CHAPTER 13
Obeying Those Who Rule Over You
Chapter 13 closes the Letters to the Hebrews with a list of exhortations, but there is one concept that is repeated three times at 7, 17 and 24 – “rule over you” – interesting sequence of the number seven. So this week, we’ll examine aspects of leadership in a properly organized covenant community.
Introduction
The Kingdom of God is God’s ecclesiastical and political kingdom on the earth as opposed to the Kingdom of Heaven represented in the perfected Tabernacle as a model of Heaven through the Messiah Yeshua. The Bible sets out three eras that describes the functions and development of the community leader within the Kingdom of God - the Kingdom of Israel with ancient Israel, a spiritual kingdom that Yeshua establishes during His mortal ministry and a fully embodied Endtime Kingdom of God preparatory for the Son’s millennial rule.
Kingdom of God >>> |
Ancient Israel |
Yeshua's Mortal Ministry |
Endtime Fully Embodied |
The Community Ruler and the Kingdom of Israel
The concept of a community leader in Israel was first established at Exodus 18 where Moses is overwhelmed with deciding matters among the children of Israel and his father-in-law Jethro suggests that Moses organize a system of rulers.
Rulers
A ruler is someone who exercises governing authority or dominion. The Hebrew word here for ruler is sar – שַׂר - which word is also used for prince. A prince can be defined as a male royal ruler of a small state. Another term that we can connect with ruler is king. Using the term of king is consistent with the concept that men in authority under God are kings and/or priests. However, in Israel, rulers must govern withing the limits of God’s Law. Rulers or kings in Israel establish and execute God’s law maintaining order in the community, which law included standards for about every aspect of life and society.
Judges
Among the ruler’s important functions was judging matters. He is the judicial authority within his community and administered the system of justice that God had revealed to Israel. It is this system of justice revealed from God that establishes whether a person is just or unjust under God as opposed to a man-made system of justice like English Common Law.
According to Josephus in Antiquity of the Jews, each judge in Israel was assigned two Levites as legal advisors and counselors who were also teachers of the Law. These three form a type of governing headship or presidency.
Captains
Another title we see given to this system of rulers is captains who provided leadership in times for self-defense.
While ancient Israel was considered a kingdom chosen by God and intended to be a model for His kingdom, the Kingdom of Israel ultimately failed due to Israel’s disobedience not fully embodying God’s will as understood in the testimony and perfection of Yeshua. Israel, through their disobedience, failed to obtain the Melchizedek Priesthood and in the end lost the kingdom Yehovah had established for them.
Though Israel is God's Chosen People, a fully embodied messianic kingdom with Israel would have to wait until the Endtimes.
The Community Ruler and the Spiritual Kingdom of God
The community ruler from Yeshua’s mortal ministry was called an overseer, pastor or elder in the New Testament with two elders that assisted him. Yeshua’s spiritual kingdom had limited political power since there wasn’t a dedicated land in covenant with God. The community ruler was responsible for administering the New Covenant, which is the Old Covenant but under the Melchizedek Priesthood, within the community. Though not living in a land governed by God’s law, judges administer God’s law within the confines of secular law. Here, in chapter 13 of Hebrews, Paul is providing general guidelines for community rulers.
Rulers Speak the Word of God
In verse 7 of chapter 13, we see three standards required of rulers – they speak the Word of God, their actions follow God’s Word, and so does their conversations. The first standard for leaders here is that they speak the Word of God.
Order of Authority
Those familiar with the Hebrew Bible will notice a different order for the books of the Old Testament than what we see in Christianity. This is because Judah orders their Tanach by an order of authority, importance, precedents, and inspiration. Essentially, concepts must harmonize back to the previous books of authority with the Torah as the first authority. Moreover, Yeshua's direct statements have the same weight of authority as the Torah.
Torah/Yeshua's Direct Statements – the Word of God to Man
Prophets/Apostles – the Word of God through Man
Writings – the Word of Man to God
Four Levels of Interpretation
Another principle we can see is the four levels of biblical interpretation, but all levels must harmonize with the first level – p’shat.
P’shat
Remez
Drash
Sod
The New Covenant
The New Covenant must harmonize with the Tanach/Old Testament, which established God’s system of justice and defines those who are God’s covenanted and set apart people. Those who are Born Again don’t break the Law and suffer its judgements – Ezekiel 36:26,27 - Zion. And even though we don’t live in a dedicated land, we live what we can and shows our intent to live all of His Law.
Isaiah’s Systematic Gospel
Isaiah’s systematic gospel provides a useful framework to organize God’s Word.
Ruler’s Faith Follows
Another standard we see here is that a ruler’s faith or actions must follow the Word of God. In the Hebrew mindset, faith is to believe that God will keep His promises if we obey Him. Keeping the commandments is what creates a relationship with God and brings us into His presence – John 14:15
Sitting in the Seat of Moses
In Matthew 23:2, "sitting in Moses' seat" refers to the scribes and Pharisees' position of authority in teaching and interpreting the Law. While they held this position, Yeshua instructed his followers to listen to and obey their teachings on the Law, but not to imitate their actions, as they did not practice what they preached.
