Hebrews 13:17 “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”
Very early in my ministry, this verse, along with Ezekiel 3:17-21, seized my attention and gravely startled me, for these passages make it clear that our Lord holds His Pastors/Preachers accountable for the Spiritual Welfare of the Church where He assigns them. The Lord gives His Pastors/Preachers His Holy Word and equips them with everything necessary, that “the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:17). Therefore, they have everything they need to lovingly “watch for” the “souls” of God’s Children under their care. Since they are “throughly furnished” by God, they have no excuse for not watching for the “souls” of our Lord’s people. They do not watch to obtain, secure, or maintain their Eternal Life; but, they watch for their Spiritual Welfare in this present life. The Lord issued this stark warning to Ezekiel, “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.” (Ezekiel 3:17-21). Our Lord loves His people with such a “great love” (Ephesians 2:4) that He gave His life for them; and He expects His Pastors/Preachers to lovingly “watch for” their “souls”!