“A pastor’s primary responsibility is to his family.”
One hears that sentiment expressed so frequently and with such genuine conviction that it begins to feel logically irrefutable, despite the fact that it is clearly at odds with the teaching and example of Jesus. We have no record of Jesus ever telling a potential disciple to go home and focus on his family; rather we find him saying things like:
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37-38 ESV)/