What is a shepherd?
The pastor / shepherd
Within the fivefold ministry, the role of the pastor / shepherd is arguably the most recognisable.
Many churches use the term pastor in a broad sense to relate to anyone in leadership. In one sense, that is correct, because they are looking after the flock, but not all those who are called pastors have the Ephesians 4 call and grace of a pastor / shepherd.
While the specific title ‘pastor’ appears only once in the New Testament (Ephesians 4:11), the concept of shepherding is throughout scripture.
God as a shepherd
God himself is frequently depicted as a shepherd. On his deathbed, Jacob describes God as his shepherd (Genesis 48:15) and later attributes Joseph’s protection to God acting as his shepherd (Genesis 49:22-25).
Psalm 23 famously expresses David’s experience of God’s shepherding heart, highlighting divine protection, provision, guidance, and empowering presence.
The responsibilities and qualities of a shepherd are consistently likened to God’s character.
Jesus as the ‘Good Shepherd’
In the New Testament, Jesus further emphasises this by describing himself as ‘the good shepherd’ in John 10:1-21 in which Jesus illustrate the key aspects of true shepherding:
- Jesus describes himself as the gate for the sheep through whom salvation comes
- Jesus calls his sheep by name
- The sheep listen to Jesus’ voice
- Jesus goes ahead of the sheep and the sheep follow him because they know his voice
- Jesus is the good shepherd
- Jesus lays down his life for the sheep
- Jesus knows his sheep and his sheep know him
- Jesus has other sheep that are not of this sheep pen (gentiles)
- There will be one flock and one shepherd
God’s love for His people
This consistent theme of God showing His love for His people as a shepherd, particularly through Jesus’s perfect example, forms the very heart of the Lord for His church. The call to pastoral ministry, therefore, is a profound extension of Christ’s own shepherding work.
Overseer of our souls
In Acts 20:28, as Paul prays for the Ephesian elders, part of his commission to them reflects the pattern set by Christ: ‘Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood’.
This is a clear echo of Jesus laying down His life for the sheep.
Further emphasising this divine connection, Jesus is described by Peter as the great shepherd and the overseer of our souls (1 Peter 2:25), in Hebrews 13:20 as the great Shepherd, and in 1 Peter 5:4 as the chief shepherd.
The divine commission
Being a pastor / shepherd as part of the fivefold is a spiritual commissioning and a gracing from Jesus. In summary, the divine commission to overseers is to shepherd the flock. This looks like exercising oversight willingly, eagerly, and not for personal gain or by domineering over those in their charge, but by being a genuine example.
‘Those who fulfill this sacred trust can anticipate receiving the unfading crown of glory.’ (1 Peter 5:4).
By Simon Baddeley, Filling Station Regional Consultant for South West England, co-leader of our online training sessions (Equip & Empower) and also our Prophetic Mentoring Course, All Shall Prophesy.
