(17) 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. (18) Pray for us: fo r we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. (19) But I beseech you the rather ot do this, that I may be restoed to you the sooner.

Hebrews 13:17-19

Explanation

In verse 7 there is reference to those who “have rule over you” the first time in this chapter.  

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken uno you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Hebrews 13:7

They are referred to as those “who have spoken unto you the word of God” and people who have faith worthy of following and a lifestyle worth imitating.   This informs the way the Holy Spirit moved the author/preacher and who he is thinking of here.  These seem to be leaders in the church, especially pastors and teachers, who are trying to help everyone know and obey God’s Word, and to lead the whole local assembly, the ekklessia, to do what the scripture says.  

The authority of these leaders is qualified in this verse in two ways their job is described.

First, They have a serious task.  We already know that they have a stewardship of God’s Word as we have read in verse 7.  They are providing an example of living for the whole congregation.  In verse 17 it is told that “they watch for your souls”.  The idea of watching is standing guard, paying attention, and intervening through prayer, teaching, influence, and help.  

Second, They have a serious accountability.  To steward the Word of God and the souls of men is to steward the two things that are eternal in this world, and the two things most precious to God.  This verse reminds the reader (and the leader) that they will give an account for how they handled that stewardship.

Because of this serious task and the importance of following the Lord and His Word, there are some  commands given.

First, Obey and submit.  This is probably not a popular idea in today’s culture, but there is a submission that people should have to godly leadership.  This pastoral authority has been abused in the past by some.  The pastor has no right to command what ought to happen because of His own personal authority informed by merely personal preference.  To try to exert control over things that are not spelled out in scripture is to go too far.  Yet to try to hold us accountable to what the BIble says is the task of the leader, and so the attitude of servant leadership by the pastors, and obedience and submission to the specific application of the Word in the context of a local body of believers by those believers is the point here.

Second, Pray.  Once the writer explains the responsibility of the leader to steward the Word, His example, and the souls of the people, and he explains the attitude and actions of the believers to obey and submit to the leadership of these leaders, he rightly asks them to pray.  What is his request?  Pray that their life would match what they are teaching.  Pray that what they are saying and how they are living would match in such a way that they would “have a good conscience”.  They want to “do their job with joy”.  They want to “in all things live honestly”.  

Application

The meaning of the verse really is the application, and it’s for two different groups of people.

First, for pastor/teachers here are some application points.  

Stewardship is the key word.  Watch over your flock.  Know your sheep.  Protect them.  Help them.  Watch for their souls.  Pray for them.  Teach the Word clearly and accurately.  The Shephard should smell like the sheep because he’s with them and loves them.  Don’t abuse the people with trying to exert authority where you have none.  

Second, for  believers there are some clear applications.  

Church Membership and Involvement. It is foreign to the Word of God that believers would not have a church to be a part of and a pastor to watch over their souls.  The idea of a Lone Ranger believer unattached to any church body is a foreign one. It is difficult for a church body to assume stewardship of a flock if they do not know who is in their flock.

Follow.  Your leader is your friend and not your enemy.  Your pastors love you and seek to lead you.  Don’t make it hard.  Follow them as they follow Christ.  Imitate them as they exemplify Christ.  Hear the Word and obey it.  

Pray.  Pastoring and leading can be a joyful task, but it is not always an easy task.  In fact, it is almost never easy.  If it is too easy you may not be doing it right.  Your pastor needs your prayers so that he can do the job well, as one who will give an account.  He needs your prayers! In verse 19 the plea is “do this”. He believes not only that it is good for them and him, he seems to believe that God answers prayer! 

Response

Heavenly Father,  Thank you so much for the local church, and how in that context we have fellowship, accountability, and support to live the life a disciple of Jesus Christ, on mission for You. Thank you for leaders who do their job well, and are stewarding it well.  Thank you for the men I work with who exemplify this well.  Thank you for the leaders I have had in my life that have helped me and provided that example for me.  As I pastor, help me to do it well, with joy, knowing that I will be accountable for how I lead.  Thank you for the Good Shephard who laid down His life for us.  Amen