Obey your leaders and submit to them
Hebrews 13:17-19 Christian Standard Bible
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. 18 Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything. 19 And I urge you all the more to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. The word submit means to yield to the control of another[1]. The only way that we can be properly led in the body of Christ is the yield to the leadership of those over us. Many in America often like to isolate and go about it their own way. Often people will fail to be part of a local body of believers because they have had poor experiences with those in leadership in the past and they would rather be free to do as they please. But the danger is we will not fully walk in all that God has for us.
Those who serve in leadership are shepherds. They are called to keep watch over the souls of those they have been entrusted with. The word watch means be alert; look after — to beware, conceived of as staying awake[2]. Those who serve in leadership are commanded in scripture to watch over and protect. There is a reason Jesus compared us to sheep because often without a shepherd and leadership we will wander off in the wrong direction. But a good leader in the body of Christ will desire to serve those under their care and desire the very best for them spiritually.
Those in leadership will ultimately be accountable to the Lord for their leadership. Are they truly leading with the heart of Christ? Are they truly serving those under their care or are they using their position to take advantage? If you have been hurt by church leadership in the past don’t use it as a reason to be disengaged in a local church and fail to serve under those in leadership. Pray that God would lead you to the right local church and when He does, be willing to learn and grow under the leadership of those over you. When we submit to those in leadership over us a blessing is brought upon our life because we are in alignment with the purposes of God. But let us not forget to use wisdom. If the fruit of a leader’s life simply shows they are not truly being led by the Lord, it is time to find new leadership and a new local church.
So that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. It is the joy of every leader to see people grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. But it is impossible to lead anyone if they are not willing to submit to a person’s leadership. No one is forced to be led in the body of Christ. When people isolate or fail to become part of a local church, they are like orphans without a family. But when people become established in a local church, come under godly leadership, begin to grow, serve, and eventually lead themselves, is when they walk in the full measure of the promises of God that the Lord has for them.
The word unprofitable means not giving an advantage or benefit; conceived of as producing little or no financial profit or gain.[3] When we fail to submit to godly leadership is when we will miss out on the things God has for us. God has called some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastor/teachers. All these roles in the body of Christ are leadership roles and their purpose is to equip the saints for ministry. The issue happens when a person doesn’t submit to godly leadership, doesn’t become equipped for the purposes of God, and simply exist in neutral.
Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything. The word honorably means well; rightly; correctly — in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard; sometimes sarcastically so. [4] The hope of every leader and minister of the gospel is that they would do things well or rightly. That in all we do we would honor Jesus Christ and His word. Our conduct and the things accomplished would point people to Christ and expand God’s kingdom.
Prayer is vital in seeing the purposes of God accomplished. It is vital that those who are under leadership would pray for those who are over them. There are no perfect leaders in the body of Christ. God intentionally uses broken people to accomplish His will by extending His grace and empowering them to be who He has called them to be. One of the greatest things we can do for any leader is to pray for them. To lift them up not only praying that God would fill them with wisdom and understanding, but that God would protect and deliver them from the hand of the enemy. The greatest target of the enemy will always be the person in leadership. Prayer is vital for their good and their wellbeing.
And I urge you all the more to pray that I may be restored to you very soon. The writer of Hebrews is a mystery. Many people have had many theories on who they believe it could be, but that isn’t what is important. The writer at some point may have found themselves in prison for their work concerning God’s kingdom or been called somewhere else by the Lord. But again, we see the desire for prayer to take place on their behalf. It is vital that we are praying for those throughout the world who are doing the work of ministry. There are people suffering for the name of Christ in prison and separated from their families. Sometimes living in the comfort of America we can become disconnected with what many believers are facing around the world. But may we be a house of prayer. May we daily lift those up in prayer who are doing the work of the ministry. May our prayer be against the satanic opposition and delays. May His kingdom come, and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Prayer
Father thank you for your word and the encouragement you give us. Thank you that you are faithful. Help us to daily pray for our brothers and sisters all over the world. Father strengthen them and encourage them. Fill them with your joy and deliver them from every purpose and scheme of the enemy. Father be with those who serve in leadership in the body of Christ. May they walk with greater humility and intimacy with you. Father strengthen your bride and may the purposes of your kingdom be accomplished in the earth. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen!
[1] Rick Brannan, ed., Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, Lexham Research Lexicons (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).
[2] Rick Brannan, ed., Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, Lexham Research Lexicons (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).
[3] Rick Brannan, ed., Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, Lexham Research Lexicons (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).
[4] Rick Brannan, ed., Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, Lexham Research Lexicons (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).
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