Those Who Rule Over You

A. SOME GENERAL THOUGHTS ABOUT HEBREWS 13:17

In Hebrews 13:7,17 we read about “those who rule over you.” I agree with A.W. Pink who notes that the context of these verses makes it clear these “words have reference to religious leaders, and not civil rulers” (Exposition of Hebrews, 1227). In particular, these verses are about the duties of Elders and the relationship of members of a local church to her ministers, living and deceased, of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Many understand the injunction of verse 7, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation” to refer to deceased ministers. For example, A.W. Pink notes:

That their present rulers could not be intended is quite apparent from several considerations. First, because the Hebrews were called upon to “remember,” rather than submit to them. Second, because they are distinctly described as they “who have spoken unto you the Word of God.” Third, because they were such as had already received “the end of their conversation” or conduct in this world. Finally, because there is a distinct precept given with respect to their attitude toward their living rulers in v. 17 (ibid., 1155).

These verses are about the duties and relationship of members of a local church to her ministers of the Gospel, living and deceased.

Obviously Hebrews 13:17 is dealing with the duties and the relationship of the local church with her living ministers, those who “watch for your souls.” The focus of this article is upon living Elders: their relationship and duties to the local church; and, the local church’s relationship and duties toward her Elders, “those who rule over you”

B. SOME GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

As we begin, let me mention five general concepts we should consider.

1. Consider that the Bible says a lot about Elders, who they are and what their duties are to be. In fact, more is said in the Bible about Elders than many other important subjects. Alexander Strauch notes,

Not only does the New Testament record the existence of elders in numerous churches, it also gives instruction about elders and to elders. In fact, the New Testament offers more instruction regarding elders than on other important church subjects such as the Lord’s Supper, the Lord’s Day, baptism, or spiritual gifts” (Biblical Eldership, 103).

2. Consider the difficulty of the work of ministers of the gospel. The work of Ministry has always been hard. The rigors of the work are metaphorically stated by the Apostle Paul.

d. In 2 Timothy 2:3-4 - Paul compares the work of the ministry to a “soldier - engaged in warfare”

e. In 2 Timothy 2:5 - Paul compares the work of the ministry to a training and competing athlete.

f. In 2 Timothy 2:6 - Paul compares the work of the ministry to a “hard-working farmer.”

3. Consider that the work of ministry often involves personal risk.

d. In Luke 20:9-12 - We are told that the Lord’s servants whom He sent were beaten, treated shamefully, wounded, sent away empty and cast out.

e. In Matthew 23:37, Christ spoke of stoned and slain prophets. In fact, we understand that all but two of the original twelve apostles were martyred. Judas Iscariot was not a martyr as he committed suicide. The Apostle John, we understand from church history, died from old age.

f. Someone once observed, - “The church is one of a few institutions that shoot their wounded.” Church history is strewn with the names of minsters who have been persecuted, maligned and even killed for their faith.

1. Consider these current statistics concerning the minister of the gospel.

d. According to Fuller Institute of Church Growth:

1) 90% work more than 46 hours a week.

2) 80% believed ministry affected their families negatively.

3) 33% believed ministry was a hazard to their family.

4) 90% felt inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands.

5) 70% have lower self esteem after entering ministry.

6) 70% do not have someone they consider a close friend.

e. Malony and Hunt, The Psychology of Clergy:

1) Unrealistic expectations are a major factor in pastor burnout.

2) 60% of clergy wives hold full time jobs.

3) 70% of clergy report experiencing major distress.

f. Leadership - addresses some marital problems pastors face:

1) 81% insufficient time with spouse.

2) 70% income level (22% forced to supplement income).

3) 53% difficulties in raising children.

g. Current Thoughts & Trends - notes the typical pastor's salary increased less than ½ the inflation rate.

h. Theology News & Notes, - notes that 45% of Pastor’s wives have no close friends.

i. Smoldering Wicks Ministry - notes that 1400-1600 ministers per month LEAVE the ministry. Now before you sneer at that figure and say, “Well they must not have been called anyway” remember this:

1) In a great depression, the prophet Elijah sat down under a Juniper tree and asked God to take his life.

