The spiritual requirements for bishops, elders, and deacons, which were positions of leadership
in the early church, should certainly also be met by one who would lead these people as a pastor.
Study these in I Timothy 3:1-13.
The responsibilities of a pastor are to spiritually feed and protect those under his ministry. This
is to be done with a proper motive and not just for financial gain:
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the
Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He
hath purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28)Feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof, not
for filthy lucre, but of a ready minds;Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory
that fadeth not away. (I Peter 5:2-4)The word "pastor" is used in the Old Testament only in the book of Jeremiah. Here, God gives
special warnings to pastors:
...the pastors also transgressed against me. (Jeremiah 2:8)For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord; therefore
they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. (Jeremiah
10:21)Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion
under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the
whole land is made desolate because no man layeth it to heart.
(Jeremiah 12:10-11)Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture,
saith the Lord.Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my
people; Ye have scattered my flock, and drive them away, and have not
visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the
Lord. (Jeremiah 23:1-2)