Why do you consider yourself a shepherd? John 10 says:
7 so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me,
Jesus is my shepherd. As for the rest of us, we are all in this together. Though there were pastors, elders, teachers, apostles, and so forth in the New Testament church, New Testament writers specifically taught against preferring one person above another:
1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?
2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 4 doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?
Don’t get me wrong. That doesn’t mean I don’t respect your position or that I’m rebellious. It does mean I won’t follow you where the Bible and the Holy Spirit don’t lead, because ultimately, it’s Jesus who leads me, and I’m happy to follow Him.
********
Shop at our Amazon store! This website is a participant in the Amazon
Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. As an Amazon Influencer, this website earns from qualifying purchases.
Me too.
What was it that Jesus told Peter at least three times? John 21: 15So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” NASB
Whoever you are, who is to have rule over you?
PS. Just an “off the cuff” question.
Matthew 20:25But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” NASB
David, Jesus leads me. No one rules over me. Are you talking about Heb 13:17? Commentaries and other versions don’t say “rule over”
http://www.spiritualabuse.org/mywritings/obedience.html This is an article I wrote on the subject.
Mk 10: 42But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Heb 13:17Continue to follow and be submissive to your leaders, since they are watching over your souls as those who will have to give a word of explanation. By doing this, you will be letting them carry out their duties joyfully, and not with grief, for that would be harmful for you.
Leaders in this passage are not people who stand up and claim authority or want to “rule over” others. They are those who minister, who care for the people around them. Their leadership is not handed down from their dads who pastor or given because they know how to work a crowd, but through character and love.
People willingly follow true leaders, but true leaders don’t necessarily view themselves as leaders, but servants. They give, love, care, minister, encourage, and show compassion. Their lives are full of the fruit of the spirit. These are the things that make a true leader.
2 Cor 1:24 But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm. (Some versions use “rule over you” in place of dominate.)
Regarding Hebrews 13, verse 7 says “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”
I did this. I considered the outcome of the ways who claimed rule over me, who claimed to be pastors or leaders. The one in prison for 25 years, the one who disappeared when his son was convicted, the others who scattered. The one who beat his 2 year old daughter to “break that woman’s spirit” in her and broke up a number of others’ marriages.
I considered the outcome of their ways… and wisely decided to find others with faith worth imitating. No, these are not necessarily those who claim to be pastors. Churches ordain some God does not… and God may likewise ordain some that churches do not.
So are there those whose faith I imitate or follow? Yes, absolutely.