Ruler’s Conversation
The last standard is to consider the end of a ruler’s conversation. We can connect this back to verse 5, which states that conversation is to be without covetousness.
Ruler’s Accountability
In verse 17, we see that they watch for your souls and are accountable.
Member’s Responsibilities
In verses 17 and 24, we see the responsibility of members.
The community ruler from Yeshua’s mortal ministry was called an overseer, pastor or elder in the New Testament with two elders that assisted him. Yeshua’s spiritual kingdom had limited political power since there wasn’t a dedicated land in covenant with God. The community ruler was responsible for administering the New Covenant, which is the Old Covenant but under the Melchizedek Priesthood, within the community. Though not living in a land governed by God’s law, judges administer God’s law within the confines of secular law. Here, in chapter 13 of Hebrews, Paul is providing general guidelines for community rulers.
Rulers Speak the Word of God
In verse 7 of chapter 13, we see three standards required of rulers – they speak the Word of God, their actions follow God’s Word, and so does their conversations. The first standard for leaders here is that they speak the Word of God.
Order of Authority
Those familiar with the Hebrew Bible will notice a different order for the books of the Old Testament than what we see in Christianity. This is because Judah orders their Tanach by an order of authority, importance, precedents, and inspiration. Essentially, concepts must harmonize back to the previous books of authority with the Torah as the first authority. Moreover, Yeshua's direct statements have the same weight of authority as the Torah.
Torah/Yeshua's Direct Statements – the Word of God to Man
Prophets/Apostles – the Word of God through Man
Writings – the Word of Man to God
Four Levels of Interpretation
Another principle we can see is the four levels of biblical interpretation, but all levels must harmonize with the first level – p’shat.
P’shat
Remez
Drash
Sod
The New Covenant
The New Covenant must harmonize with the Tanach/Old Testament, which established God’s system of justice and defines those who are God’s covenanted and set apart people. Those who are Born Again don’t break the Law and suffer its judgements – Ezekiel 36:26,27 - Zion. And even though we don’t live in a dedicated land, we live what we can and shows our intent to live all of His Law.
Isaiah’s Systematic Gospel
Isaiah’s systematic gospel provides a useful framework to organize God’s Word.
Ruler’s Faith Follows
Another standard we see here is that a ruler’s faith or actions must follow the Word of God. In the Hebrew mindset, faith is to believe that God will keep His promises if we obey Him. Keeping the commandments is what creates a relationship with God and brings us into His presence – John 14:15
Sitting in the Seat of Moses
In Matthew 23:2, "sitting in Moses' seat" refers to the scribes and Pharisees' position of authority in teaching and interpreting the Law. While they held this position, Yeshua instructed his followers to listen to and obey their teachings on the Law, but not to imitate their actions, as they did not practice what they preached.
Ruler’s Conversation
The last standard is to consider the end of a ruler’s conversation. We can connect this back to verse 5, which states that conversation is to be without covetousness.
Ruler’s Accountability
In verse 17, we see that they watch for your souls and are accountable.
Member’s Responsibilities
In verses 17 and 24, we see the responsibility of members.
- Obey the ruler. (within the limits of their authority in the law)
- Submit to the ruler.
- Don’t make grief for the ruler.
- Show respect.
The Community Ruler and the Endtime Kingdom of God
God’s fully embodied kingdom on the earth is to be realized during the Endtimes with God’s Servant, the 144,000 servant/saviors who gather the righteous remnant of Israel and graphed-in gentiles all in preparation for the Son’s Millennial Kingdom. This Endtime Kingdom of God was prophesied in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in the second chapter of Daniel as a stone rolling destroying all worldly kingdoms of the earth.
The Community Ruler and the Endtime Kingdom of God
God’s fully embodied kingdom on the earth is to be realized during the Endtimes with God’s Servant, the 144,000 servant/saviors who gather the righteous remnant of Israel and graphed-in gentiles all in preparation for the Son’s Millennial Kingdom. This Endtime Kingdom of God was prophesied in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in the second chapter of Daniel as a stone rolling destroying all worldly kingdoms of the earth.
This Endtime Kingdom of God will see –
- A worldwide expansion of the Law that we see in Zechariah 8:23 wherein groups of believers among the nations(gentiles) grasp/take hold of the Law - tzitziot of believers who keep the Law – Jews/adopted-in gentiles.
- An installation of the Melchizedek Priesthood that Yeshua changed in the Law – Hebrews 7, which fuses civil and religious functions under rulers who are “kings and priests”. We see this concept illustrated in the example of Melchizedek who was not only the King of Salem, but he was also a priest of God. A priesthood holder must maintain a standard of conduct, teach God’s Law, be accounted for what he teaches, and administer priestly ordinances for the community.
- The firstborn assume the responsibility of temple service and the Levitical Priesthood falls inactive.
- Is comprised of a citizenry who have been Born Again – John 3:3.
- Father over families. Families form the basic unit of society, which is governed by the father who is a king and priest to his family.
- Single sisters come under the responsibility of the community ruler.
