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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Two things are here observable:
1. The minister's duty towards his people.
2. The people's duty towards their ministers.
In the former note, 1. The duty required, To rule, to watch. God makes the bishops and pastors of his church here guiding rulers in the church affairs; they rule not with rigour, but with rational guidance and conduct.
Note, 2. The subject of this ruling power and authority; it is not over their states, but their persons, particularly and principally their souls. They watch for your souls; as Jacob watched over Laban's, so do the ministers watch over Christ's flock by day and night.
Note, 3. The great engagement and obligation that lies upon them thus to rule, and thus to watch: They must give an account, that is, of their work and office, of their duty and discharge: there is a great shepherd, a chief shepherd, as Christ is called the prince of shepherds, to whom all inferior shepherds must give an account of their office, of their work, and of the flock committed to their work, and of the flock committed to their charge.
Note, 4. The different accounts that will be given by the ministers of God at the great day, some with joy, others with grief. It is matter of the greatest joy to us when we find any souls thriving under our ministry, and blessing God for the benefit they find by it; but, on the other hand, the sadness of our hearts under the barrenness and unprofitableness of many under our ministerial labours, is not easily to be expressed.
O God, with what sighing, with what groaning, with what inward heaviness and mourning, our accounts unto Christ are now given and accompanied, thou only knowest, and wilt make manifest at the great day!
Observe, 2. The people's duty declared with reference to their spiritual guides and rulers, and that is, to obey them, and submit themselves. Obey them that rule over you, and submit yourselves; obey their doctrine, and submit to their discipline, but neither with a blind and implicit obedience. Obey their doctrine, teaching you all things, whatsoever Christ has commanded them; and submit to their rule whilst it is exercised in the name of Christ, and according to his institution.
Learn hence, 1. That the Lord Jesus Christ, as supreme head of his church, has ordered and ordained that there shall be officers of his church, to guide and teach, to rule and watch over it, to the end of the world.
Learn, 2. That 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 an happy cause of order and peace in the whole body. Obey them, &c.