Daily Devotional for Monday, April 14, 2025

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How Should Christians Respond to Their Leaders in the Lord’s Church?

A Study of Hebrews 13:17 and the God-Ordained Role of Spiritual Oversight

Hebrews 13:17 provides one of the most straightforward and weighty exhortations in the New Testament concerning the relationship between Christians and their spiritual leaders. The verse reads: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” This instruction, placed near the end of the letter to the Hebrews, serves as a reminder of the order and structure ordained by God within his people. It challenges modern assumptions of autonomy, calls for godly respect toward those entrusted with oversight, and emphasizes the seriousness of leadership in the Lord’s church.

The command begins clearly: “Obey your leaders and submit to them…” The Greek word translated obey is πείθεσθε (peithesthe), which carries the idea of being persuaded, yielding trustfully, or allowing oneself to be led. It is not a mindless obedience, nor is it absolute in the way that obedience to God is, but it involves a willing and reverent responsiveness to those who serve in positions of spiritual leadership according to God’s design. The word submit is from ὑπείκετε (hypeikete), meaning to yield, to give way under authority, or to comply. Together, these two terms establish the pattern: Christians are to maintain an attitude of respectful cooperation with those who have been tasked with shepherding them.

The term “leaders” here refers not to secular officials, nor to general influential figures, but specifically to elders—also called overseers or shepherds—in the local congregation. This is clear from the overall context of New Testament church structure. In Acts 14:23, Paul and Barnabas appointed elders (πρεσβυτέρους, presbyterous) in every church. In Titus 1:5–9, Paul commands Titus to appoint elders in every town and outlines the qualifications they must meet. These men are not self-appointed or selected by popularity, but must meet spiritual and moral qualifications, and must be appointed in accordance with divine instruction.

These spiritual leaders have been entrusted with a sacred responsibility: “for they are keeping watch over your souls…” This phrase is not poetic—it is a statement of spiritual reality. The role of an elder is not administrative or ceremonial. It is pastoral, vigilant, and sacrificial. The verb “keeping watch” comes from ἀγρυπνοῦσιν (agrupnousin), which literally means “to stay awake” or “to be sleepless.” This expresses the diligence and vigilance required in overseeing the spiritual welfare of others. Elders are not casual managers—they are soul-watchers. They are charged with recognizing spiritual danger, correcting error, protecting the flock from false teaching, encouraging the weak, and restoring the erring.

This charge echoes the instructions given to elders in Acts 20:28, where Paul exhorts the Ephesian elders, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God…” The same seriousness is echoed in 1 Peter 5:2–3, where elders are commanded to shepherd the flock of God willingly and eagerly, “not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.” These leaders are not self-serving—they serve under the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and their authority is derivative and limited by Scripture.

The motivation behind this sober responsibility is emphasized next: “as those who will have to give an account.” Elders do not exercise authority for their own benefit. They will one day stand before God and account for the manner in which they led his people. This warning should humble any man considering or serving in this role. It is not a position of glory but one of grave responsibility. As James 3:1 warns, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” Those who lead must do so with reverence, knowing that they are answerable to Jehovah for every soul entrusted to their care.

Because of this, the text gives a practical appeal: “Let them do this with joy and not with groaning…” The work of overseeing souls is difficult, often thankless, and can become burdensome when the flock resists godly guidance. The word joy indicates that there is satisfaction and delight when elders see the people of God walking in truth, growing in holiness, and receiving correction with humility. But groaning—from the Greek στενάζοντες (stenazontes)—conveys sighing under the weight of sorrow and frustration. When a congregation resists the Word, divides, murmurs, or disregards spiritual instruction, it places a heavy burden on its leaders.

The final phrase—“for that would be of no advantage to you”—reminds believers that their own spiritual well-being is closely tied to how they receive and respond to leadership. Disregard for shepherds is not merely a personal or social offense—it is a spiritual danger. Refusing to submit to godly leadership leads to instability, error, and disobedience. As Proverbs 15:32 warns, “Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.” Those who make the work of leaders more difficult by resisting correction or rejecting truth do themselves no favor—they undermine their own growth and endanger their souls.

It is vital to remember that the authority of elders is not unlimited. They are not to invent doctrine, demand personal loyalty, or operate outside the boundaries of Scripture. Their authority exists within the framework of God’s revealed Word, and only so far as they are faithfully teaching and applying that Word. If an elder departs from the truth, he is no longer leading in accordance with his charge, and must be corrected or removed. But when elders are faithful, when they teach sound doctrine, when they warn against error and encourage righteousness, the congregation has a divine responsibility to heed their instruction and follow their example.

In practice, this means listening with humility when elders speak, seeking their counsel in matters of conscience, supporting their leadership in decisions that align with Scripture, and praying for their strength and wisdom. It means rejecting the spirit of independence that treats spiritual oversight as optional or burdensome. As 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 exhorts, “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.” Faithful leadership should be met with faithful followership.

In an age that often exalts personal opinion, resists authority, and prizes autonomy, Hebrews 13:17 stands as a countercultural call to order, humility, and submission. God has not left his church to drift without structure. He has appointed shepherds—qualified, accountable men—to guard, guide, and nurture the flock. For the congregation, the right response is not suspicion or resistance, but grateful submission, as long as these leaders remain faithful to the Word of God.

In conclusion, Hebrews 13:17 presents a model of spiritual life marked by reverent cooperation with those who have been entrusted with oversight. Elders are not infallible, but when they labor faithfully, they are to be obeyed and submitted to—not for their own sake, but because of the God who placed them there. They keep watch over souls, they will give an account, and the believer who listens, submits, and supports their work is the one who benefits most. When shepherds lead with joy and the flock follows with humility, the church grows in health, unity, and faithfulness to its Chief Shepherd.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).