SUBJECT:  Following Men

QUESTION:  Should we follow a man?  Should we trust in church leaders?  If so, just how and by what standard should be follow and trust them?

ANSWER:

Many would be surprised to know that the Bible shows clearly that we are to follow certain church leaders under specific conditions and by a single standard.  Notice some verses:

Philippians 3:17

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7

6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

Hebrews 6:12

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

James 5:10-11

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

1 Corinthians 4:16

Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

2 Thessalonians 3:7-9

7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

1 Corinthians 11:1

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

At the same time, the Bible states directly that we are to follow God:

Ephesians 5:1-2

1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Philippians 2:4-5

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Leviticus 11:45

For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Matthew 5:45

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Ephesians 4:32

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

1 Peter 1:15-16

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1 John 4:11

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

The message is clear; we are to follow church leaders as they follow God according to the word of God.  We can know if a minister is following God by understanding the scriptures on this subject.  They are found in Matthew 7:

Matthew 7:16-20

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matthew 7:16

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
 

[Ye shall know them by their fruits] The Saviour gives the proper test of their character. People do not judge of a tree by its leaves, or bark, or flowers, but by the fruit which it bears. The flowers may be beautiful and fragrant, the foliage thick and green; but these are merely ornamental. It is the "fruit" that is of chief service to man; and he forms his opinion of the nature and value of the tree by that fruit. So of pretensions to religion. The profession may be fair; but the "conduct"-the fruit-is to determine the nature of the principles.

Matthew 7:17

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
 

[A corrupt tree] The word "corrupt" here does not signify, as our translation would seem to indicate, that the tree "had been" good, but had become "vitiated;" but that it was a tree of a useless character, of a nature that produced nothing beneficial. ~from Barnes' Notes

Matthew 7:16

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
 

[Ye shall know them by their fruits.] Fruits, in the Scripture and Jewish phraseology, are taken for works of any kind. "A man's works," says one, "are the tongue of his heart, and tell honestly whether he is inwardly corrupt or pure." By these works you may distinguish (epignoosesthe (NT:1921)) these ravenous wolves from true shepherds. The judgment formed of a man by his general conduct is a safe one: if the judgment be not favourable to the person, that is his fault, as you have your opinion of him from his works, i.e. the confession of his own heart.

Matthew 7:17

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
 

[So every good tree] As the thorn can only produce thorns, not grapes; and the thistle, not figs, but prickles; so an uuregenerate heart will produce fruits of degeneracy. As we perfectly know that a good tree will not produce bad fruit, and the bad tree will not, cannot produce good fruit, so we know that the profession of godliness, while the life is ungodly, is imposture, hypocrisy, and deceit. A man cannot be a saint and a sinner at the same time. Let us remember, that as the good tree means a good heart, and the good fruit, a holy life, and that every heart is naturally vicious; so there is none but God who can pluck up the vicious tree, create a good heart, plant, cultivate, water, and make it continually fruitful in righteousness and true holiness.

Matthew 7:18

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
 

[A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit] Love to God and man is the root of the good tree; and from this principle all its fruit is found. To teach, as some have done, that a state of salvation may be consistent with the greatest crimes (such as murder and adultery in David), or that the righteous necessarily sin in all their best works, is really to make the good tree bring forth bad fruit, and to give the lie to the Author of eternal truth.

Matthew 7:19

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
 

[Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit] What a terrible sentence is this against Christless pastors, and Christless hearers! Every tree that produceth not good fruit, ekkoptetai (NT:1581), is to be now cut down; the act of excision is now taking place: the curse of the Lord is even now on the head and the heart of every false teacher and impenitent hearer.

Matthew 7:20

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
 

[Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.] This truth is often repeated, because our eternal interests depend so much upon it. Not to have good fruit is to have evil: there can be no innocent sterility in the invisible tree of the heart. He that brings forth no fruit, and he that brings forth bad fruit, are both only fit for the fire.  ~from Adam Clarke's Commentary

Matthew 7:15-20

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Those who enter upon the narrow way must beware of false prophets, who claim to guide believers but really practice deception. Sheep's clothing is not to be regarded as prophets' grab, but is an evident contrast to vicious wolves. God's people in all ages have needed to beware of deceptive leaders (Deuteronomy 13:1; Acts 20:29; 1 John 4:1; Revelation 13:11-14). By their fruits. The doctrines produced by these false prophets, rather than the works they perform, since outward appearances may not cause suspicion. The test of the prophet is his conformity to Scripture (1 Corinthians 14:37; Deuteronomy 13:1-5). Corrupt tree. One that is decayed, worthless, unusable. The worthlessness of such a tree calls for its swift removal from the orchard lest it infect the others  ~from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary

These last two quoted verses help to make Matthew 7 clear:

1 Corinthians 14:37

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 13:1-5

1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,

2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

Note:  The fruit of the trees is equal to the shepherd adhering to the Word of God and the doctrines of the church.  Notice the commentary for Deuteronomy 13:1-5

Deuteronomy 13:1

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
 

The admonition of the closing verse of the last chapter introduces a new series of warnings intended to serve as a further safeguard against violation of these duties. The true modes and forms of worship have been laid down: the next step is to legislate against the authors and abettors of false ones.

Verse 1. [A prophet, or a dreamer of dreams] Compare Numbers 12:6. The "prophet" received his revelations by vision or direct oral communication (Numbers 24:16; 2 Samuel 7:4; 2 Corinthians 12:2); "the dreamer of dreams" through the medium of a dream (1 Kings 3:5; Matthew 2:13).

Deuteronomy 13:2

And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

The Lord had said, "Thou shalt have none other gods but Me." A prophet is here supposed who invites the people "to go after other gods." To such a one no credit is under any circumstances to be given, even should he show signs and wonders to authenticate his doctrine. The standing rule of faith and practice had been laid down once for all-that the people were to hold fast. The prophet who propounded another rule could only be an impostor.  A different case is considered in Deuteronomy 18:18, etc.

Deuteronomy 13:5

And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

 

The context and parallel passages (compare Deuteronomy 17:7; Leviticus 20:2) indicate that there was to be a regular judicial procedure, and that the manner of the execution was to be by stoning. In this the community was to take its part in order to show its horror at the crime, and to clear itself of complicity therein. ~from Barnes' Notes

Note:  Strong admonition against those who would seek to turn others from the established truth and doctrine of God.  This truth and doctrine are the key elements in the fruit being spoken of in Matthew 7.  This is what you look for.  The image of not just looking at the leaves, bark or flowers is effective.  Often, some do just that and confuse themselves and others.  We cannot judge shepherds or others by outward appearances.  The fruit is the only sure test.

Matthew 7:17

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

[A corrupt tree] The word "corrupt" here does not signify, as our translation would seem to indicate, that the tree "had been" good, but had become "vitiated;" but that it was a tree of a useless character, of a nature that produced nothing beneficial. ~from Barnes' Notes

Matthew 7:17

3779    Even so          

3956    every  

18        good   

1186    tree     

4160    bringeth forth 

2570    good   

2590    fruit;   

1161    but      

1186    a         

4550    corrupt

1186    tree     

4160    bringeth forth 

4190    evil     

2590    fruit.

~Interlinear Transliterated Bible

NT:18---good (good tree)

agathos (ag-ath-os'); a primary word; "good" (in any sense, often as noun):

KJV - benefit, good (-s, things), well. Compare NT:2570.

NT:2570---good (good fruit)

 

kalos (kal-os'); of uncertain affinity; properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from NT:18, which is properly intrinsic):

KJV - X better, fair, good (-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.

NT:4550---corrupt

sapros (sap-ros'); from NT:4595; rotten, i.e. worthless (literally or morally):

KJV - bad, corrupt. Compare NT:4190.

NT:4190---evil

poneros (pon-ay-ros'); from a derivative of NT:4192; hurtful, i.e. evil (properly, in effect or influence, and thus differing from NT:2556, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from NT:4550, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue); figuratively, calamitous; also (passively) ill, i.e. diseased; but especially (morally) culpable, i.e. derelict, vicious, facinorous; neuter (singular) mischief, malice, or (plural) guilt; masculine (singular) the devil, or (plural) sinners:

KJV - bad, evil, grievous, harm, lewd, malicious, wicked (-ness). See also NT:4191.

~Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.

So a good, beneficial tree brings forth good, valuable, virtuous fruit.  A corrupt, rotten, worthless, bad tree brings forth hurtful, calamitous, diseased, vicious fruit rot with mischief, malice, sinful, fruit.

WHAT IF A MINISTER SINS

The question will sometime arise regarding what to do if a minister sins.  First, it should not be a surprise that any human sins.  Notice:

Romans 3:23-25

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

All men sin but those with God’s Holy Spirit are justified through the blood of Christ through repentance.  Though a minister sin, if he repents, he is forgiven of God and still justified in his position as minister.  One may attempt to use the element of repentance as license to sin but repentance is before God and God would remove anyone using something of God for license to sin.

Titus 2:7-8  (in a letter to a minister)

7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Note:  If the minister is a repentant person then his sincerity and sound speech will show.  He will be a good example of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) which include love, joy, peace, honesty, sincerity and forgiveness.  He will be one who is overcoming sin and putting his trust completely in Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 5:1-4

5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

He will be one who continues in the doctrine of the church:

1 Timothy 4:16

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

He will be one who is showing his faith by his works:

James 2:18

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Obeying Them Who Have Rule Over You
Notice the scriptures and commentary on this admonition from the book of Hebrews:

Heb 13:7

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Hebrews 13:7 -Commentary

[Remember them which have the rule over you] Margin, "are the guides." The word used here means properly "leaders, guides, directors." It is often applied to military commanders. Here it means teachers-appointed to lead or guide them to eternal life. It does not refer to them so much as rulers or governors, as teachers, or guides. In Hebrews 13:17, however, it is used in the former sense. The duty here enjoined is that of remembering them; that is, remembering their counsel; their instructions; their example.

[Who have spoken to you the word of God] Preachers; either apostles or others. Respect is to be shown to the ministerial office, by whomsoever it is borne.

[Whose faith follow] That is, imitate;  ~from Barnes' Notes

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.

Hebrews 13:17 - Commentary

[Obey them that have the rule over you] Margin, guide; see notes on Heb 13:7. The reference here is to their religious teachers, and not to civil rulers. They were to show them proper respect, and to submit to their authority in the church, so far as it was administered in accordance with the precepts of the Saviour. The obligation to obedience does not, of course, extend to anything which is wrong in itself, or which would be a violation of conscience. The doctrine is, that subordination is necessary to the welfare of the church, and that there ought to be a disposition to yield all proper obedience to those who are set over us in the Lord.

~ from Barnes' Notes
 

True ministers and leaders are in close adherence to scripture.  This is their fruit.  It is black and white scripture truth.  There are no gray areas.  We know this by verse 18.  Ministers are either righteous and true or unrighteous and untrue.  Corrupt trees cannot bring forth good fruit.  The Word of God is total.  We live by every word of God, not just some.  True ministers follow Christ as we members do.

So we see by God’s own Word that we are to follow men in the Work of God as they follow Christ and live by His Word.  A minister is human and subject to sin but he is a repentant man, active in the Salvation Process, which includes overcoming sin and invoking the power of the Holy Spirit.  He preaches and teaches from the Word of God and his teachings are in close conformity to the scriptures.  He is doing God’s work, proclaiming the gospel and setting a good example for the flock.

  
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