Heb 13:7 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. …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. …24 Salute all them that have the rule over you….
God’s Word gave instructions on how we are to relate to them that rule over us.
1. Remember Them. We have to be mindful of them, firmly and constantly retain them in memory, highly esteem them, and thanking God who sent them to us and set them over us by the Holy Ghost. They are our spiritual fathers for they have begotten us to God by the gospel (1Co 4:15 ), feed and nurture us, and watched over our souls from ravening wolves (Mt 7:15 ) and dangers which abound.
In particular we are to remember those “who have spoken unto [us] the word of God whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation”. Is it not right to remember them who feed us God’s Word and who are instrumental to our spiritual growths' The best preaching is by way of their life of faith. We are exhorted to follow them as they also follow the Lord, to believe the doctrine they teach and practise out of the infallible Word of God, and to be steadfast in the faith.
How do we remember them' We must uphold them much in prayer for they are subjected to greater trials and temptations and are chief targets of Satan. Remember that they need encouragement also. Provide for them and see to their physical needs. Paul asked this of the ungrateful Corinthians “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things'” (1Co 9:11 ).
2. Obey & Submit to Them. The further duty required by Christ from the subjects of his kingdom, is yielding full obedience of faith to the doctrine which they delivered from Christ. Obedience is best demonstrated by submission. They are to be subjected to the power and authority Christ hath given them, for their edification, and not destruction. Christ had warned in Lu 10:16 “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.”
For they watch for your souls, as they that must give account: The Apostle Paul gave the reasons why we should obey and submit; because of their concern and care for our souls. If we honour them that watch to preserve and protect our physical lives, how much more to those who feed and watch over our souls' They will have to give an account to God for our souls.
That they may do it with joy, and not with grief; There is no greater way of returning the kindness we have received than to help them to give an account with joy and not with grief. But if we will be disobedient to them, though they will have their reward for their fidelity from their Lord, yet with what sighs, tears, groans, sorrow, and heaviness of heart, must they see their labours and our souls lost, and to charge us before God with it! For that is unprofitable for you. 1 Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing' Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming' 20 For ye are our glory and joy.
3. Salute Them. Do we show honor to them that rule over us to greet them whenever we see them' If we greet our parents when we see them, should we not greet our spiritual parents' Do we receive them with the customary marks of affection and respect that we render to someone of honour' It is recorded in Acts 20:1 that Paul “after the uproar was ceased, …called unto him the disciples, and embraced [same Greek word as saluted] them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.” It is customary for the Jews to greet each other with an embrace or a kiss (1 Th 5:26 ), but not us. The affection and respect they showed each other should be noted and emulated.
Finally my brethren, let us heed the Word of God, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.” (1Th 5:12 )