“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” No fear of giving offense, no desire for friendship or applause, could lead him to withhold the words which God had given him for their instruction, warning, or correction. The minister of Christ is not to present to the people those truths that are most pleasing, while he withholds others which might cause them pain. He should watch with deep solicitude the development of character. If he sees that any of his flock are cherishing sin, he must as a faithful shepherd give them instruction from God’s word applicable to their case. Should he permit them in their self-confidence to go on in sin unwarned, he would be held responsible for their blood. The pastor who fulfills his high commission must instruct his people in every point of the Christian faith, all that they ought to be or to do, in order to stand perfect in the day of God.{LP 200.1}

»Derfor vidner jeg for jer på denne dag, at jeg ikke er skyldig i nogens blod; thi jeg har ikke undladt at forkynde jer hele Guds frelsesplan.« Uden frygt for at fornærme, uden ønske om venskab eller bifald, kunne få ham til at tilbageholde de ord som Gud havde givet ham til deres undervisning, advarsel og irettesættelse. Kristi tjener skal ikke bringe folk de sandheder som er de mest behagelige, medens han tilbageholder andre det som skaber dem smerte. Han vil overvåge deres karakterudvikling med den dybeste bekymring. Hvis han ser at nogen i hans hjort gemmer på synd, må han som en trofast hyrde instruere det fra Guds ord, som gælder deres sag. Lader han dem i deres selvsikkerhed, gå uden advarsler om deres synd, vil han drages til ansvar for deres blod. Den præst som opfylder hans høje kald må instruere sit folk i punkter i den kristne tro, alt hvad de kan være eller gøre, for at de vil kunne stå fuldkomne på Guds dag.