The Duty of a Pastor: John Owen on Feeding the Flock by Diligent Preaching of the Word – Article
“What is the duty of the pastor? First and foremost, the pastor’s duty is to feed the sheep the gospel of Jesus Christ. Appealing to Jeremiah 3:15, Owen recognizes that the pastor is to feed the sheep “knowledge and understanding.” “This feeding,” says Owen, “is by preaching of the gospel.” “He is no pastor who doth not feed his flock.” Here Owen echoes the Reformers before him. Not only is it the case that a church is no longer a true church if it abandons the gospel, but so also is a pastor no pastor at all if he fails to feed his people the gospel.”