Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Pastoral Care?
11 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Pastoral Care in the Bible
Discover 17 powerful Bible verses about pastoral care. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential life circumstances topic.
Top 10 Verses About Pastoral Care
- 1
- 2Ezekiel 34:2
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”
KJV - 3Matthew 25:35
“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”
KJV - 4John 13:34
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
KJV - 5John 21:15
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.”
KJV - 6Acts 20:28
“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.”
KJV - 7
- 8Ephesians 4:11
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”
KJV - 9Titus 1:5
“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: wanting: or, left undone”
KJV - 10Titus 1:9
“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. as: or, in teaching”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Pastoral Care? (2 Verses)
“A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Pastoral Care? (9 Verses)
“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:”
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.”
“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.”
“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:”
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”
“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: wanting: or, left undone”
“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. as: or, in teaching”
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Pastoral Care
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about pastoral care. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about pastoral care and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about pastoral care is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on pastoral care needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about pastoral care with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about pastoral care, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Pastoral Care?
You have studied 11 verses about pastoral care. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.