LAYING ON OF HANDS
1. This past week we received some unusual mail.
2. The first envelope contained a picture of our sign and four short questions.
3. The following day a second letter arrived with the same picture and just one typed sentence:
4. Let him that is without sin cast the first stone.
5. On Friday we received a third picture and message.
THE MESSAGE ON THE SIGN OUTSIDE POINTS TO A BIBLE TOPIC: TRUTH.
A. This was a topic close to the heart of Jesus.
B. On more than one occasion Jesus said not everyone teaches the truth.
C. Paul and other New Testament writers spoke of people who did not teach the truth.
D. The problem of religious teachers teaching things that are false still exists.
2. On our sign we also have a constant invitation: come visit.
3. Come look at this body of people and see if we are holding to the truth of the gospel.
4. In the churches of Christ we want to do Bible things in Bible ways.
5.
We want to be the
6. As we think about this we are presented with a question from Acts 6.
7. We have previously studied about the widows who were being overlooked.
8. Tonight we want to look what happened when this problem was solved.
9. The specific point of interest is found in Acts 6:6.
A. 7 men were selected to help the widows (verse 3).
B. The men who were picked could be a potential sermon.
C. A few of these men are described in other parts of the New Testament.
D. The other men in this list are only mentioned here.
E. This reveals that some Christians are well known while others are not.
F. Whether we are well known or not, God can put both kinds of people to use.
G. Furthermore, one is as important as the other.
10. Tonight our attention is directed to the laying on of hands.
11. In the religious world there are times when people literally lay hands on someone.
12. Numerous t.v. evangelists make this a regular part of their programs.
13. In the churches of Christ I have never seen anyone literally lay hands upon someone else.
A. No one to my knowledge has ever said it is sinful; it is simply not done.
B. If we are so interested in the truth, what about the laying on of hands?
14. The Bible says we need to give an
answer for our faith (1 Pet.
15. What do we say in regard to the laying on of hands?
WE
WANT TO GIVE A BIBLE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.
A. Our answer starts long before Acts 6.
B. In fact, it starts before the Law of Moses.
C. We read about hands being laid on people in Gen. 48.
2.
Gen. 48:10 says
3. His sons came near him, and he “embraced and kissed them.”
A. The two verses we want are 14-15 – READ.
B. Hands were laid upon the head.
C. In our culture touching someone can result in a lawsuit.
D. A while back I was asked to accompany someone to the courthouse.
E. As we waited, some students came in and the judge spoke with them.
F. The judge said if you slightly push someone that qualifies as assault.
G. We live in a crazy world.
4. When people had a little more sense, they were able to put a hand on another person.
5. The purpose for this is found in verse 15 of Gen. 48: a son was “blessed.”
6. The key in Gen. 48 is not the hand on the head; it is what the hand on the head represented.
7. Notice verses 17-18 of this same chapter – READ.
A. Would Joseph have been content for his father to simply place his hand on his head?
B. Was he only after a literal hand upon his head?
C. The hand was not what mattered; it was what the hand on the head represented.
D. The laying on of hands was a symbol.
E. It represented the passing of God’s blessing from father to child.
8. This symbolism is found in other parts of the Bible.
9. We have looked a time prior to Moses; let’s see what happened during the generation of Moses.
A. Ex. 29 describes a “sin offering.”
B. Verse 10 of this chapter says hands were to be laid on the animal.
C. When we think of laying hands on something we normally associate the act with people.
D. In this case hands were laid upon an animal.
E. This was a symbol which suggested the people’s sins were transferred to the animal.
F. After symbolically laying the sins on the animal, the creature was killed.
10. A little later (Num. 27:18-23) Moses was old. It was time for someone else to take his place.
11. His successor was Joshua.
12. I want to read this account – Num. 27:18-23 – READ.
A. Several things were involved in making Joshua the new leader.
B. Verse 18 says he already had the “Spirit.”
C. If this man had the spirit of God, why lay hands upon him?
D. It was a way of publicly declaring his new role.
E. In verse 19 he was to be brought before the priest, before all the congregation, and given a charge.
F. He was honored (20a).
G. The
key point is found in 20b: that all the congregation of the children of
H. The laying on of hands was done for public recognition.
13. This is what we saw in Gen. 48.
14. One son was to be recognized as the main man.
15. The goat that had hands laid upon needed to be publicly understood and acknowledged.
16. This was done by the laying on of hands.
17. This recognition is the general reason hands were laid on someone or something in both testaments.
THERE ARE SOME PLACES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WHERE THE LAYING ON OF HANDS HAS A MEANING OTHER THAN PUBLIC RECOGNITION.
