HEBREWS 13:7-18 in Context

Being Questioned By Authorities

When Jesus was asked by the religious rulers,

"By what authority are you doing these things?"

In his article--Mark 11:27-33--The Question!

John Mark Hicks writes,

"Jesus does not deny he has authority. Indeed, he implicitly asserts it. Moreover, the previous day he had acted on that authority by cleansing the temple. He simply refuses to justify his authority to those who not only would not believe what he says but who are only interested in some pretense for executing him."

"Jesus exercises the authority of the kingdom of God against the authority of the temple priests and rulers who live in shocking compromise with Roman authorities."

Reading Hicks blog and watching an interview on The O' Reilly Factor discussing "corruption" and a lack of "oversight" as the main culprits for problems in our society caused me to want to examine Hebrews 13:7-18.

In conjunction with the article, the interview reminded me that "oversight" is not about controlling others as one man once told me oversight meant, but is leading by example, desiring to be involved in the lives of people where they live, caring selflessly, and having the courage to confront corruption.

The damage done by corruption among the few in the state who are in power over others, as depicted in Hicks article and O' Reilly's interview, results from the inaction of people (overseers) not wanting to be troubled for standing up to the status quo.

When those in power are challenged--they don't like it--and often seek to punish those they view as troublemakers for challenging their power. Often the powerful just want others to join them so the status quo may continue. This is certainly the easiest thing for anyone in any generation to do.

Having this epiphany of what true oversight is fresh on my mind, I wanted to look at Hebrews 13:7-18 to test my feeling. Sure enough, there is not a hint of "lording it over authority" in Hebrews 13:7-18, though it is used this way as a proof text to control the time and reputation of many Christians (Mark 10:42-45; 1 Peter 5:1-3).

I hope that my brief comments will help us see how the way we apply the passage today has nothing to do with what the Hebrews Writer intended.

I welcome your comments on the passage as well.

HEBREWS 13:7-18 and MY COMMENTS

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Note that what is to be "considered" is the “way of life” of "leaders" (hegoumenon) as in 13:17 below—not presbuteros, not episkopos, not poimen—the three terms that describe the function of elders among the community of city-wide house churches (Titus 1:5; Rom. 16:23). Also, notice that “their faith” is what is to be “imitated.” Jesus Christ’s life is “the way, the truth and the life” that all are to "conform to" (John 14:6; cf. Romans 8:29. The verse teaches all to follow Christ. Leaders lead the way by example (1 Pet. 5:3).

9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Christians’ hearts are to be strengthened by “grace” and not by eating “ceremonial foods,” because it “is of no benefit to those who do so.” Also note that we (Christians) “have an altar” from which we “eat.” The altar is where meat was sacrificed for meals (see 1 Cor. 11:33; Gal. 2:11-13; cf. Rom. 14-15). Christians eat at the "Lord's Table."

Note the following meal terminology from 1 Cor. 10:18-21:

"Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons" (See also 1 Cor. 11:17-34;cf. Gal. 2:11-14; Rom. 14-15)]. 

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

Here is the main context of the passage that sets up the following verses. It is getting out of the city before it is destroyed in A.D. 70. Following Jesus is what all are to do. He is “the same yesterday, today and forever” (verse 7 above). The leaders exercised faith--not authority--in following Jesus and all are to “imitate” that “faith.” Leaving the city is why all are to be "persuaded" (peitho) by their leaders below in verse 17.

Sadly, today, this passage is used as a proof-text by a few Christians to "exercise authority" which is forbidden by Jesus in Matt: 20:24-28; cf. 2 Cor. 1:24 KJV over the majority of Christians through the man-made hermeneutic of “expedient laws” which, albeit sincere, I believe were created by and designed for the convenience of those few.

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Again, “Jesus” is emphasized. “Continually” offering to God praise depicts a “way of life” not a dualistic view of “acts of worship” on a particular day of the week to feel righteous. "Professing His name" and suffering reproach like Jesus did at the hands of the Jews. “Doing good” and “sharing” as we live life together as Christians. There is no dualism dividing life into “religious” and “secular” works, see Acts 2:42-46]. These "sacrifices God is pleased" in this context includes "doing good" and "sharing" our food which is what the Corinthians were not doing in 1 Cor. 11:18-33 and why Paul told them to "wait on one another."

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

I have dealt with what Biblical "submission" is in another blog post here:

http://spiritofthemaster.blogspot.com/2011/01/hebrews-1317-and-acts-1524-to-whom-we.html

Their work in this context is to lead the people out of the city “as those who must give an account.”

Jesus had said:

"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city" (Luke 20:20-21, bold mine). 

