Quote:
Originally Posted by Ehud
Am I correct in understanding you to be saying that those like Nicodemus -- by your admission non-Christians -- are the ones being referred to as those whose faith we should follow?
|
The short answer is yes. However, it is a little more complicated than that. Let’s post the verse again so we can examine it.
Hebrews 13
[7] Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Remember: This word indicates that the “them” is in the past. God is all about remembrance.
Luke.22
[19] And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
When we take the Lord’s supper, we are to do it in remembrance of Him. When Jesus said this, He was instructing the disciples to do this in remembrance, although the event (his crucifixion) had not yet taken place. So this event is to be (future tense) remembered (past tense) after it takes place.
So we are remembering someone who rules over the Jews. Who are we remembering? The ones who have spoken unto you the word of God. You could also say the oracles of God. The meaning is the same. Oracle, orator, oratory. All forms of the spoken word. Oracles of God? Specifically the spoken words of God which were recorded in written form by the prophets.
Rom.3
[1] What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
[2] Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
So who was responsible for delivering the spoken words of God to the Hebrews? And was to be remembered? And whose faith they were to follow? The prophets unto whom were committed the oracles of God.
Moses is a big one. But there is a “cloud of witnesses” listed in
Hebrews 11. I’ll list a small sample.
[17] By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
[18] Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
[19] Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
[20] By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
[21] By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
[22] By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
[23] By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
[24] By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
It is important to realize that the major theme of Hebrews is the superiority of the new covenant versus the old. So it should be understood that following their faith, is not the same as following their doctrine or covenant. It is also important to realize that the Hebrews had an additional layer of rulers that the Gentiles didn’t have. They were permitted by the Romans to retain their government to some extent. Part of the government was the Sanhedrin Court. And the Sanhedrin had rulers that were specific to it. The synagogues had rulers over them as well.
Luke.8
[41] And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:
Once again Jairus was not referred to as a pastor. He was a ruler of the synagogue. Where the word of God (Old Testament) was read and expounded upon.
These rulers might be included in their ones to be remembered. My point is that we have a multitude of passages of scripture that refer to who was recognized to be rulers of the Jews. Pastors are not ever referred to in this language, to my knowledge.
Threaded Mode
