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Verse Takeaways
1
Conditional Submission
The call to "obey" and "submit" to church leaders is not absolute. Commentators like Calvin, Barnes, and Henry stress that this applies to faithful leaders whose guidance aligns with Scripture. Christians are to test teachings against the Word of God, as submission is owed to those genuinely watching for their souls, not to those who would lead them astray.
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Book Overview
Hebrews
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Commentaries
9
Albert Barnes
On Hebrews 13:17
18th Century
Theologian
Obey them that have the rule over you. The marginal reading is guide. (See Notes on verse 7.) The reference here is to their reli…
AT Robertson
On Hebrews 13:17
Obey (πειθεσθε). Present middle imperative of πειθω with dative case.
Submit (υπεικετε). Present active im…
Charles Ellicott
On Hebrews 13:17
19th Century
Bishop
The present section of the chapter begins (Hebrews 13:7) and ends (Hebrews 13:17) with a reference to the rulers of the Chu…
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Charles Spurgeon
On Hebrews 13:17–19
19th Century
Preacher
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 i…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On Hebrews 13:17
The readers must obey their leaders. In v.7 the leaders were men who had died. Here, however, those alive and currently in positions of authority a…
John Calvin
On Hebrews 13:17
16th Century
Theologian
Obey them, etc. I have no doubt that he speaks of pastors and other rulers of the Church, for there were then no Christian magist…
John Gill
On Hebrews 13:17
17th Century
Pastor
Obey them that have the rule over you
Not the ecclesiastical rulers among the Jews, for to these they were no longer obliged, …
Matthew Henry
On Hebrews 13:16–21
17th Century
Minister
We must, according to our power, give to the necessities of the souls and bodies of men: God will accept these offerings with pleasure, and will ac…