Hebrews 13:17 (Kent Heaton)

The book of Hebrews is filled with better promises, better sacrifices, a better High-Priest, a better life and a better organization of rule in the body of Christ. While not much time is spent in the organizational structure of the church of Jesus Christ, the writer does make reference to the rule of those entrusted with the leadership of the local body of Christ.

In Hebrews 13:17, the writer illustrates the complex nature of the work of Elders: "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you." The admonition is given to the members to recognize the authority of those who rule over them and to characterize their obedience to God by submitting to this rule. The reason for the submission is offered in the tones of the leader's responsibility to the soul of those entrusted to them.

The responsibility of leadership is further established through the elders accountability before God. Those who have the position of rule will be held responsible for the manner they discharge those duties. Finally, the members are encouraged to make the work of these rulers as pleasant as possible, with joy, and not with grief. The result, if they grieve those leaders, is unprofitable here and before the throne of God.

The Hebrew writer mentions three times those who "rule over you." Once in our text of 13:17 and also in 13:7 and 13:24 - "Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct ... Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you." The word "rule" means "to lead, go before, to be a leader, to rule, command, to have authority over." The saints are to follow these men who have the rule.

Obedience in Hebrews 13:17 gives the idea of being "persuaded, to listen to, yield, comply with, trust, have confidence in." Hence, the rulers lead and go before the members who are willing to follow. Somewhere in the annals of military history, a definition was established to the meaning of 'Military Leadership.' It is defined as, "The art of influencing and directing men in such a way as to obtain their willing obedience, respect and loyal cooperation in order to accomplish the mission." The ability to rule is an art of influencing people to follow.

The art of ruling is found in the willingness and confidence of those who follow to have the respect and confidence in those who lead. When the leadership is characterized by these traits, the mission will be accomplished. Obedience is necessary of those who follow as well as guidance is required to lead the work of the church forward.

Obedience comes from a heart that has been taught the word of God by these men. Hebrews 13:7 admonishes the rulers to speak the word of God to those following and to set a proper example of faith before all. The great task of these rulers is to teach the word of God as Paul teaches in Romans 10:17 - "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

The strength of faith among the members is found in the teaching of the rulers and the need of the rulers to establish the members in the faith. The Hebrews writer is not giving these instructions to the preachers but the duty is given upon the shoulders of the rulers or elders. The Lord commanded those who desire the position of a bishop to be "apt to teach." (1 Timothy 3:2) Elders are teachers and instructors of those who are following them and looking at their lives as examples to live by.

The obedience of the members to the elders is found in the respect and confidence established through the teaching of the word of God. The submission is easier to find when the elders have been building a foundation of faith in the lives of the members through teaching. Paul refers to this relationship as the elders "admonish you." (1 Thessalonians 5:12) The work of teaching is found in Paul's letter to Timothy - "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine." (1 Timothy 5:17) The obedience and submission of the members is demonstrated from the elders "who labor in the word and doctrine."

The oversight of the rulers is recognized by the responsibility of the souls under their care. All men will stand before God and give an account of the deeds done in the body. This accounting will be individual and no one can stand in the place of another. The elders will also stand before God giving a reckoning of the souls entrusted into their care.

The apostle Paul exhorted the elders from Ephesus - "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28) The trust given to the rulers is that of oversight and care for each and every soul. The elders, serving as pastors, care for the flock as a shepherd cares for his sheep. The learning and teaching of each member is under the care of those who rule and shepherd the flock of God.

The submission to these men is enhanced by the relationship of the student to the teacher. As they watch out for the souls of each member, their words of guidance will create a relationship that allows the member to follow them. The respect of godly men and their example will help the feeling of submission to be one of great joy.

Peter, himself an elder, shows how important the rule of the elders will be toward the members. "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away." (1 Peter 5:1-4) He emphasizes the role of shepherding as the Hebrew writer emphasizes the role of ruling. The relationship is found of a willing mind and heart to be examples to the members in every manner of life. The soul of each member is entrusted to the care of the rulers. Their work is to teach them to respect God in obedience and loyalty. As leaders, they guide the way and blaze the trails for the church. Where the elders lead, the members follow. The work of the elders is to take the gospel forth into the lives of the community and into the lives of the members. The direction of the local church is dependent upon the direction given by the elders. The members must make their work to be one of joy.

The elders are the rulers and overseers. They stand as watchmen over the house of God. The accountability of their lives in regard to the souls of the members is exemplified from Ezekiel 3:17-21 - "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me: When I say to the wicked, `You shall surely die,' and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul."

The rulers who fail to warn the sinner will be held accountable. Watching out for souls is the primary function of those who take on the grave responsibility to "tend the flock of God." Elders are not managers of the flock but shepherds. The sheep are willing to follow the shepherds, to obey them and to be submissive to them when they find the care of the shepherds is in the interest of their soul salvation.

Jesus illustrated the relationship of shepherd and sheep in John 10:3-5 - "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." The members hear the voice of the elders; the elders know each member by name; the elders lead the members; the members follow the elders because they trust them, obey them and submit to them and know their voice; the members will not follow false doctrine because they have not heard false words from the elders. Their faith and trust in the elders is founded upon obedience and submission to the will of God.