It is an ironic truth that the preacher is often one of the most loved and respected of men, yet at the same time one of the most hated and despised in his community. To those who believe the gospel he preaches, he is a respected spiritual father, mentor, and teacher. He proclaims to them the divine truth, encourages them, gives them hope, and instructs them in applying God’s Word. But to those who reject his message, his is the judgmental voice of conviction, irritation, and agitation. To them he is a troublemaker, disrupting the serenity of their shameful lives and turning their sinful world upside down. Nowhere is such tension between honor and dishonor better expressed than in this passage. Here we find: The privilege to participate, the principle of pleading, and the priority of patience.