Hebrews 13:7

"Remember your leaders." Of the teachers. This Paul also advised the Thessalonians, so that they hold them in honor exceedingly. (1 Thess. 5:13) And just as they share in the word, so if it is possible, to help them in their bodily needs. For this …

Then (v. 7) he shows they should do good to their prelates. In regard to this he does two things: first, he shows how they should act in regard to their dead prelates, namely, follow their example; secondly, in regard to those living, namely, obey …

He convinces the Thessalonians of this as well, to show them the greatest honor (1 Thess. 5:13). And just as those teachers made them partakers of the word of God, so they in turn ought to assist them as much as possible in material needs. …

Remember them which have the rule over you,.... Christ's church is a kingdom, and he is King in it; pastors of churches are subordinate governors; who rule well when they rule not in an arbitrary way, according to their own wills, but according to the laws of Christ, with all faithfulness, prudence, and diligence.

); he then bespeaks their prayers for him, and offers up his prayers to God for them, gives them some hope of seeing himself and Timothy, and ends with the general salutation and benediction,

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens

(2.) The duties owing to them, even when they were dead. [1.] " Remember them --their preaching, their praying, their private counsel, their example." [2.] " Follow their faith; be stedfast in the profession of the faith they preached to you, and labour after the grace of faith by which they lived and died so well.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes

Remember them which have the rule over you - Margin, “are the guides.” The word used here means properly “leaders, guides, directors.” It is often applied to military commanders. Here it means teachers - appointed to lead or guide them to eternal life. It does not refer to them so much as rulers or governors, as teachers, or guides. In Heb 13:17, however, it is used in the former sense. The duty here enjoined is that of remembering them; that is, remembering their counsel; their instructions; their example.

Remember--so as to imitate: not to invoke in prayer, as Rome teaches. have the rule--rather, "who have had the rule over you": your spiritual leaders. who--Greek, "the which": such persons as. have spoken unto you--"spake" (so the Greek aorist means) during their lifetime.

Remember them which have the rule over you - This clause should be translated, Remember your guides, των ἡγουμενων, who have spoken unto you the doctrine of God. Theodoret’s note on this verse is very judicious: “He intends the saints who were dead, Stephen the first martyr, James the brother of John, and James called the Just. And there were many others who were taken off by the Jewish rage. ‘Consider these, (said he), and, observing their example, imitate their faith.’” This remembrance of the dead saints, with admiration of their virtues, and a desire to imitate them, is, says Dr. Macknight, the only worship which is due to them from the living. Considering the end of their conversation - Ὡν αναθεωρουντες την εκβασιν της αναστροφης· “The issue of whose course of life most carefully consider.” They lived to get good and do good; they were faithful to their God and his cause; they suffered persecution; and for the testimony of Jesus died a violent death. God never left them; no, he never forsook them; so that they were happy in their afflictions, and glorious in their death. Carefully consider this; act as they did; keep the faith, and God will keep you.