Obey Them that have Rule Over You Hebrews 13:17

In addition to “the sacrifice of praise to God continually” the writer of Hebrews exhorted his readers not to “forget” “to do good and to communicate... for with such sacrifices God is well pleased”. In chapter thirteen and verse seventeen of Hebrews the writer shared how he and his readers were to “obey them that have the rule over you” where we read:

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.

The verse begins, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves:”. The writer began with the word, “Obey” which means “listen to, yield and comply with” “them that have the rule” or “those who command, have authority, governance and power” “over you” which means “above the readers”, “and submit” or “give way to, yield and resist” “yourselves” which refers to “the readers of Hebrews”. The writer told his reader to “come under the authority” of the people who have “control and governance” over them.

The verse goes on to say, “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.”. The writer continued with the words, “for” or “even as, indeed, seeing then, no doubt, verily and therefore” “they watch” which means “the rulers are circumspect, attentive are sleepless” “for your souls” or “on behalf of and for the sake of the readers' seat of the feelings, desires, affections and aversions”, “as they that must give account” which means “like those who shall deliver, render, requite and recompense what they have uttered by a living voice which embodies a conception or idea”, “that they may do it” or “so the rulers shall make ready, prepare, produce, bear and shoot forth” “with joy” or “with gladness, cheerfulness and calm delight”, “and not with grief” which means “not with sighing, groaning, murmuring and grudge”: “for that is unprofitable” or “because grief, groaning and sighing is hurtful and pernicious” “for you” which refers to the readers of Hebrews. Rulers, according to the writer of Hebrews, keep “watch” over his readers, and because they shall have to “account” for their overseeing, it was to the readers' advantageous to insure they might “rule” with “joy” versus “groaning or sighing”.

When we meditate upon these words in Hebrews, we understand the importance of aligning ourselves under the “rule” of those who have authority over us. The writer of Hebrews told his readers it was “profitable” to them if they subjected themselves to their leaders oversight. If they made it easier on the authorities to rule “with joy”, it would be to their advantage, buy if not, they would be hurt themselves. Jesus came to demonstrate true leadership, and His example was “servanthood”. Jesus gave an “account” of the manner in which He ruled, and was “pleasing” to God in His effort. If we are in the place of authority or under authority, let us rule and be ruled with this idea in mind - we shall all give an “account” of the way we behaved.

Next time the writer petitions his readers to “pray for” he and his companions, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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