There is nothing wrong with a pastor having a good education. Studying Scripture, learning biblical languages, and understanding theology can be valuable tools in ministry. But those tools should help a pastor teach God's Word, not become a means of impressing his congregation.

Some pastors have a way of taking a simple biblical truth and making it sound complicated. They use theological terms, lengthy explanations, and words that ordinary people seldom hear. By the time the sermon is finished, the congregation may be impressed with the pastor's knowledge, but how much of God's Word have they actually understood?

Pastor, your responsibility is not to demonstrate how much you know. It is to help the people sitting before you understand what God has said.

In Nehemiah 8, Ezra and the Levites were teaching God's Law to the people. Notice how Scripture describes their work:

“They read from the book, from the Law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading.” (Nehemiah 8:8)

That last part is especially important. The people understood what was being read. The teachers did more than present information. They made sure the people could understand it.

That should be the desire of every pastor.

There are difficult passages in Scripture, and some require considerable study to understand correctly. But that is part of the pastor's responsibility. He should do the hard work of studying so that he can explain those passages clearly to the people entrusted to his care.

Take the difficult and make it understandable. Take the complicated and explain it simply. Speak to people at a level they can understand without watering down the truth.

Paul was a highly educated man, yet he wrote:

“For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Paul certainly knew much more than that. His point was that Christ, not human wisdom or impressive speech, was central to his preaching. He wanted people's faith to rest on God's power rather than man's wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:1–5).

Pastor, your congregation includes people from different backgrounds and levels of education. Some have studied Scripture for decades. Others are just beginning to understand the Christian faith. Your responsibility is to feed them God's Word, not leave them believing that understanding the Bible is beyond their ability.

A good Bible teacher doesn't demonstrate how much he knows. He helps others understand what God has said.

The measure of a good teacher isn't how complicated he can make a simple truth, but how clearly he can explain a difficult truth so ordinary people can understand it.

There is one final thought I want every pastor to consider.

In Acts 4, after Pentecost, Peter and John stood before the religious leaders. These leaders recognized that the two apostles were uneducated and untrained men, yet they were amazed by their confidence. Scripture tells us:

“They were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)

Think about that. What impressed those religious leaders was not Peter and John's formal education. They recognized that these men had been with Jesus.

Pastor, study diligently. Prepare your sermons carefully. Use the education and knowledge God has allowed you to gain. But never allow those things to replace your personal walk with Christ. Spend time in His Word, seek Him in prayer, and obey what He teaches you.

Your congregation does not need to be impressed by your knowledge. They need to hear God's truth from a man who knows and follows the Lord.

Pastor, have you been with Jesus?