Luke wrote the following words that were spoken by Paul while he was in Miletus,
"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers, to care for the congregation of God, which he obtained with his
own blood." We learn from the context that these words were spoken to the elders
of the congregation in Ephesus. (Acts 20:17) This text contains several key phrases
that instruct us in vital areas relative to our earthly walk with God.
(1) "Pay careful attention to yourselves." God wants elders to be sure that
they are walking in the light. They cannot effectively lead until they effectively heed
the will of the Master. They are leaders of the sheep of God's pasture, and God
requires them to be honest, sincere, godly, studious, strong in faith, true to the
teaching, etc. They are not infallible; their judgment is not perfect; neither is their
knowledge boundless. They are human beings and are subject to any of the failings
that characterize other people. Paul told Timothy, "As for those who persist in sin,
rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear." (1 Tim. 5:20;
RSV) This teaches us that elders are not above God's law. It also teaches us that
one does not have to be an elder in order to rebuke an elder when necessary.
(2) "And to all the flock." Their work is serious because they are leaders of
"the flock." The word "flock" is a beautiful metaphor. The people they are leading
are the sheep of God's pasture. The people of God in the Old Testament, the nation
of fleshly Israel, were described as sheep. (2 Sam. 24:17; Psa. 100:3; Ezek. 34:2)
The New Testament uses the same metaphor to imply the qualities that should
characterize God's people; innocence, humility, and the willingness to follow their
Shepherd. (Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25) Furthermore, one group of elders is to lead
one flock, or local congregation. God has not assigned "flocks" to one group of
elders. The work of elders begins and ends in the local assembly. God's will is
a plurality of elders in one flock. (Acts 14:23; 15:2, 22) Elders are to work with
"all the flock." They are not to show partiality to the rich and neglect the poor.
They are not to favor the poor and despise the rich. God says they are to work
with the entire congregation.
(3) "In which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers." The phrase "in
which" implies that they are a part of the flock they oversee. They are not a group
of straw bosses who rule with rods of iron from a location far away. Peter warns
elders not to domineer over the flock, but be examples to the flock. (1 Pet. 5:3)
Paul also informs the elders that the Holy Spirit made them overseers. A person
cannot believe the Bible without believing this statement. The question is how did
the Holy Spirit make them overseers? The answer is: he made them overseers in
the same way that he makes Christians; by instructing them through the word
of truth as to the qualifications they are to possess before they are appointed to
the work. (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) The word "overseers" indicates that they
were to see that the things done by the flock (congregation) are done in a way
that pleases the Great Shepherd.
(4) "To care for the congregation of God." The care elders provide for
the congregation consists of doctrinal and moral nourishment. It is not always
easy to perfectly balance the two. Some elders are morally upright men whose
actions encourage others to be upright in life, but they lack the willingness and
courage to take a strong doctrinal stand against vicious wolves who threaten to
destroy the flock. There are also elders who are doctrinally strong but lack the
moral qualities of leadership. The congregation they care for is not theirs. They
did not purchase the flock. No descriptive phrase indicates that the flock is
named after them. It is God's congregation. Peter says the same thing: "Tend
the flock of God." (1 Peter 5:2)
(5) "Which he obtained with his own blood." God obtained it with his
own blood. It isn't God the Father, for he did not come to the earth in a body.
He is spirit. (Jno. 4:24) The same is true of the Holy Spirit. So, the term "God"
must be a reference to Jesus the Son of God who is the "Word that became flesh."
(Jno. 1:1,14) His precious blood acquired the congregation of God. (1 Pet. 1:18-19)
Both the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ are affirmed by the words "the congregation
of God which he obtained with his own blood." Being God he could "rebuke the winds
and the sea," (Mat. 8:23-27) and as man he could say, "I am thirsty." (Jno. 19:28)
RD
Copyright 2011
"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has
made you overseers, to care for the congregation of God, which he obtained with his
own blood." We learn from the context that these words were spoken to the elders
of the congregation in Ephesus. (Acts 20:17) This text contains several key phrases
that instruct us in vital areas relative to our earthly walk with God.
(1) "Pay careful attention to yourselves." God wants elders to be sure that
they are walking in the light. They cannot effectively lead until they effectively heed
the will of the Master. They are leaders of the sheep of God's pasture, and God
requires them to be honest, sincere, godly, studious, strong in faith, true to the
teaching, etc. They are not infallible; their judgment is not perfect; neither is their
knowledge boundless. They are human beings and are subject to any of the failings
that characterize other people. Paul told Timothy, "As for those who persist in sin,
rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear." (1 Tim. 5:20;
RSV) This teaches us that elders are not above God's law. It also teaches us that
one does not have to be an elder in order to rebuke an elder when necessary.
(2) "And to all the flock." Their work is serious because they are leaders of
"the flock." The word "flock" is a beautiful metaphor. The people they are leading
are the sheep of God's pasture. The people of God in the Old Testament, the nation
of fleshly Israel, were described as sheep. (2 Sam. 24:17; Psa. 100:3; Ezek. 34:2)
The New Testament uses the same metaphor to imply the qualities that should
characterize God's people; innocence, humility, and the willingness to follow their
Shepherd. (Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25) Furthermore, one group of elders is to lead
one flock, or local congregation. God has not assigned "flocks" to one group of
elders. The work of elders begins and ends in the local assembly. God's will is
a plurality of elders in one flock. (Acts 14:23; 15:2, 22) Elders are to work with
"all the flock." They are not to show partiality to the rich and neglect the poor.
They are not to favor the poor and despise the rich. God says they are to work
with the entire congregation.
(3) "In which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers." The phrase "in
which" implies that they are a part of the flock they oversee. They are not a group
of straw bosses who rule with rods of iron from a location far away. Peter warns
elders not to domineer over the flock, but be examples to the flock. (1 Pet. 5:3)
Paul also informs the elders that the Holy Spirit made them overseers. A person
cannot believe the Bible without believing this statement. The question is how did
the Holy Spirit make them overseers? The answer is: he made them overseers in
the same way that he makes Christians; by instructing them through the word
of truth as to the qualifications they are to possess before they are appointed to
the work. (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9) The word "overseers" indicates that they
were to see that the things done by the flock (congregation) are done in a way
that pleases the Great Shepherd.
(4) "To care for the congregation of God." The care elders provide for
the congregation consists of doctrinal and moral nourishment. It is not always
easy to perfectly balance the two. Some elders are morally upright men whose
actions encourage others to be upright in life, but they lack the willingness and
courage to take a strong doctrinal stand against vicious wolves who threaten to
destroy the flock. There are also elders who are doctrinally strong but lack the
moral qualities of leadership. The congregation they care for is not theirs. They
did not purchase the flock. No descriptive phrase indicates that the flock is
named after them. It is God's congregation. Peter says the same thing: "Tend
the flock of God." (1 Peter 5:2)
(5) "Which he obtained with his own blood." God obtained it with his
own blood. It isn't God the Father, for he did not come to the earth in a body.
He is spirit. (Jno. 4:24) The same is true of the Holy Spirit. So, the term "God"
must be a reference to Jesus the Son of God who is the "Word that became flesh."
(Jno. 1:1,14) His precious blood acquired the congregation of God. (1 Pet. 1:18-19)
Both the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ are affirmed by the words "the congregation
of God which he obtained with his own blood." Being God he could "rebuke the winds
and the sea," (Mat. 8:23-27) and as man he could say, "I am thirsty." (Jno. 19:28)
RD
Copyright 2011
Great observations! Very helpful. Thanks for all your good work and careful study. Phil M.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouraging words my brother.
ReplyDeleteYou are appreciated and loved in the Lord!
RD