2) John Baptist, the man who baptized Christ and boldly called on sinners to repent, just before his death sent two disciples to Jesus to see if Jesus really was the Christ.

3) In the span of just a few hours, the Apostle Peter denied the Lord three times - even the last time by swearing and cursing.

Even the Apostles and prophets were not men of steel. Pastors are not either. Some time the hurt and pain caused in the ministry can be so deep a God-called man needs time to heal. The unbiblical practice of a Pastor being alone - i.e., having no other fellow Elders in a local church, only seems to exacerbate the problem. Think about it, Moses had Joshua, Caleb and many other men set aside to help (Exodus 18:14-26). God sent Elisha to help Elijah. Peter, James and John are almost always named together. The Apostle Paul was usually accompanied by Barnabas, Timothy or some other Elder on his missionary journeys.

2. Consider that Primitive Baptist Elders face additional problems.

a. Less than 25% of our pastors are full-time with no other income. That is, for various reasons the majority of our pastors are not abiding by Paul’s command, 2 Tim 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

b. We have fewer and fewer churches who can afford a full-time pastor. A forecast concerning the future of our churches is not difficult nor does it require a crystal ball. Except the Lord intervene, if our smaller churches which are not growing and composed primarily of an aging membership WILL NOT MERGE with other Primitive Baptists churches in their area and strengthen what remains (Rev 3:2) by combining resources, they will continue to lose people and resources until they will be unable to meet every Sunday. As our churches diminish in size and services, fewer pastors will be full-time or even live near the congregation which will further reduce the potential for growth. As time goes by, more of our churches will reduce their services and begin to meet part time - once or twice a month. Thus, our pastors will serve 2-4 small, dying churches while trying to hold down full-time jobs.

c. Men who have dedicated themselves to the work of the ministry among our people with no other means of support are discovering some hard lessons. Some men for years have dedicated themselves totally to the ministry of the gospel. They have not been building a small business, gaining seniority at the local factory or investing in a pension plan. No, they have given themselves entirely to the ministry of the word of God. Some of these men are now 50-60 years old. Some have found themselves out of a church. But what are they to do? If they were 30-40, they could retrain and find work. If they were 70 they might retire. But what do you do when your entire life has been dedicated to the church and there are no churches large enough to support you or who want you?

There are three primary names used in the Scriptures for Ministers of the Gospel.

Elder (prebuteros) - (1 Pet 5:1) "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder . . ."

Bishop (episkopos) - 1 Tim 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Interestingly, ALL three terms are employed in Acts 20. - (vs 17) "And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders (presbuteros) of the church . . .(28) "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers (bishop - episkopos) ,to feed (pastor - poimen) the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

Why would the Bible use these various names? As you know, words in the Bible have meaning. For example, God’s various names emphasize NOT various gods, but attributes of the one, true and living God. Much the same could be said about these three names for ministers of the gospel. These three names ARE NOT identifying three various offices BUT EMPHASIZE VARIOUS ASPECTS of one office. John MacArthur notes, the term elder emphasizes WHO the man is. Bishop speaks of WHAT he does. And pastor deals with HOW he ministers” (Shepherdology, 157).

John MacArthur notes, the term elder emphasizes WHO the man is. Bishop speaks of WHAT he does. And pastor deals with HOW he ministers”

The term Elder (presbuteros) defines WHO the man is. In the New Testament the term is used to define the chief officer in a local church. The term and role, however, originates in the Old Testament. The term Elder is used over 130 times in the Old Testament to define men set apart for leadership. MacArthur notes, “The elders were mature men . . .heads of families (Ex 12:21); possessors of strong moral character; God-fearing men of truth & integrity (Ex 18:20-21); full of the Holy Spirit (Num 11:16-17); capable men of wisdom, discernment, & experience; impartial & courageous men who could be counted on to intercede, teach, & judge righteously & fairly (Deut 1:13-17).”(Ibid, 154).

