Acts 20:28-31 Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers… The word "over" should be rendered "in." The minister is in the flock; he is in no sense extraneous to it. He is part of it. Some have read the word "over" violently and offensively, and have asserted rights of dominion over faith, practice, and ritual such as were contrary to the whole idea of the gospel. "One is your Master even Christ," etc. The minister is "in the flock" — I. AS TO HIS PERSONAL HOPE. 1. He is a sinner, and if conscientious feels himself even more so than others. Negligence in him is more serious, example for evil more influential. 2. He wants a Saviour, if possible more than his people. If he is to be the "overlooker," he must first be the penitent and the forgiven. It is this which gives pathos, solemnity, and authority, to every part of his ministration — because he is in the flock and partakes with it of the refreshing streams and free pastures. II. AS TO ALL THE RELATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF HIS LIFE. Before he is anything else he must be a good man. The ministry is not a separate caste, living its whole life by itself, having a tariff of habits, and rules quite different from the ordinary rules and duties of Christian men. The ministry is exemplary before it is episcopal. Its whole idea is that of going before and showing the way in all that is pure and beautiful and of good report. III. AS TO SYMPATHY. If the minister were "over" the flock he might be sorry for its distresses and sins. Sympathy there can only be where there is insideness to the flock. Even our Lord must incorporate Himself with us if He would make us know and feel that He can sympathise. IV. AS TO COMFORT. Oh the comfort of being just one of the worshippers, of losing the official in the personal, the minister in the Christian — in communion, in prayer, in preaching. (Dean Vaughan.) Parallel Verses KJV: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. |
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