Leaders

Hebrews 13:17 - "Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (CSB). 

The author of Hebrews writes here about current leaders in the church. The readers should obey and submit to them. 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 - “Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, and to regard them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.”

The author of Hebrews assumes in giving this command that the leaders teach and live in accordance with the theology articulated in the letter of Hebrews. So, the call to submit to leaders is not universal. We should not submit to leaders if they deviate from the gospel. To put it another way, submitted to leaders in Hebrews is an indication that the readers of Hebrews are not neglecting or abandoning the message that was and is preached to them. The reason for submission is the special responsibility of leaders to “watch over” the spiritual lives of the readers. We see this with leaders who are identified as “overseers”.

Acts 20:28 - “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.”

Titus 1:7 - “As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money.”

And these overseers exercise a responsibility of overseeing the flock. These leaders do not enjoy unbridled power and lack of accountability, because they will give an account on the final day of their own ministry, and their ministry is to be exercised before God. 

James 3:1 - “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.”

If the readers of Hebrews obey their leaders, then the leaders will be full of joy instead of grief in their ministry. The joy doesn’t come from leaders having personal and authoritative power because of a selfishness or ego. No, instead leaders are filled with joy or filled with grief for God’s sake. If the readers fall away and leave the faith, their leaders are grieved.  But if they stay true to Christ, their leaders will rejoice!

~ Pastor Brandon