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100 Bible Verses about Pastors

Jeremiah 3:15 ESV / 471 helpful votes

“‘And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 307 helpful votes

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Titus 1:5-9 ESV / 285 helpful votes

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Ephesians 4:11 ESV / 226 helpful votes

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

1 Peter 5:1-5 ESV / 224 helpful votes

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

James 3:1 ESV / 224 helpful votes

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Proverbs 27:23 ESV / 196 helpful votes

Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds,

Acts 20:28 ESV / 162 helpful votes

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 155 helpful votes

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

James 1:22 ESV / 142 helpful votes

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Titus 2:3-5 ESV / 140 helpful votes

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

1 Corinthians 9:14 ESV / 134 helpful votes

In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV / 130 helpful votes

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV / 127 helpful votes

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 117 helpful votes

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ESV / 116 helpful votes

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Colossians 3:12 ESV / 116 helpful votes

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

Galatians 3:28 ESV / 114 helpful votes

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:7 ESV / 111 helpful votes

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Matthew 6:1-34 ESV / 108 helpful votes

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ...

Philippians 2:4 ESV / 107 helpful votes

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 ESV / 100 helpful votes

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Micah 6:8 ESV / 94 helpful votes

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Titus 1:7 ESV / 93 helpful votes

For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,

Psalm 37:23 ESV / 93 helpful votes

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;

1 Peter 5:1-4 ESV / 91 helpful votes

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Romans 10:14 ESV / 91 helpful votes

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 90 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

1 Timothy 3:1-7 ESV / 89 helpful votes

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? ...

Romans 12:1-13:13 ESV / 87 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ...

Titus 1:6 ESV / 84 helpful votes

If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 84 helpful votes

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV / 84 helpful votes

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 84 helpful votes

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Numbers 6:24-26 ESV / 82 helpful votes

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

1 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 80 helpful votes

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

1 Peter 5:2 ESV / 77 helpful votes

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV / 77 helpful votes

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 76 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 ESV / 75 helpful votes

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? ...

1 Timothy 3:1 ESV / 72 helpful votes

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

Ephesians 4:11-13 ESV / 71 helpful votes

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Acts 18:26 ESV / 71 helpful votes

He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

1 Timothy 2:12 ESV / 70 helpful votes

I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.

Galatians 6:6 ESV / 70 helpful votes

Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

1 Peter 5:3 ESV / 68 helpful votes

Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Titus 1:9 ESV / 68 helpful votes

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

1 Timothy 5:17-18 ESV / 68 helpful votes

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

1 Thessalonians 1:2 ESV / 68 helpful votes

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,

Deuteronomy 28:2 ESV / 68 helpful votes

And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.

1 John 4:1 ESV / 66 helpful votes

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Philippians 4:19 ESV / 65 helpful votes

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Romans 1:8 ESV / 65 helpful votes

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.

Isaiah 52:7 ESV / 65 helpful votes

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

1 Thessalonians 1:3 ESV / 64 helpful votes

Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 9:13-14 ESV / 64 helpful votes

By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

Jeremiah 33:3 ESV / 64 helpful votes

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Acts 18:24-26 ESV / 63 helpful votes

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

Luke 8:1-3 ESV / 63 helpful votes

Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

Titus 1:5 ESV / 62 helpful votes

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

Titus 1:6-9 ESV / 60 helpful votes

If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Romans 16:1 ESV / 60 helpful votes

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,

1 Timothy 3:3 ESV / 58 helpful votes

Not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

Acts 6:4 ESV / 58 helpful votes

But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

1 Peter 2:25 ESV / 57 helpful votes

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Titus 1:8 ESV / 57 helpful votes

But hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

1 Timothy 5:19-20 ESV / 57 helpful votes

Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

1 Timothy 3:6 ESV / 57 helpful votes

He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

1 Timothy 3:4-5 ESV / 57 helpful votes

He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

1 Timothy 3:7 ESV / 56 helpful votes

Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

1 Timothy 3:1-2 ESV / 56 helpful votes

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

2 Samuel 2:6 ESV / 56 helpful votes

Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing.

1 Timothy 4:16 ESV / 55 helpful votes

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

1 Timothy 2:1-15 ESV / 55 helpful votes

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ...

Ephesians 5:22-33 ESV / 55 helpful votes

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ...

Mark 6:34 ESV / 55 helpful votes

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.

James 5:14 ESV / 54 helpful votes

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

1 Timothy 3:4 ESV / 54 helpful votes

He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,

1 Timothy 5:22 ESV / 53 helpful votes

Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

1 Timothy 2:14 ESV / 53 helpful votes

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.

Hebrews 13:20 ESV / 52 helpful votes

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,

Jeremiah 10:21 ESV / 52 helpful votes

For the shepherds are stupid and do not inquire of the Lord; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.

Ruth 1:8 ESV / 52 helpful votes

But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV / 49 helpful votes

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Acts 20:17 ESV / 48 helpful votes

Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

Acts 14:23 ESV / 47 helpful votes

And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 46 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 44 helpful votes

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

1 Corinthians 9:9-11 ESV / 44 helpful votes

For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ESV / 43 helpful votes

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Ephesians 5:22 ESV / 40 helpful votes

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 11:1-34 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. ...

Matthew 23:8 ESV / 36 helpful votes

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.

Deuteronomy 30:16 ESV / 32 helpful votes

If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.

Jeremiah 23:1-4 ESV / 25 helpful votes

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 21 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 3:11 ESV / 20 helpful votes

For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Malachi 2:7 ESV / 20 helpful votes

For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.

Jeremiah 2:8 ESV / 20 helpful votes

The priests did not say, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal and went after things that do not profit.

Genesis 2:18 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

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