"THE LORD TELLS HIS REDEEMED TO OBEY THEIR RULERS AND SUBMIT TO THEM"

Singing: (Psalms and Hymns are from the "Book of Praise" Anglo Genevan Psalter)
Psalm 145:3,5
Psalm 65:2
Psalm 80:7,8
Psalm 67:1 (standing)
Psalm 147:1,4,6

Beloved Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ!

What do you think of the brothers who walked into church after the rest of you were seated? What do you think of the brother who is to be ordained to office this morning? We all know we need elders and deacons, but: do you like it that br Kleyn is an elder, that br Heerema is to become an elder this morning?

You know the brothers office-bearers, know us well. You know our strengths, and you know our weaknesses. As congregation you voted for the office-bearers you have, voted also for the one to be ordained this morning – and no doubt some of you voted against this brother, and in previous elections against brothers already in office. And maybe after you voted, after their ordination, their weaknesses became evident to you so that now you have second thoughts…. Add to the reality of their weaknesses the fact that we live in a culture that does not display a great deal of respect for authority…, and the temptation is big to suppress a sense of showing honour to these brothers, honour because of the office that God in heaven has laid upon them.

With a view to our benefit, the Lord our God has given us instruction in His Word about the task of office-bearers and how He wants us to view the brothers to whom He gives an office in the church. As we receive a new office-bearer this morning, we do well to recognise the God behind the office-bearer, and so listen to His Word of instruction to us as it comes to us in Hebr 13.

I summarise the sermon with this theme:

1. the reason for this obedience
2. the manner of this obedience

The Reason for this Obedience

Mention is made in our text of "those who rule over you". Who are meant by the term?

The word that is used in our text for "rule" occurs various times in Scripture, and denotes leaders in general, be they leaders in the church or in secular government or in any group of people. In the letter to the Hebrews, the term occurs three times, all three in chap 13; besides our text, it appears in the vss 7 & 24. But the term in Hebr 13 does not at all refer to secular leaders, but specifically to leaders in the church. That is evident specifically from vs 7, where the Hebrews are instructed to remember their rulers, and these rulers are described as those "who have spoken the word of God to you."

We may hear in that phrase a reference to those persons who originally came to the Hebrews, now so many years ago, with the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. Then we may say that the term ‘rulers’ in Hebr 13 refers to preachers of the gospel. Yet we need not insist that the term refers only to the original missionaries to the Hebrews, their original ministers; in each congregation elders were appointed too, as well as deacons where the need for them arose, and these brothers too spoke the word of God. The term ‘rulers’ in our text, then, describes the office-bearers of the Hebrews.

Now the Hebrews are told that they need to "obey those who rule over you, and be submissive." Why would the Hebrews need to be told this? What prompted this instruction? As always, the answer lies in the context, and the answer is two-fold.

a. From elsewhere in this letter, we gather that the Hebrews addressed in this letter had initially embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ eagerly and warmly (cf 10:32,34). But as the years slipped by and the persecutions and ridicule from their peers in the world increased, the Hebrews lost their initial euphoria and were in danger of sliding away (cf 3:12; 6:4ff), falling back into their previous Judaism. Coupled with that sliding away was the failure on the part of some of the Hebrews to go to church faithfully (cf 10:25). Taking that all together implied that these Hebrew Christians no longer submitted to their leaders, did not seat themselves under the preaching of the gospel, had no regard for those who brought to them the word of God (cf 12:25).

This state of affairs came to the attention of the apostle. He set about to correct the Hebrew Christians on this point. Yet the apostle knew: it would make no sense to jump straightaway into a reprimand, simply because there was a reason underlying the Hebrew’s current disregard for their office-bearers. That the Hebrews did not obey their office-bearers was due to the fact that they did not appreciate any more the Christ of whom these office-bearers spoke. So the author of our letter first spent 10 chapters explaining who Jesus Christ was. The author made it his business to point out to these Hebrews that Jesus is far superior to angels, superior to Moses, to Aaron, to the entire Old Testament tabernacle service. Angels, he tells the Hebrew Christians, are but servants, have no authority of their own, while the Christ whom these Hebrews were in the process of rejecting had received a throne of highest authority at God’s right hand. And Moses, Aaron, and the whole Old Testament tabernacle service did nothing else than foreshadow this Jesus of Nazareth. Christ is far superior to those priests of old because those priests sacrificed daily and yet could not actually pay for sins; Jesus Christ, on the other hand, appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (9:26). And having done that, having made atonement for the sins of all His own, "He sat down at the right hand of God" (10:12), there to intercede for all God’s people.

