Obey them that have the rule
Rulership in the Church
I. THAT THE DUE OBEDIENCE OF THE CHURCH, IN ALL ITS MEMBERS, UNTO THE RULERS OF IT, IN THE DISCHARGE OF THEIR OFFICE AND DUTY, IS THE BEST MEANS OF ITS EDIFICATION, AND THE CHIEF CAUSE OF ORDER AND PEACE IN THE WHOLE BODY. Therefore is it here placed by the apostle, as comprehensive of all ecclesiastical duties.
II. AN ASSUMPTION OF RIGHT AND POWER BY ANY TO RULE OVER THE CHURCH, WITHOUT EVIDENCING THEIR DESIGN AND WORK TO BE A WATCHING FOR THE GOOD OF THEIR SOULS, IS PERNICIOUS UNTO THEMSELVES, AND RUINOUS UNTO THE CHURCH ITSELF.
III. Those who do attend with conscience and diligence unto the discharge of the work of the ministry towards their flocks, committed in an especial manner unto their charge, HAVE NO GREATER JOY OR SORROW IN THIS WORLD THAN WHAT ACCOMPANIES THE DAILY ACCOUNT WHICH THEY GIVE UNTO CHRIST OF THE DISCHARGE OF THEIR DUTY AMONGST THEM, AS THEIR SUCCESS FALLS OUT TO BE.
IV. Much of the life of the ministry and benefit of the Church DEPENDS ON THE CONTINUAL GIVING AN ACCOUNT UNTO CHRIST, BY PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING, OF THE STATE OF THE CHURCH, AND SUCCESS OF THE WORD THEREIN. Those guides who esteem themselves obliged thereunto, and do live in the practice of it, will find their minds engaged thereby unto constant diligence and earnest labouring in the discharge of their duty. And the dealings of Christ with the Church itself are regulated according unto this account, as the last words do manifest. (John Owen, D. D.)
The reciprocal duties of ministers and people:
The relation which is formed between a minister of the gospel and the people committed to his charge is highly important. It is a relation most sacred in itself, and most awful in its consequences; and the duties which spring from it are such as ought to be well understood by both parties.
I. THE DUTY OF MINISTERS TO THEIR PEOPLE IS THUS DESCRIBED. They “have the rule over them,” or, as the word may properly moan, have the “guidance” of them; and “watch for their souls.” This expression denotes that no small degree of diligence, perseverance, and anxiety is necessary for the discharge of the ministerial office. At least it implies that a minister in the faithful exercise of his calling is required to perform two things.
1. Solemnly to admonish the people of their danger.
2. To look out for every convenient opportunity of doing good to their souls. Now observe the obligation which they are under to a faithful performance of their duty. “They watch for your souls as they that must give account” (see Ezekiel 3:17-19; Ezekiel 34:4; Ezekiel 43:7-10).
II. It must be plain THAT DUTY BEGETS DUTY. If ministers be required to have the rule over their people and to watch for their souls, what must be required of their people in return but obedience and submission?
1. It is the duty of the people to attend on their minister with a disposition to receive and follow his instructions.
2. It is the duty of the people to bear with the importunity and solicitude of their minister in watching for their souls. They are not to take offence at his plain speaking, nor be impatient under his friendly admonitions.
3. It is the duty of the people to join with their minister in such plans and attempts as may best promote the object of his ministry. Does he, for example, point out any particular means by which immorality and ungodliness may be checked, or the cause of true religion may be encouraged and strengthened? In these cases his people are justly required to attend to his proposals; and by their support to forward his endeavours. From this view of the people’s duty towards their minister let us turn to the obligations which they are under to discharge it.
(1) In the first place, the very office of the minister imposes it on them. The same authority which prescribes to him his duty prescribes also to them their duty. And the same reasons in both cases enforce the performance of it.
(2) But, in the second place, the object which the minister has in view strongly obliges the people to discharge their duty towards him. For whose souls does he watch but for theirs?
