Remember Your Leaders

Read aloud

The writer tells the readers to remember leaders who spoke God's word. They should consider the outcome of those leaders' way of life and imitate their faith. The test is not a leader's popularity or force of personality. It is the direction and fruit of a life.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Because Jesus is steady, believers should not be carried away by strange teachings. The heart is strengthened by grace, not by foods that have brought no benefit to those devoted to them.

The writer says believers have an altar from which those serving at the tabernacle have no right to eat. The bodies of the sin offerings were burned outside the camp. Jesus likewise suffered outside the city gate to sanctify the people by His own blood. The church is called to go to Him outside the camp and bear the disgrace He bore.

Here we do not have a permanent city; we seek the city to come. Through Jesus, believers continually offer praise and also do good and share with others. Those sacrifices please God. Worship is not detached from generosity and practical care.

The writer finally asks the church to obey its leaders and submit to them because they watch over souls and will give an account. This is accountable pastoral care, not blind obedience. Leaders must be trustworthy, and submission cannot mean surrendering a conscience to abuse or following teaching that contradicts Christ.