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The Laying On of Hands

"THE LAYING ON OF HANDS"
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. A custom practiced in Bible times was that of "laying on of hands"...
 a. Observed in Patriarchal times as well as during the Mosaic period
 b. Administered during the ministry of Jesus as well as during the
 early church
 
2. Questions naturally arise regarding this "custom"...
 a. What was its purpose?
 b. Was it just a custom of those times
or does it have a role in the
 church today?
 
3. In He 6:1-2
it is included a part of the "elementary principles of
 Christ"...
 a. Along with repentance
faith
baptism
the resurrection and
 judgment
 b. Yet one often hears little taught on this subject in some churches
 
[Perhaps a good place to start is with a survey of its use as found in
the Bible
beginning...]
 
I. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
 
 A. IN BESTOWING BLESSINGS...
 1. As when Jacob laid hands on his grandsons - Gen 48:14
 2. Apparently intended to convey some beneficial virtue (ISBE)
 - Gen 48:17-20
 
 B. IN OFFERING SACRIFICES...
 1. Such as peace offerings
sin offerings
and burnt offerings
 a. Those practiced on normal occasions - Lev 3:1-2
8
13; 4:4
 b. That practiced at the ordination of the Aaronic priesthood
  - Lev 8:14
22
 b. That practiced at the Levites' dedication - Num 8:12
 2. Such as during the annual day of atonement
by the high priest
 - Lev 16:21
 a. Laying hands on the head of the live goat (scapegoat)
 b. Confessing the iniquities of the children of Israel
 -- On the day of atonement
the laying on of hands involved actual
 transference of guilt; on other occasions
the practice may
 have simply implied consecration
 
 C. IN ORDAINING TO SERVICE...
 1. As in the inauguration of Joshua - Num 27:18-23
 2. Already possessing the Spirit
but who would be given the
 spirit of wisdom - Num 27:18; cf. Deu 34:9
 -- In this case
one who already demonstrated godliness was
  blessed further with ability to serve his new role (similar to
 Ac 6:1-8)
 
 D. IN RELATION TO JUDGMENT...
 1. Witnesses were to lay hands on a blasphemer prior to his
 stoning - Lev 24:14
 2. Perhaps to show acceptance of the verdict (ISBE)
 
[Remarkably
this is all that is said about "laying on of hands" in the
Old Testament. Yet we see its use continued...]
 
II. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
 
 A. DURING THE MINISTRY OF JESUS...
 1. Blessed children through laying on of hands with prayer - Mt
 19:13-15; cf. Mk 10:13-16; Lk 18:15-17
 2. Healed people by the laying on of hands
 a. Raised Jairus' daughter (though He actually "took her by the
 hand") - Mt 9:18
25
 b. A few sick people in Nazareth - Mk 6:5
 c. All who came to Him in Capernaum - Lk 4:40
 d. The woman loosed from her infirmity of eighteen years - Lk
 13:13
 
 B. IN THE LIFE OF THE EARLY CHURCH...
 1. The apostles healed by the laying on of hands
 a. As foretold by Jesus in giving the Great Commission - Mk 16:
 15-20
 b. As described by Luke in the book of Acts - Ac 5:12; 28:8
 2. Ananias restored Saul's sight by the laying on of hands - Ac 9:
 12
17
 3. Spiritual gifts were imparted by the laying on of hands
 a. E.g.
the Samaritans
by Peter and John - Ac 8:14-17
 b. E.g.
the Ephesians
by Paul - Ac 19:6
 c. E.g.
Timothy
by prophecy with the eldership - 1 Ti 4:14
 d. E.g.
Timothy
by Paul - 2 Ti 1:6
 4. Appointment or dedication to service was accompanied with the
 laying on of hands
 a. By the apostles in appointing the seven to serve tables - Ac
 6:1-6
 b. By prophets and teachers in sending out Paul and Barnabas
 - Ac 13:1-3
 5. Caution was given regarding the laying on of hands - 1 Ti 5:22
 a. Which some take to refer to the ordination of elders
 b. While others take to refer to the restoration of elders
 - cf. 1 Ti 5:19-21
 
[To my knowledge
this exhausts what is revealed about "laying on of
hands" in the Bible. With this information fresh on our minds
here are
some thoughts regarding its use...]
 
III. IN THE CHURCH TODAY
 
 A. IN SOME RESPECTS
ITS PURPOSE HAS CEASED...
 1. There is certainly no need to lay hands on sacrifices as in the
 Old Testament
 a. Which sacrifices could not truly remove sin - He 10:1-4
 b. Which sacrifices came to an end with the sacrifice of Christ
 - He 10:5-14
 2. The purpose for miraculous spiritual gifts has been fulfilled
 a. Which was to reveal and confirm the Word - cf. Mk 16:19-20;
 He 2:3-4
 b. Which was designed to be temporary - cf. 1 Co 13:8-10
 
 B. IN OTHER RESPECTS
ITS SYMBOLISM CAN HAVE MEANING...
 1. In ordaining those who serve
 a. Indicating acceptance and approval of those who have been
 selected by the congregation - cf. Ac 6:1-6; 1 Ti 5:22
 b. Beseeching God's blessing and protection on those who serve
 - cf. Ac 13:1-3
 c. "...the imposition of hands
accompanied by fasting and
 prayer
was
in this case
as in that of the seven deacons
 [Ac 6:6]
merely their formal separation to the special work
 to which they had been called. This
indeed
is sufficiently
 evident from the context. What they did was doubtless what
 they had been told to do by the Holy Spirit. But the Holy
 Spirit simply said to them
'Separate me Barnabas and Saul
 to the work to which I have called them.' The fasting

 prayer
and imposition of hands was
then
merely their
 separation to this work. It was a ceremony deemed by
 infinite wisdom suitable to such a purpose; and
therefore

 whenever a congregation has a similar purpose to accomplish

 they have
in this case
the judgments and will of God

  which should be their guide." - J. W. McGarvey
commenting
 on Ac 13:1-3
 2. In praying for those who are sick - cf. Ja 5:14-15
 a. Nothing is said about laying on of hands in this passage
 b. But its practice could certainly symbolize the blessing from
 God for which we pray
 c. "The laying on of hands was accompanied by prayer
the
 imposition of hands being the outward symbol of the prayer."
 - Neil R. Lightfoot
commenting on He 6:2
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. The Biblical evidence for this practice is rather scarce...
 a. One tendency can be to make more of the practice than God intends
 b. Another can be to ignore it all together
 
2. Based upon what the Bible reveals...
 a. I believe the practice can have a useful place in the lives of
 Christians and the church
 b. Its rich symbolism can have meaning
if for no other purpose
 1) In appointing those selected to serve as elders
deacons
etc.
 2) In praying for those who are sick
 
In the absence of such a practice
we are likely to adopt other customs
which symbolize and convey similar things as did the laying on of hands
(e.g.
a handshake
a pat on the back
a hug
a holding of the hands).
Why not utilize a Biblical custom to symbolize and convey such
things...?

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