(3) But let it be considered, thirdly, that in this, as well as in every other instance, duty and interest are closely joined together. It is the people’s interest to obey them that have the rule over them, and to submit to those who watch for their souls. (E. Cooper, M. A.)
Ministerial duty, responsibility, and reward
I. MINISTERIAL DUTY.
1. The objects of ministerial solicitude. “Your souls.”
(1) The origin of souls. God’s offspring. Immaterial, intellectual, immortal.
(2) The price at which they were redeemed. “Precious blood of Christ.”
(3) Their destiny. Eternal life or death.
2. The expression of ministerial solicitude. “They watch.” This includes love for immortal souls, manifested in a constant attention to their interests, and a devotedness to their welfare.
II. MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
1. This responsibility refers to their commission. Christ will employ in His work a friend that loves Him; not a stranger, much less an enemy. It has been well remarked that the Church had formerly wooden vessels, but golden priests; since that she has had golden vessels and wooden priests.
2. This responsibility refers to the fidelity which is required on their part.
3. It refers to the account which they must finally render.
III. MINISTERIAL REWARD.
1. What they deprecate. That they may not give their account with grief.
2. What they desire. “That they may give account with joy.” How animating to the labourer is success!
3. The interest of the people in both. Both in what ministers deprecate and in what they desire. Our disappointment may have an influence on us. It may weaken us in the way; it may bring us down broken-hearted to the grave. But our disappointment is your ruin! It may grieve us, but it will destroy you. Our satisfaction is your conversion. Your increase is delightful to us, but it is your salvation. (John Davis.)
Duties owing to ministers
1. Reverence in regard of their office. Alexander reverenced Jaddus. Herod, John the Baptist. Obadiah called Elias Lord. “My father,” said Josiah to Elisha. If we reverence them not the word will not have so free a passage among us. They that use their pastors unreverently sin against God.
2. Love. Have them in exceeding love for their work’s sake. It is the best work in the world, the saving of your souls; therefore love them for it. You love the fathers of your bodies that brought you into the world, and wilt ye not love them that beget you with the word of truth and bring you to a kingdom?
3. Obedience to their doctrine, exhortations, and admonitions. You will obey the prescript of the physician for the health of your bodies; though it be a bitter potion, you take it well at his hands; and will you not obey them that give you counsel for your souls, though their reproofs be bitter, their rebukes sharp (Titus 1:13)?
4. Maintenance. All rulers must be maintained. The king hath maintenance due from the people, and so must the minister. In the fear of God, if ye be good and religious people, discharge the duties that God requireth to them that have the spiritual government of you. Why? There be two reasons to excite us to it; the one taken from the matter of their work, the other from the manner of their working. They are your watchmen; therefore submit yourselves to them, love them, regard them. Not over your goods and bodies, as the magistrate is, but over your souls, which are more precious; not as the fowler watcheth for the bird to catch it and kill it, but they watch for the preservation and eternal salvation of your souls; therefore submit yourselves to them. The second reason is taken from the manner of their working; they would gladly do their work with joy; they would watch over you with joy, which they cannot do if you be peevish, perverse, and froward. Therefore submit yourselves to them. What though we grieve them? What care we? Will such a thing grieve him? He shall be sure to have it then; we will do it for the nonce. Some are at this pass. But you shall have no benefit by that; you hurt yourselves more than them. (W. Jones, D. D.)
Ministers as generals:
The ancient knight was a cleaver of skulls, a fighting man rather than a leader; his great force lay in muscle, not brain. But who ever thought of estimating the value of Napoleon upon a battle-field by the blows he gave? He wielded an army, not a sword. Ministers should covet earnestly the general’s gift. The man who has the faculty of getting others to work, keeping them at their work and wisely directing their work, will get more done than any solitary labourer can do, though he be strong as Samson and diligent as Paul. (S. Coley.)
