XXXI. Пастырям и наставникам повиновение

“Obey your teachers and be submissive, for they are vigilantly watching over your souls, as those who must give an account; so that they may do this with joy and not with groaning” (Heb. 13:17). It is great evil if the church does not have a leader and ruler, but it is no less evil if its henchmen do not obey him. A people that does not obey its ruler is like one that has no ruler, or even worse. For the disorders of those who do not have a ruler can be forgiven, but those who do not obey rulers are not worthy of forgiveness at all (Conversation 34 on the Epistle to the Hebrews). For salvation, firstly, it is necessary to honor the teachers and obey the priests (Conversation 72 on the Evangelist Matthew). Even if there were teachers of the vicious life, one should not despise their teaching, for they teach not their own, but God’s teaching, which Christ himself commands, saying: the scribes and Pharisees sat in the seat of Moses; So whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do” (Matthew 23:2–3. – Discourse 72 on the Evangelist Matthew). The preacher of the word of God will not lose his reward, even if the listener does not accept his word and does not obey him (The Word of Lazarus). First. A shepherd must teach, instruct, expose vices and lead people to repentance. Second. What he teaches is to show in action, that is, to show an image of good deeds. First. He who does not teach sins against his title. Second. He who does not teach and lives badly sins twice: he himself goes to destruction and drags others along with him. PEOPLE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR PASTORS First. People must obey the shepherd. Just as a sheep that does not listen to the voice of its shepherd and wanders away from the flock becomes prey to the beast, so a person who does not obey his shepherd or mentor becomes a self-seeker for the devil and therefore perishes. Second. We must love, honor and be grateful to our shepherds. If anyone says that the shepherd lives badly and does not do what he teaches, the answer is: First. If he lives badly and does not do what he teaches, you will not answer for him before God, and because you care that he lives badly? - He will give an answer for you and will be tortured. Second. The shepherd has the same weakness as every man, and therefore it is not surprising that he sins like a man; and you should pray for him, so that he will be in good order, which will be for the common benefit. Third. If he teaches correctly, but lives unrighteously, then watch and do what he teaches, but do not imitate his life. So Christ said about the scribes and Pharisees: “The scribes and Pharisees sat in the seat of Moses; Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do” (Matthew 23:2–3). Fourth. It often happens that a shepherd endures a lot of slander, slander, reproach, and blasphemy in vain. No one is more subject to slander and slander than a shepherd. For evil people, whose vices he denounces, without tolerating it, often spread evil rumors about him and disseminate what he does not know; or they make a big thing out of a little thing, or they add more, or they don’t speak as they were, being angry with him. Therefore, beware and do not judge, for you cannot avoid sin, since, although he truly sins, it is not your place to judge him. And if you are innocent, then you sin twice, and therefore it is serious: both what you condemn and what you condemn the innocent, and for this you will be severely tortured (See in the discussion about condemnation and slander). You might be interested in: