October 15, 2026
Today's Reading: Catechism: Table of duties: what hearers owe their pastor
Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 13:1-18; Matthew 13:1-23
“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13)
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Heb. 13:17 (What the hearers owe their pastor)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
If nobody ever told you this, being a pastor is hard sometimes. Scratch that, being a pastor is hard a lot of the time. From weeks with back-to-back funerals (yes, you read that right) to someone being incredibly nasty, sometimes being a pastor is hard.
But being a pastor is a joy as well. Being a pastor means, quite simply, that you get to bring Jesus to people!
So what does Dr. Luther admonish his hearers to do here? First, he cites 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13. It says that those who labor (work hard) among you are to be respected. Why should someone show respect to those who labor among them and are over them in the Lord? It is because that man (the pastor) is the one whom God has called to bring Jesus to His people. Pastors are not just there for no reason. They bring Jesus to you!
So pray for your pastor! Offer words of encouragement to him. He keeps watch over you because he must give an account to the Lord on the last day. Not only that, he keeps watch over you because Christ keeps watch over you, yes, dear Christian, even you. The same Christ who promised never to leave or forsake his disciples has also promised never to leave or forsake you. The same Christ who said that he is the good shepherd, that his sheep hear his voice, has sent an undershepherd to care for you, yes, even you.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Preach you the Word and plant it home To men who like or like it not, The Word that shall endure and stand When flow’rs and men shall be forgot. Preach you the Word and plant it home And never faint; the Harvest Lord Who gave the sower seed to sow Will watch and tend His planted Word. (LSB 586:1, 6)
Rev. Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.
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