord, the divine King of creation, is also the shepherd of his people. And he shepherds them through the human shepherd whom he himself has appointed.
David, Shepherd-King
Hundreds of years later, this trend continues under David and his dynasty. The Lord took David from his shepherding duties and made him shepherd of Israel (2 Sam. 5:1–3; 7:8). The psalmist declares:
«He chose David his servant, and called him from the sheepfolds. From the ewes with the lambs he took him to shepherd his people, the house of Jacob, Israel his inheritance. And he shepherded them in the integrity of his heart, guiding them with his hands of wisdom» (Ps. 78:70–72).
Just as David carefully tended the sheep in his care, he led Israel for the most part responsibly and compassionately. As king, David shepherded his people with integrity and wisdom.
Yet, God himself remained the true shepherd of Israel. Israel acknowledged: «For he is our God, and we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.» (Ps. 95:7) And David, appointed by God as «the undershepherd,» expressed his confidence in God’s provision, protection, and guidance in the inspired words of Psalm 22.
However, not all of Israel’s shepherd kings led their people to the green pastures of obedience to the Word of the Lord. Most of them, on the contrary, led God’s people into the barren wastelands of idolatry and injustice. As a result, God scattered His sheep among the nations, punishing them for their sins (Lev. 26:33; Deut. 4:27; 28:64; 1 Sam. 14:15).
New Shepherds in the New Exodus
But the same God who scattered his people promised to gather them again. In Jeremiah 23:1–2, the Lord pronounces judgment on the wicked kings of Israel, the shepherds who destroyed and scattered God’s sheep. These shepherds failed to care for and protect God’s people, so God will punish them. Moreover, in verses 3–4, God declares:
«I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all the countries where I have driven them (the sheep) and will bring them to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them, and they will fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor will they be lost,» says the Lord.
The Lord promises to restore the welfare of His people by giving them shepherds who will care for, provide for, and protect them. How exactly will these shepherds minister to God’s people? In a parallel passage from the book of Jeremiah 3:15, the Lord says: «I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.» The leaders of God’s re-gathered people will instruct and guide them, imparting knowledge and understanding of God’s ways and His Word.
Moreover, God will also raise up one supreme ruler, an heir of David, who will ensure the salvation of all of God's people:
«The days are coming,» declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and a King will reign wisely and execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely. And this is his name by which he will be called: The Lord our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:5–6).
Thus, God will gather his people as a faithful shepherd. And God will raise up many faithful shepherds to care for his people. However, one special shepherd-king will save the people and ensure their safe and prosperous existence in God’s place under God’s rule.
Isaiah 40:11 provides another glimpse into the new Exodus of God, who Himself gathers His sheep:
«"Like a shepherd he will tend his flock; he will gather the lambs in his arms and carry them in his bosom; and those that are with young he will lead with care.".
Ezekiel 34 paints a more detailed picture of God’s work as a shepherd who will save his people. The current shepherds of Israel fed themselves, not the sheep, and did not heal the sick or seek out the lost, so God’s sheep were scattered (vv. 1–6). For all of this, God will punish these wicked shepherds and will Himself save His sheep (vv. 7–10). God Himself will seek them, save them, gather them to their land, feed them, and lead them to rest (vv. 11–14).
«I myself will shepherd my flock, and I myself will determine a place for them to lie down,» says the Lord God. “I will seek the lost and bring back the strayed, I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak; I will destroy the fat and the stubborn, for I will shepherd them with justice” (vv. 15–16).
But God also promises: «I will set up over them one shepherd, and he shall feed them: my servant David shall feed them; he shall be their shepherd» (v. 23). So God himself will be their shepherd, but so will his «servant David.» And when God again shepherds his people, they will have peace, blessings, security, abundance, freedom, honor, and the true knowledge of God (vv. 25–31).
Jesus is the Good Shepherd
Who is this shepherd that God has appointed over his people? Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Jesus had compassion on the crowds because they were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd (Matt. 9:36). Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who came to give God’s sheep life in abundance (John 10:10), who lays down his life for God’s sheep (vv. 11, 15), who knows his sheep (vv. 14), and who gathers all his sheep into one fold (v. 16).