It’s the apostle’s emphasis throughout the first 10 chapters of his letter: Christ is far superior to the Old Testament system. And that is in itself the dynamic, the motivation why the Hebrews should make a point of tightly embracing once more the word of God about the Christ. And see: that word was spoken to them by their office-bearers. Those were the brothers who impressed upon these Hebrew Christians that Moses, Aaron, the sacrifices in the tabernacle had all pointed forward to the coming of Jesus Christ, yes, it all was now fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Sin has been atoned for, sinners have been reconciled to God – that’s the good news the office-bearers of the Hebrews impressed upon them. Shall the Hebrew Christians then disregard their office-bearers, ignore them? No, says the apostle, NO! Never mind that they are weak men, who themselves need the Lord’s forgiveness as much as anybody else; for your salvation’s sake, "remember those who rule over you", "obey those who rule over you", and that’s to say: recall what the gospel they told you about and work with it!

In this context, it is also most instructive that in our chapter the vss 8-16 appear between the vss 7 & 17, those two verses where reference is made to the leaders. Those leaders, the Hebrews are told in vs 7, are to be remembered. They are to be remembered because they spoke that word of life, that word about Jesus Christ being "the same yesterday and today and forever." This Jesus who does not change is the Jesus who was foreshadowed by the animals whose blood was shed in the sanctuary of old, whose bodies were burned outside the camp of Israel. This Jesus, foreshadowed in those animals, had His own blood shed outside the city in order to sanctify His own, to obtain redemption for His own. And therefore –it’s the argument of vss 8-16- you Hebrews are far richer than your parents of the old dispensation, you are far richer than those around you, for you seek the eternal city which is coming, the New Jerusalem when God and men are together in perfection. Keep that salvation in mind, sing of it and perform works of gratitude because of the abundance you’ve received. And therefore obey, and keep on obeying, the ministers who preach to you this glorious word of redemption, obey and keep on obeying the elders who visit you in your homes with that Word of life, obey and keep on obeying the deacons who encourage you to be active in the communion of saints, who ensure that you are not forgotten by the communion of saints. It’s the punch of the passage, beloved: for the Hebrews to disregard their office-bearers was at the same time to disregard salvation in Jesus Christ, the salvation of which those office-bearers spoke.

b. Based on this first reason, the author of the letter to the Hebrews mentions a second reason why the Hebrews should obey their leaders. That second reason is captured in the last part of our text: "They watch out for your souls, as those who must give account."

What, congregation, might be meant by this "watching out for your souls" and this "giving account"? As it turns out, this combined notion of watching and giving account has appeared earlier in Scripture, in the Old Testament. Specifically, here is a reference to Ezek 3, where God says to that prophet: "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel" (vs 17). That’s Ezekiel: a watchman. And what that means is explained in the following verses: Ezekiel must communicate to Israel whatever the Lord tells him to communicate, never mind whether it is easy or hard to do, never mind whether the audience will be pleased to hear or not. Ezekiel is a watchman, and so he is mandated to speak even the most painful and harsh of words. If God would wish Ezekiel to say to a wicked person, "You shall surely die," then Ezekiel as watchman must say it. And if Ezekiel fails to communicate that warning of the Lord to the sinner, then not only will the sinner still die in his sins, but God will also require the blood of that sinner from the hand of the prophet Ezekiel. Similarly, if the prophet were to see a righteous man turning from his righteousness and committing iniquity, it was for Ezekiel as watchman to warn that sinning brother. But again, if Ezekiel would fail to warn, and that brother would eventually die in his sin, God would require that sinner’s blood from Ezekiel’s hand. You see: God made Ezekiel a watchman, and so this man was charged with the responsibility of speaking God’s word to sinners, charged with the task of keeping an eye on those in his care and warning wherever necessary. And Ezekiel would have to give account of all he did –not to men but to God!- would have to give account to God if he indeed failed to speak God’s word to the wicked, failed to warn those falling away. And why was it that God appointed Ezekiel as watchman? That was only because God had no pleasure in any of His people perishing; God desires instead that those who stray should turn back from their evil ways and live (Ezek 33:11; cf 33:7ff).

