Let’s read through the book of Hebrews one verse at a time in 2023. Every day explore a single verse and its cross references. AI-generated text draws the passages together. RSS feed.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
The cross references for Hebrews 13:17 emphasize the importance of respecting and submitting to those who are in authority over us, such as our spiritual leaders. They also emphasize the importance of humility and selflessness in our relationships with others, and the need to imitate the faith of our leaders. Finally, they remind us that our leaders are accountable to God and have a responsibility to care for His people.
| Passage | How It’s Related (AI-Generated) |
|---|---|
| Acts 20:28: Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. | Both passages emphasize the importance of leaders in the church. In Hebrews 13:17, the author encourages Christians to obey their leaders and submit to them, as they are responsible for watching over the souls of their flock. In Acts 20:28, the author commands leaders to pay careful attention to themselves and to all the flock, as they have been made overseers by the Holy Spirit to care for the church of God. |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13: We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. | Both passages emphasize the importance of respecting and submitting to those in authority over us. Hebrews 13:17 calls on us to obey our leaders and submit to them, and that we should do so joyfully rather than grumbling. 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 encourages us to respect and esteem those who labor among us and are in authority over us in the Lord, and to be at peace with each other. |
| 1 Timothy 5:17: Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. | Both passages are emphasizing the importance of respecting and honoring church leaders. Hebrews 13:17 encourages believers to obey and submit to their leaders, as they are responsible for the spiritual well-being of the congregation. Meanwhile, 1 Timothy 5:17 encourages believers to honor their elders, especially those who are actively involved in preaching and teaching. This double honor is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of church leaders in leading the congregation. |
| Hebrews 13:7: Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. | Both passages emphasize the importance of obeying and submitting to the leaders of the church. Hebrews 13:17 encourages followers to obey their leaders with joy and not with groaning, as this will be of benefit to them. Hebrews 13:7 calls on believers to remember their leaders, to consider the outcome of their way of life, and to imitate their faith. |
| 1 Peter 5:5: Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” | Both passages emphasize the importance of submitting to authority. Hebrews 13:17 encourages believers to obey their leaders and submit to them, and to do so with joy rather than with groaning. 1 Peter 5:5, meanwhile, speaks of being subject to the elders and of clothing oneself with humility, since God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. |
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the leaders You have placed in our lives to watch over us and care for us. We thank You for their commitment to serving You and for the example they set for us. Help us to always be respectful and obedient to them, and to honor them for their hard work and dedication. Give us wisdom and discernment to know when to follow their direction and when to take our own. Help us to never take for granted the gift of their guidance and to always remember to thank them for their service. In Your precious name we pray, Amen.
This reading plan reads through a single verse each day, six days a week, paired with the most-popular cross references for the verse. AI-generated (and human-reviewed) text provides an opening thought and concluding prayer along with an explanation for how each cross reference relates to the verse. In 2023, this reading plan works through Hebrews one verse at a time. Every seventh day is a catchup day. Want more info? Try this blog post.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.