They watch for your souls
Ministers are watchmen
I. THE OFFICE OF WATCHMAN IS ONE OF APPOINTMENT.
II. THE OFFICE OF WATCHMAN IS ONE OF TRUST.
III. THE OFFICE OF WATCHMAN IS ONE OF RESPONSIBILITY.
1. For his time.
2. For his diligence.
3. For his vigilance.
4. For his fidelity.
Application: We learn
1. The solemn character of the ministerial calling. A calling which demands great personal piety, as well as high spiritual gifts.
2. The arduous duties of the ministerial office. So arduous as to claim all the faculties of the mind and all the energies of the body.
3. The great necessity that they should receive Christian sympathy and comfort.
4. The personal responsibility of those over whom they watch.
5. Jesus, the great and blessed keeper of Zion, is the model every Christian minister should study and imitate. (J. Buras, D. D.)
Solicitude for souls:
In one of McCheyne’s manuscripts there occurs this sentence--“As I was walking in the fields, the thought came over me with almost overwhelming power that every one of my flock most soon be in heaven or hell. Oh, how I wished that I had a tongue like thunder that I might make all hear; or that I had a frame like iron that I might visit every one and say, ‘Escape for thy life!’ Ah, sinners! you little know how I fear that you will lay the blame of your damnation at my door.” (Life of R. M. McCheyne.)
The solemnity of the minister’s work
"I continually hear the surges of eternity beating against my study door,” said an eminent minister of the gospel.
Responsibility recognised
A captain whose ship was nearing a reel gave orders to keep off. To a remark of approval the captain replied, “It is necessary that I should be very careful, because I have souls on board. I think of my responsibility, and remember that souls are very valuable.”
Ministerial responsibility
I verily believe that had I been adequately affected by the whole matter, even as I might have apprehended it then, I should never have gone to Stepney (the college) after all. It strikes me with awe at this hour that I should have undertaken what I have found to be so veritably the burden of the Lord. A vision of my Norwich life, had I seen it at Fen Court, would have led me to withdraw my application to the committee on the spot. A vision of my Bloomsbury Chapel life, had I seen it as I passed that evening into my college chamber, would have sent me back to my bench at Mr. Field’s and to my occasional services to the rustics at Collier’s End. However, no such visions did appear to me; and perhaps in mercy the weightier ultimate responsibilities which were involved were hidden from my eyes. (W. Brock, D. D.)
Care for souls:
Dr. Bushnell greatly interested himself in providing a park for the town in which he lived. Writing to Dr. Bartol, he said, “One thing I have learned by this undertaking--namely, to wonder why it is that as a Christian teacher and pastor I am so feebly exercised, so little burdened by my work. It fills me with doubt and shame and grief; and the result has been to make me fully resolved that I will either be a more responsible, more efficient minister of Jesus Christ or none. I cannot shake off those words of Paul--they are ringing continually in my ears--‘I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.’ This park matter has been a kind of revelation to me, which I pray God I may never forget. Why should I carry a park to bed with me, and work it over in my dreams during the night, and wake with it in the morning, and yet be so little exercised in the magnificent work of the gospel and the care of souls? It makes me doubt whether doing a thing professionally we do not sometimes do it idly and, perfunctorily, as if we did it not. Do we really believe that Jesus is a Saviour, and that in any significant sense of the words He brings salvation? Thoughts of this kind have been working in me of late with such power that I have become wholly dissatisfied with myself. I thought I meant something when I preached Christ to men; but I see that I must do more, that I must have the men upon my spirit, that I must bear them as a burden and hold myself responsible for them. God help me!” (Life of Dr. Bushnell.)
Ministerial faithfulness
Gladstone once said to an audience, “I don’t come here to tell you what you want to hear; but what I think is true and just.” (J. Clifford, D. D.)
The gospel the best message:
He (the late Rev. W. O. Simpson) never reasoned with the gospel; he reasoned with sinners: the gospel was his message. (E. E. Jenkins, D. D.)