We understand: it was no small responsibility that God laid on Ezekiel. Imagine: be responsible for the souls of men! So it was too that the penalty for failing to be a dutiful watchman was also most severe: if Ezekiel would give no warning to the straying, then God would require the blood of the sinner from Ezekiel’s hand. And that phrase –require the blood at your hand- implies nothing less than that God will then consider Ezekiel to be guilty of murder itself! And God’s Word is clear: God requires the blood of the murderer in order to make right the wrong he has committed. Guilty of murder: woe be to Ezekiel if he does not carry out his office properly!

In his efforts to show the Hebrews that Yes, they ought to obey their rulers and submit to them, the author of our text goes so far as to say that the office-bearers of the Hebrews are watchmen even as Ezekiel was, that these office-bearers in the church of the Hebrews have the same responsibility as Ezekiel had. By so doing, of course, the author of this epistle has brought the office of these leaders of the Hebrews into sharp focus for the Hebrews. Though these Hebrews may have become dull of hearing (as chap 5:11 says), though they may harbour an evil and unbelieving heart (as chap 3:12 says), though they may neglect to meet together (as chap 10:25 says), may even refuse to listen to their preachers (as chap 12:25 says), yet these leaders may not give up speaking the word of God, may not cease to warn, may not soften the Gospel to accommodate the views of the congregation. These office-bearers are watchmen, and are therefore charged with the mandate to preach God’s word in season and out of season, to tend diligently the flock of God in their charge, and to expose every attack of Satan upon the flock for what it is. More, these office-bearers are to do so on threat of being guilty of nothing less than murder. And we understand: given that these rulers of the Hebrews are watchmen in the New Testament dispensation, given that Jesus Christ has fulfilled the laws of the Old Testament and atoned for sin, their task is more urgent, their responsibility is much greater than the task of any Old Testament office-bearer had ever been.

Today there is a church of Jesus Christ in Kelmscott, a church which the ascended Christ governs through office-bearers. That reality, dear brothers office-bearers, provides the dynamic, the motivation, the earnestness of your calling. In this congregation for which Christ gave His blood you are set by God to be watchmen, each of you in your respective offices of elder and deacon. You are watchmen charged with the responsibility of impressing upon this congregation the whole counsel of God, drawing the attention of the congregation always and again to the perfect work of Jesus Christ on the cross, and so condemning sin both in conduct and in twisted doctrine, urging repentance, urgently speaking that Word of God in season and out of season, convincing, rebuking, exhorting. That’s the mandate you have, even though there may be those in your charge who will not endure sound teaching (II Tim 4). That’s the mandate you have, precisely with a view to the restoration of those who stray. Christ has died, Christ has reconciled sinners to God, and so zealous is God that none of His own be lost that He gives to His people watchmen who warn of dangers, watchmen who point to Christ. Those watchmen are today you, with your particular strengths and your particular weaknesses. God knows your persons, God knows your characters, and God is pleased to look after His people through you. So: let it be fixed on your hearts, my brothers, that if you should be slack in carrying out the responsibilities of your offices, the blood of those congregation members who die in their sins will be required from your hands. Let that reality, my brothers, be incentive both to watch diligently over the souls in your charge, including that you ensure they hear the true preaching of the gospel, and to warn boldly and without fail as you visit in the various homes.

The Hebrews of long ago did not have much respect for their leaders any more. Those rulers had once spoken to them the word of life, that gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ. But the Hebrews were in the process of rejecting it. In the face of that backsliding, their rulers, as faithful watchmen, upon command of God, kept on speaking to them the word of God, insisting that Jesus was the Christ, that the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the Old Testament had been fulfilled. But the people didn’t come to church, the people refused to listen to those who spoke, the people did not regard their leaders.

That is why the apostle writes a letter to these Hebrews, and makes it very clear that these Hebrews are to change their attitude to their leaders, are from now on to obey and submit to them for the simple reason that these rulers are watchmen, watchmen appointed by the Christ who fulfilled the sacrifices and symbols of the Old Testament. ‘Christ –says the apostle- Christ has come, the church lives in the last days, and so, Hebrews, there is the greater urgency that the people of God respond faithfully to the watchmen God sets over them. And that, beloved Hebrews, means nothing else than that you, though you may be O so irritated by the constant warnings of your rulers, and so even neglect to meet together in church, you are instead to recognise that God has set these rulers over you to be watchmen over your souls for your own good. And therefore, O Hebrews, listen to these watchmen, they must say what they are saying, they are duty bound to warn, for they shall be guilty of murder if they do not admonish and instruct as they are doing. So: obey, submit, do not neglect to meet together, make a point of being in church faithfully to listen to the preaching, make a point of opening your homes to them, talking with them, working with what they say, open your ears, be not dull of hearing, do not refuse those who speak to you the word of life. Obey, submit, for your own salvation’s sake; obey, submit, for your God has made them watchmen over your souls!

