Letter to the Hebrews Volume 187

 Sacrifices Pleasing to God Part 14

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. KJV

In this very next verse of Scripture, the writer of Hebrews declares that obeying the Pastor or Preacher that our God has placed in position to lead is a sacrifice that is pleasing to our Father in Heaven. The 👶 children of God are not to give up their/our own conscience or our judgment, but instead submit to their leadership, so long as their leadership is directed by the truth of the Word of God. We can look sadly back in history and are reminded of good souls who wanted to do the will of God, but they submitted themselves to a 👨 man or 👩 woman that led them into paths of destruction instead of the truth. The type of leader that is pleasing to God the Father is one who labors in the Word of God as the Apostle Paul reminded Brother Timothy with these words, "Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine. For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward." (1 Timothy 5:17-18) (KJV). So then, the Elder or Pastor or Teacher or Bishop or Reverend are those who must desire to lead the children of God into the Truth of God's Word. Yet, we know that neither of these 🚹 men or 🚺 women are without sin, but it is their sincerity to our Lord Jesus Christ and His Truth that is of utmost importance and their desire to please Him. Therefore, the 📝 writer of Hebrews declares these words to the Hebrew converts to Christ back then as well as all of us who belong to Him today and from every era and generation, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." (Hebrews 13:17) (KJV). Those who are appointed by Christ to lead should be our guides just as the Apostle Paul declared to the Corinthian believers with these words, "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." (1 Corithians 11:1) (KJV).

The leader appointed by God should be a 👨 man or 👩 woman who is following our Lord Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Scripture and not bringing in heretical doctrines that are not supported by the Word of God, for this is why the children of God must read, study, and pray over the Word of God individually so that we may be able to discern these false teachers from the true teachers of Christ. The Apostle Peter gave us a glimpse into what the real motivation of the false teachers would be with tbese words, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." (2 Peter 2:1-3) (KJV). Notice that the false teachers use subtleness to spread their 🤥 lies to gain the favor of people (even some of the true people of God) and take from them to enrich themselves, that is, to make merchindise of people. The television airwaves today are full of these people. Let us be prudent, patient, and purposefully studying and praying that we might not fall into any of these subtle web of 🤥 lies that will throw us 🚵 off course. It is the desire of the true leader of God (who leads and governs as Christ does) to watch for our souls as one would be taking first watch in a camp in the woods or wilderness to ward off or scare off predators that would come into the camp to hurt and kill all there. This is the hearts desire of the leader of God that has been truly appointed by Christ Himself, for they don't see their brothers and sisters in Christ as those in whom they can take from, but to give to and mainly their understanding of the Word of God as the Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit imparts, imbues, and illuminates His Word to them, for this is profitable to them and to us.

Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of Hebrews 13:17, "The reference here is to their religious teachers, and not to civil rulers. They were to show them proper respect, and to submit to their authority in the Church, so far as it was administered in accordance with the precepts of the Saviour. The obligation to obedience does not, of course, extend to anything which is wrong in itself, or which would be a violation of conscience. The doctrine is, that subordination is necessary to the welfare of the Church, and that there ought to be a disposition to yield all proper obedience to those who are set over us in the Lord. That is, to all which they enjoin that is lawful and right. There are in relation to a society: (1) Those things which God has positively commanded - which are always to be obeyed. (2) Many things which have been agreed on by the society as needful for its welfare - and these are to be submitted to unless they violate the rights of conscience; and (3) Many things which are in themselves a matter of no express divine command, and of no formal enactment by the community. They are matters of convenience; things that tend to the order and harmony of the community, and of the propriety of these, 'rulers' in the Church and elsewhere should be allowed to judge, and we should submit to them patiently. Hence, in the Church we are to submit to all the proper regulations for conducting public worship; for the promotion of religion; and for the administration of discipline. They have no selfish aim in this. They do not seek 'to lord it over God’s heritage.' It is for your own good that they do this, and you should therefore submit to these arrangements. And this shows also the true principle on which authority should be exercised in a church. It should be in such a way as to promote the salvation of the people; and all the arrangements should be with that end. The measures adopted, therefore, and the obedience enjoined, should not be arbitrary, oppressive, or severe, but should be such as will really promote salvation. The Ministers of religion must give account to God for their fidelity. For all that they teach, and for every measure which they adopt, they must soon be called into judgment. There is, therefore, the best security that under the influence of this solemn truth they will pursue only that course which will be for your good. That they may do it with joy, and not with grief - Greek μὴ στενάζοντες mē stenazontes - not sighing, or groaning; as they would who had been unsuccessful. The meaning is, that they should so obey, that when their teachers came to give up their account they need not do it with sorrow over their perverseness and disobedience. That is, their giving up their account in that manner - as unsuccessful in their efforts to save you - would not be of advantage to you, but would be highly injurious. This is a strong mode of expressing the idea that it must be attended with eminent peril to their souls to have their religious teachers go and give an account against them. As they would wish, therefore, to avoid that, they should render to them all proper honor and obedience."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…