Day 159: Who Are the Shepherds and Teachers?
Today, we consider the last two gifted types of people that the Lord Jesus has given to us to equip us. The Shepherds and the Teachers work together to train us in some of the “every-day essentials” of following Christ.
Who are The Shepherds and How Do They Equip Us?
Ephesians 4:11–13
It was Christ who gave… some as Shepherds… 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ…
In this text, Shepherds and Teachers are linked together. Some even think that this is describing only one group: “The Shepherds, who are Teachers.” We will keep them separate, although these two form an important team.
The term that is translated “Shepherds” here is often translated as “Pastors.” The word literally points to a shepherd—someone who oversees a flock. This term is used about eighteen times in the Greek Scriptures and it is always in reference to a shepherd.
Now, traditionally, when we think of a “pastor,” we think of the modern shaping of this role: the pastor is often seen as the key person in the church, the jack-of-all-trades who teaches, preaches, visits the sick, performs the ordinances, etc. This is an office that the modern church has defined and developed but it is not necessarily a biblical model. We are not trying to take anything away from modern pastors who work hard in their roles. However, given the model here in Ephesians 4, we can see that one person cannot do all that is required for a church. The Church is meant to be overseen and cared for by a group of faithful people, not just one (other than the Lord Jesus!).
This is the only place in the New Testament where a “pastoral” role is defined as such. In almost all the other texts, the Elders are the group that is charged with the final responsibility of overseeing the local assembly of believers. In this text, the Shepherds are that group of people who have been given to us to care for, feed, encourage, and protect us.
In the New Testament, Jesus is clearly presented as the “Good and Great Shepherd.”
John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Hebrews 13:20–21
Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the Great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, 13:21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
The LORD God is often presented as our Shepherd (think of Psalm 23); He is the Shepherd and Guardian of our Souls (1 Peter 2:25). These Shepherds who are human “gifts” to us all are those who follow the example of Christ protecting, feeding and caring for His flock.
We are using the phrase Pastoral Care and Protection to describe what this group does and how they equip us to share in this ministry. The flock of God must be cared for in compassion, protecting it from its many threats. In Acts 20, Paul gives the following admonition to the leaders/elders/overseers/shepherds of the flock at Ephesus:
Acts 20:28
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
Our Shepherds take care of us in grace and truth and teach us how to do the same. Today this ministry is seen largely in some pastors as well as those who have ministries of mercy and care and concern. These Shepherds have an eye to the spiritual as well as the physical needs of the flock. They work hand in hand with the final group of “gifted people”—the teachers.
Who are The Teachers and How Do They Equip Us?
Ephesians 4:11–13
It was Christ who gave some as… Teachers…
In our times, our Teachers have played a more significant role in our churches that some of the other gifted people that we have been discussing. A Teacher is simply someone who instructs others in the Truths of the Faith. The most common title given to Jesus was “Rabbi” (Teacher). When we think of Him, we think of Him as our Master-Teacher. All true Teachers in the church follow the example and model of Jesus:
Matthew 10:24–25
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the slave as his master.”
In all our teaching, we remember that Jesus is “The Way, The Truth, The Life” (John 14:6). We are to be taught “in Jesus” because the Truth is in Him (Ephesians 4:21). Again we see the imitation of Jesus: becoming like Him in all areas of life.
The goal of all Christian teaching is the cultivation of Christlike virtue.
Colossians 1:28
We proclaim Him (Christ Jesus) by warning and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.
As we have heard, the goal that the Father has set for us is that we become like Christ, conformed to His image, displaying His likeness in beauty, grace and truth. All of this teaching is therefore founded on the Written Word of God which points us to the Living Word (2 Timothy 3:14-16). This Christ-focused, Bible based teaching is the very essence of “sound doctrine” or “sound teaching” that we are called to (1 Timothy 1:10, 4:6; Titus 2:1). When we meet together, the reading of Scripture, teaching, encouragement and exhortation, are all vital parts of our ministry to and with one another (see 1 Timothy 4:11-16).
There is the assumption that once someone has been a follower of Jesus for some amount of time, he or she should be able to teach others the “basics” of God’s Truth—The ABC’s of the Faith:
Hebrews 5:12–14
For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach youthe beginning elements of God’s oracles. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food.
We are encouraged to do many things to and for “one another” and teaching is one of them:
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.
We use the phrase Faithful and True Instruction to describe what Teachers do and what they equip us to do in the service of ministry. The Written Word of God points us to the Living Word, our Lord Jesus. We want to know Christ deeply in order to share Him with one another and others richly. You may not be gifted or called to be a Teacher specifically. But, the Teaching ministry trains you to be able to teach the basics of the Faith to those who need to know.
Do you see why the Shepherds and Teachers are necessary to build up the body of Christ? In what ways have these ministries affected you?
*You can find a complete list of all the MilktoMeat readings here.