The term Bishop (Episkopos) deals with WHAT an Elder does. By definition the word Bishop means Overseer A Bishop is, “A man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, superintendent.” Originally the word applied to a civil magistrate - “Bishops were those appointed by the emperors to lead captured or newly-founded city-states. The bishop was responsible to the emperor, but oversight was delegated to him” (Ibid., 156).

The term Pastor (poimen) describes HOW a bishop is to oversee. The term pastor is used in both the New and Old Testaments. For example, we read in the prophecy of Jeremiah, “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jer 3:15). The word pastor means to “shepherd” and it emphasizes caring and feeding the flock.

is an Elder............................................................................................. i.e., a spiritually mature man,

is a Bishop........................................................................................... i.e., an overseer of the flock,

is a Pastor............................................................................................ i.e., one who feeds the flock.

1 Peter 5:1-5 - to feed and oversee flock and exhorted to not be too authoritative but be clothed with humility.

Acts 20:20-35 - to remember it is the Holy Spirit Who placed them as overseers and they are exhorted to guard church from false teachers and be alert for the threat of false teaching. They are told to work hard, help the needy and be generous like Jesus Christ.

1 Tim 5:19-22 - to protect her Elders from false accusations and to discipline her sinning Elders.

Hebrews 13:17 states WHAT a church’s duties concerning her spiritual leaders are. In particular, the church is told to Obey and be Submissive.

These two injunctions, “obey and submit” underscore an Elder’s primary functions and the church’s proper response. As a Pastor he is to TEACH God’s word (persuade). As the pastor teaches God’s word, it is the duty of the church to OBEY. As a Bishop he is to OVERSEE the flock of Christ. As the Bishop leads and governs according to the mind of Christ, it is the duty of the church to SUBMIT.

This passage states WHY believers should obey and submit to their spiritual leaders. That is, “they watch out for your souls.” This language is reminiscent of EZEKIEL 33:1-11 where a man is appointed as a watchman of a city. The watchman’s job is to watch and warn the people if danger is approaching. If the watchman sees danger coming and warns the people and they do not listen and are killed, their blood is upon their own head. If, however, the watchman sees danger and does not warn the people and they are killed, then their blood is upon his head.

What do you think of a city that chooses a man qualified to be a watchmen and then ignores his instructions? What do you think of a church that will not listen to or obey her appointed watchmen? Christ gifts and gives Elders (spiritually mature men) who are to teach the Scriptures and oversee the church. The point of this teaching and overseeing is for the good of the believer and the body of believers (SEE EPHESIANS 4:11-17). These are men who are called, trained and burdened for this task. These men do not assume this position, but they are recognized by the common suffrage of the church. Since Christ designed the pattern, gifts the men and gives instruction in His word concerning the role of spiritual leaders, we would be well advised to listen.

This passage states WHO your rulers are. They are men who must give account. That means they are NOT owners but stewards - they are not sovereigns but servants. Pastors are men who are accountable to the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Pastors do not own the church. Pastors are stewards of what Christ has purchased with His own blood. Pastors are men particularly burdened with the work Christ has called them to. John Owen writes,

There are no conscientious church guides [i.e., spiritual leaders], but they do continually represent unto the Lord Christ the state of the flock committed unto them, and what is the success of the ministry among them . . .no greater joy or sorrow in this world, than what accompanies the daily account which they give unto Christ of the discharge of their duty amongst them, as their success falls out to be” (Vol VII, 467)

This passage states HOW you rulers rule and give account - Either with joy or with sadness. The Apostle John said, 3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. It is joyful to give account of a church where the brethren dwell in unity and are submissive to God’s word. It is with grief that the man of God bows before the Lord and reports, “Lord I have tried to teach and lead, but they will not listen. I have declared Your will Lord, but the refuse to obey . . .” How do your Elders pray over you? No doubt in proportion to how you obey and submit.

God’s word says - (Heb 13:17 KJV) "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."

Send mail to admin@JesupPBC.org with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2003 Jesup Primitive Baptist Church Last modified: 07/19/05

Send mail to admin@JesupPBC.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2003 Jesup Primitive Baptist Church
Last modified: 07/19/05