A head count so that none were lost as is thought to have happened when the Christians escaped to Pella.  

The work of the leaders would be to leave the city, themselves, and to “persuade” all the Christians to follow their example. If all “submitted” to this, then it would be of “benefit” to them all.

This passage has nothing to do with “controlling others,” or a few Christians making "expedient" laws by which the church determines “faithfulness.” This was a real life emergency facing the Hebrew Christians in Jerusalem. This is the type of authority “leaders” have. Again the words presbuteros, episkopos, nor poimen—the three words used to describe elders work in the NT are NOT in Hebrews 13.  

Hegoumenon is the word in Hebrews 13:7, 17, and 24.

I have absolutely no problem leading or following in a situation like this. It is wise. What we do today is not wise, or the same as the context of Hebrews 13:7-18. We have been taught to view these passages as an oligarchy who 'controls' the masses through inherited, hierarchical tradition and delegation.

The same "patterns" are repeated over and over, as if they keep us righteous, and we don't need to learn any more truth. We have been taught a dualistic view of the "divine side" of the church and the "human side" of the church. The church is the people, not an organization or place with compartments. 

Because of this oligarchical view, we are not allowed to dialogue in the assembly (Acts 20:7; cf. 1 Cor. 14:29-40). We are forbidden to eat the Lord's Supper as a meal (Matt. 20:24-28; cf. Luke 22:14-20, 1 Cor. 11:17-34). We have been mistaught that the voluntary collection for poor saints in Jerusalem  is a mandatory "act of worship" (1 Cor. 16:1-4; cf. Rom. 15:25-26).

Also, note that the phrase “for your souls” is not in the modern translation like it is in the KJV. The NIV 2011 simply has “for you.” This is because this verse does not teach a dualism of soul and body, but it is a grammatical way of emphasis—see “soul” in Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, p. 589, where the word “soul” is used for “the equivalent of the personal pronoun, used for emphasis and effect…2nd person, Heb. 13:17.”

Hebrews 13:7-18 does not teach that “elders are watching out for your eternal souls as separate from your body.” The Hebrews Writer wanted them to get their bodies out of the city! His point of emphasis is that the leaders really are doing this "for you," not themselves.

Hebrews 13:17 is not a proof-text for a few Christians to make laws to rule over the majority of Christians—mandated on threat of “unfaithfulness”—like Sunday night and Wednesday night “services,” or to use as delegating authority to pay one Christian out of a mandated collection to do the same work that all Christians are commanded to perform out of love for others--not "duty."

One cannot "have confidence" in “leaders” who feed themselves and who do not teach the truth concerning the collection, truncated Lord’s Supper, and monologue sermons by “professional” Christians instead of “discussion” (Acts 20:7), and often don't know or teach the context of passages.

See any Greek Lexicon or Greek word study: Robertson, Vincent, Thayer, Moulton, etc. for the phrase par heauto meaning personal treasuries "at home" in 1 Cor. 16:1-4, and Paul's comment "therefore, when you come together to eat” for the Lord's Supper eaten as a meal in 1 Cor. 11:33.

It is sad, but we don't know our own history in churches of Christ in the United States, or much of western church history, at least among those on the path that I have traveled for the last 12 years.

It has baffled me that those who see elders as "having" authority over other Christians--that when shown from the Scriptures the above things--refuse to “exercise authority” to correct it!

18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

The phrase “we are sure” is the same word (peitho) translated “have confidence” in verse 17 in the NIV 2011, and “trust” in the KJV in 13:18, and “obey” in  13:17 in the KJV (see link to my blog post above).

It does not mean “obey” or do one's duty in a military rank sense. It means to be persuaded based on your own faith--as in 13:7--not dependence because of supposed positional inferiority.

That is why it is translated “trust” even in the KJV in 13:18—not “obey” again. It is not mindless silence that is being conveyed, but building trust and persuasion based on the truth that they need to leave the city because it will be destroyed. Jesus is used as an illustration and example in Hebrews 13:7-18 as one who did the same. Accuracy and example are what is important, not demanding control to do things "for" others.

The context of Hebrews 13:7-18 has nothing to do with inherited traditions that benefit the few that have been handed down for centuries where nobody knows why we do them anymore. I fully understand the need for structure and routine in our lives, and how these instill discipline and personal improvement, and are in many cases a means of growth for the immature. I am not against this. I am against a few Christians making up laws and binding them on other Christians, living in denial, and claiming to be the NT church to the exclusion of all others, and claiming to practice NT Christianity just like they did in the NT.

It is simply not true, and I cannot remain silent about it. 

May God bless us all.