Those Who Rule Over You
Hebrews 13:7-17
Members of New Covenant Baptist Church and guests, today we celebrate God’s gift of faithful leadership for His Church. In the office-bearers of the church, we see the love of Christ for His people. As the Lord of the church, Christ appoints leaders to govern in His name and to promote the spiritual well-being of his people. By His Spirit, He equips these leaders so that believers may grow in faith, develop disciplined Christian lives, serve others in selfless love, and share with all the good news of salvation. Jesus Christ taught us the spirit of true leadership when He said, “… whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:26-28).
Elders serve the Lord by exercising oversight of the church in Christ’s name. The apostle Paul told the elders at 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). Elders provide for the true preaching of the Word, teaching of the Holy Scriptures, observing of the ordinances, and discipling the flock of God. They promote fellowship and hospitality among believers, ensure good order in the church, and stimulate witness to all people.
Deacons serve the Lord by being an example to the church in a rich diversity of practical ministries, awakening compassion, demonstrating mercy, and safeguarding the unity of the body of Christ. In imitation of Christ’s mercy, deacons exemplify love for God, His church, and our neighbors with acts of generous sharing, joyful hospitality, thoughtful care, and wise stewardship. Deacons demonstrate in word and deed the mercy and compassion of the Lord himself.
As we affirm these men to the offices to which God has appointed them in our church, not only is it important to know what the Lord requires of our leaders, but it is also important for all of us to accept the duty that God requires of us as members of His church as well. For those instructions, let’s look briefly at this passage in Hebrews 13.
In Hebrews 13, we are stepping into the apostle’s final application of all the glorious theology contained in this profound book of the Bible. The main point of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus is supreme, far above all His forerunners and rivals, and that because of His perfect life, substitutionary death, glorious resurrection, and crowning ascension, He is ruling the universe as our great Prophet, Priest, and King. Hebrews 13 then applies that truth to the new covenant people He is ruling, namely, His church—those who belong to Christ by faith.
The author shows that, because the Lord Jesus Christ is our perfect Prophet, Priest, and King, those of us who are saved by faith will live transformed lives. In the first few verses of Hebrews 13, he applied this to our relationships with one another, with strangers, in marriage, and with money. Then, in Hebrews 13:7-19, he teaches believers how to relate to our leaders in the church. Hebrews 13:7, 17, and 24 all refer to “those who rule over you” in the context of the church.
Listen again to Hebrews 13:7, “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” In that verse, the pronoun ” those” refers to specific men in the church who have led or had the authority or rule over the congregation. What does it mean to rule over? Jesus answers that in Luke 22:25-26 when He says, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.” (Luke 22:26). Jesus defines those who rule or govern as those who serve. These are servant-leaders. Peter says something similar to church leaders: “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.” (1 Pet. 5:1-3).
How did these men serve? They served as those “who have spoken the word of God to you.” They have faithfully preached and taught the word of God. God’s Word is the only authority for sound teaching. It is not the church elders’ authority, but the authority of God and His word that we must submit to and obey. These men have demonstrated their faith by teaching sound doctrine and by godly living. They don’t just say it, they do it.
Why is sound doctrine important? That’s exactly what the middle part of our passage, Hebrews 13:8-16, answers. It is important because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). Pastors and teachers may come and go, but our Lord is solid, sure, and unchanging—and so is His word.
Sound doctrine is important so that you will “not be carried about with various and strange doctrines” (Heb. 13:9). False teaching will often major on minor things and neglect or contradict essential doctrines. These verses remind us that God’s grace through the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the center of sound doctrine. Never follow anyone who strays far from the gospel of Jesus Christ. Stay true to God’s word even if it leads to hardship, rejection, persecution, or death. Christ Jesus is Lord and our reward is in heaven.
Not only are these men those who spoke the Word of God, they are those who “watch out for your souls, as those who must give account” (Heb. 13:17). This is one of those verses that makes me tremble—to think that I will give an account to God for how I taught the Bible to you; for how we, the leaders in this church cared for your souls.
Did we point you to Christ again and again? Did we clearly and boldly call you to repent of sin and then drive you to the cross and the throne of God’s mercy and grace? Did we get the gospel right? Did we tell you the hard truths? Did we fear God and not men? Were we loving and gracious? Did we counsel rightly, lead rightly, love rightly?
So, “Those who rule over you” are men who speak God’s word to you and watch out for your souls. What is your obligation to them? First, remember them, “Remember those who rule over you” (Heb. 13:7). Remember those who minister the Word in season and out of season. Remember those who have poured the Scriptures into your life over the years, whether in this little outpost of God’s Kingdom or another. Remember them with thankfulness and pray for them. Paul writes to the Thessalonians, ”And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.” (1 Thess. 5:12-13). And to Timothy, he writes, “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.” (1 Tim. 5:17). Remember them.
Second, imitate them: “…whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct” (Heb. 13:7). Paul says, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1). None of us are perfect examples of Christlikeness, but wherever you see your leaders living like Christ, do that.
Third, obey and submit to them: “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive…” (Heb. 13:17). When your pastors and teachers exhort you to repentance and faith, to obedience to the Scriptures—for your joy and God’s glory—have an attitude of eager submission and obey the word of God.
Fourth, let them serve with joy: “…Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). Be the kind of sheep who are a joy to shepherd. What benefit would gain you to continually fight the local church shepherds? How do you bring joy to your leaders? By obeying the word of God. The apostle John wrote, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth” (3 John 4).
Finally, pray for them: “Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably” (Heb. 13:18). Pray for your leaders, that they will stand firm and maintain a good conscience before God, who knows the heart (1 Thess. 2:3-5).
I want you to know that your elders and deacons understand, probably better than you ever will, just how inadequate we are to the task God has entrusted to us to shepherd the flock of God. We are not sufficient for these things but by the grace and strong help of our Chief Shepherd. Jesus is the Lord who died for you. He is our sin-removing Savior who rose from the dead and always lives to make intercession for us. He is all our hope.
So, thank you for every prayer you’ve ever prayed for us, for every bad sermon you’ve ever sat through, for every offense you have ever patiently passed over, and for every other thing you have done for your church leaders in love for our Lord that we may never know about. We love you.
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Heb. 13:20-21).