The metaphor of God’s people as sheep originally arose to describe Israel in the wilderness: hungry, thirsty, sunburned, and yet to find its true home. In a spiritual sense, this all applies to the church in the modern age. Like Israel in the wilderness, we have not yet entered into God’s rest (Heb. 4:11). We face not only famine and hardship, but also opposition and persecution.
Now we are weak and wandering, under the pressure of difficulties. But in Revelation the apostle John captures a glimpse of our ultimate destiny:
«They will hunger no more, nor thirst any more, neither will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat, for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them, and will guide them to springs of water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes» (Rev. 7:16–17).
The Lord Jesus is our Shepherd, and He is the Good Shepherd. Soon He will shepherd us again, and we will never know hunger or suffering again.
Shepherding Like the Chief Shepherd
So what does this story say to the pastors of the church? Jesus« famous words to Peter point us in the right direction. Three times Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him; three times Peter answers »yes«; three times Jesus entrusts Peter with the responsibility of taking care of His sheep (John 21:15–17). John’s Gospel uses two different Greek words for »tend« and »feed” in this passage, but they have the same meaning. Both words refer to the all-encompassing care that shepherds give to their sheep: feeding, caring, leading, protecting. And that is exactly the care that pastors should show their people.
- Pastors are to feed their people with the Word, calling them to sound doctrine (Titus 1:9–10), preaching to them the whole will of God (Acts 20:27).
- Pastors must protect their people from false doctrine and those who might lead them astray (Acts 20:29–31).
- Pastors are to lead their people by setting a good example (Heb. 13:7), preparing them for ministry (Eph. 4:12), and wisely managing the affairs of the church (1 Tim. 5:17).
- Pastors should care for their people, tenderly providing needed advice, help, and support.
True pastors care. They don’t just formally care for their people, they genuinely and deeply care for them. They know their people, they seek them out, they watch over them. They give them what their souls need, even when the people themselves don’t realize it or don’t want to accept what is most important to them.
In all of this, pastors reflect God as Father. Paul addresses church leaders with this appeal: «We urge you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with everyone» (1 Thess. 5:14). This personal approach to caring is exactly what God promises to do for His people, committing to seek the lost, bring back the strayed, heal the broken, and feed all in righteousness (Ezek. 34:16).
And pastors reflect our Lord Jesus Christ, who shepherded God’s people before any pastor came, continues to shepherd them during the ministry of each pastor, and will shepherd them after the ministry of each pastor is over. That is why Peter calls Jesus «the Chief Shepherd» (1 Pet. 5:4). Jesus is the heir whom God raised up for David; he is the only true Shepherd-King of God’s people. However, Jesus’ shepherding ministry does not exclude human shepherds—on the contrary, it empowers and empowers them.
Pastor, have you ever considered that your own ministry to your local church is part of the fulfillment of prophecy? Remember that God promised to raise up many shepherds over His people when He placed His chief Shepherd over them (Jer. 23:4, 5). These shepherds will feed God’s people with skill and understanding (Jer. 3:15).
Do your priorities in ministry align with those of the divine Shepherd? How well do you know the spiritual needs of your sheep? How much time and effort do you put into meeting those needs? What concerns you more: the number of new people in the church or the state of their souls—whether they are suffering or thriving?
Are you guarding against threats to the faithfulness of your people in the faith? Are you leaving your sheep vulnerable to false teachings by not teaching them a deep understanding of biblical doctrine? Do you know which of your sheep are thriving and which are not receiving proper spiritual nourishment? Who is strong in the faith and who is spiritually sick? Who is safe in the flock and who is wandering in the wilderness?
If you want to rethink your role as a pastor, turn to how God shepherds his people in Scripture. Marvel at his tender care and powerful protection. Learn from his patient attention to the diverse needs of his people. Marvel at his compassionate love, for the One who holds galaxies in his hand also lifts the weakest sheep onto his shoulders. And pray that God, by his grace and the power of his Spirit, will make you a shepherd after his own heart.
[1] In this section I draw on the exegesis of Timothy S. Laniak, Shepherds after My Own Heart: Pastoral Traditions and Leadership in the Bible, New Studies in Biblical Theology 20 (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006).