And here, congregation of Kelmscott, is also the reason why God would have you to obey and submit to your rulers, be it current office-bearers or a new one. To this congregation your Father in Jesus Christ gives watchmen, men of His choosing whom He has charged to watch diligently over your souls, whom He has charged to speak to you the word of God week after week from this pulpit, whom He has charged too to talk with you in your houses about your service of the Lord. Your office-bearers are charged to speak, each according to the office and the talents God has given, and always are these brothers watchmen, men charged with the mandate to address the wicked about their sins, mandated to address also the righteous who slide into sin, mandated to encourage all of us in our daily struggles of faith. Recognise, beloved, what it is that God has given you in office-bearers, and receive the brothers accordingly. Once Jesus Christ came to defeat Satan, soon He will come again with His everlasting city, the New Jerusalem, and in between these two comings He looks after you through these men as His instruments. Honour them, obey them and submit to them because you do not want to miss out on the last day!

The Manner of this Obedience

Briefly, yet, we move on to our second point: the manner of obedience to office-bearers, how one is to obey them.

We require no imagination to appreciate, I think, that being a watchman is no easy task; the brothers office-bearers could wish for an easier mandate. To say to a brother for whom Christ died that he lives in sin and that the consequence of not repenting from sin is eternal death – that’s no easy thing. We know so very well that we don’t like being told such things, know that we tend to respond by putting our backs up….

So it is that the apostle makes a point of saying to the Hebrews not just that they are to obey their leaders and submit to then, but tells them also that they are to do it in such a way that these leaders can do their work as watchmen with joy, and not with grief. Here is instruction, then, to the Hebrews to receive what their leaders say in a fashion consistent with the awareness that the office-bearers the Hebrews have are nothing less than watchmen given to them by God for their own good, watchmen who are duty bound to give account to God if they should fail to warn where warning is needed. Never may the focus be on the watchmen themselves; always must the focus be on the God behind the watchmen.

Today, beloved, you receive the same instruction. It’s a fact: you know your office-bearers so very well, know their strengths and their weaknesses – and their weaknesses even give offence. Well now: how shall you respond to these weaknesses? Shall you demand perfection from the office-bearers before you submit to them and obey? Shall you trip over their shortcomings? Or will you focus your attention on the fact that your God in Jesus Christ was pleased to make these brothers watchmen in this congregation of His? Do not forget, beloved: God knew very well what He was doing when He gave to this congregation the brothers already in the office, knew very well what He was doing when He called br Heerema to be a watchman over your souls.

How shall we receive our office-bearers? We know it now: we shall not look at the chips and the cracks in the tools the Master-Builder is pleased to use to gather, defend and preserve His church. We’ll look instead at the God who chose the tools, the God who uses the tools, and well confess that our Father in Jesus Christ is pleased to look after us by means of these office-bearers. We’ll confess that God for Jesus’ sake is concerned for our souls, and He displays His care for us by giving us rulers, watchmen – these rulers, these watchmen. So we’ll accept these rulers for what God has made them to be, and therefore submit to them willingly. We’ll never tell them that their admonitions are simply their opinions – for us to take or leave. Instead, we’ll receive them humbly, thankfully. And we’ll that acknowledge that if we end up refusing these men who speak to us God’s word, if we refuse any of them because of their weaknesses and sins, we shall be doing exactly what the apostle forbids: we know we’ll be taking the joy out of their work, we’ll be causing them to do their work sadly, do it with grief. And, we confess with Paul, "that would be unprofitable for [us]."

God unites watchmen with congregation, office-bearers with Kelmscott. Come to think of it, this act of God is cause for great rejoicing. God is so concerned about our eternal wellbeing that He gives us watchmen, brothers who are to speak to us the Word of God day by day. How good is God; our Father does not want any of us to be lost....

So we thank God today for His gift of office-bearers. More, tomorrow, next week, next month we continue to thank God for this gift, thank Him specifically when any of the office-bearers, be it via the pulpit or in our homes, confronts us in his capacity as watchman.

The day comes when both the watchmen, as well as those who honoured these watchmen, shall hear those glorious words from the Head of the Church: "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master." Amen.