A. In Acts 8, for example, there were people from Samaria who became Christians.
B. These people did not have a Bible as we know it so they needed divine guidance.
C. Two apostles (Acts 8:14—Peter and John) were dispatched from Jerusalem to Samaria.
D. Acts 8:17 says these apostles “laid hands” on the Samaritans and this gave them miraculous abilities.
E. Verse 18 says it was through the “apostle’s hands” spiritual gifts were given.
2. The person who taught the Samaritans (Philip) was a preacher.
3. He was one of the seven men appointed in Acts 6.
4. He was a great man but his hands could not give the Samaritans the miraculous power.
5. This ability had to come from the apostles, so 2 apostles came from Jerusalem to Samaria.
6. The apostles are now dead.
7. If Acts 8:18 is accurate—supernatural power came through their hands—the gifts are no longer available.
8. No hands of the apostles now exist and therefore no gifts can be transferred (given).
A. This is an accurate conclusion but some object to it.
B. The objection is based upon 1 Tim. 4:14.
C. This passage has been used to say Timothy received spiritual gifts from elders.
D. Since elders gave him miraculous abilities, people other than the apostles could pass along the gifts.
E. If you have ever wondered about 1 Tim. 4:14, tonight I hope to make it clear.
F. If this verse is read by itself or very quickly it might be difficult to explain.
G. When another passage is joined with it and the verse is carefully studied, the questions disappear.
H. The second passage which needs to be considered for this point is 2 Tim. 1:6.
I. We will start with 1 Tim. 4:14 – READ.
9. The word with is a preposition and it is a key word: with the laying on of hands.
10. Hold your finger here and look at the second passage; we will return to this verse in a moment.
11. 2 Tim. 1:6 – READ.
A. Timothy had a gift, a supernatural gift.
B. How did he get it? According to 2 Tim. 1:6, Paul said Timothy received it from him.
C. “Through my hands” is specific.
D. This is also absolutely consistent with Acts 8:18.
E. If gifts came through the hands of the apostles, what about 1 Tim. 4:14?
12. Let’s take a second look at that passage – READ.
13. Verse 14 does not say “through the hands of the eldership.” The text says “with.”
14. 2 Tim. 1:6, however, says through the hands of Paul.
A. When the passages are combined we have a completed picture:
B. Paul was present when Timothy received his gift because Paul gave it to him (2 Tim. 1:6).
C. When Paul gave Timothy this gift, elders were “with” them (i.e. elders were present).
15. Elders, according to what was read, laid their hands on Timothy. Why did they do this?
16. We have already given the reason.
17. The laying on of hands publicly acknowledged and recognized him, his work, and his gift.
18. All of these references tie very well into another passage in the Timothy letters.
19. In 1 Tim. 5:22 Paul said “lay hands hastily on no man.”
A. I know of no one who thinks Paul meant, “Don’t go around touching people.”
B. The thought is as just as we have demonstrated from both testaments.
C. Hands were laid on people to symbolize approval, acceptance, the appointment to an office/task.
20. In the denominational world the laying of hands is widely practiced and abused.
21. If we want to know the truth about this subject, the passages given tonight explain what it really is.
A. The primary organ we have to touch someone or something is the hand.
B. The head is the noblest part of our body.
C. Jesus laid His hands upon little children (Mt. 19:13).
D. The text says children were brought specifically to Him for this purpose.
22. What did the parents hope to achieve by having Jesus lay hands on their offspring?
23. It was a way of asking for God’s blessing.
24. This was a custom or habit so entrenched in this part of the world it reaches back to Gen. 48.
25. The laying on of hands pointed to public approval, recognition, and acceptance.
26. If in a congregation this is understood, we might use this practice.
A. At various times congregations install deacons, elders, and preachers.
B. Places like Acts 6 shows there needs to be a public recognition of these people.
C. How do we accomplish this?
D. We could have a little ceremony where a hand is put on each person.
E. There are other ways we can express public approval and acceptance.
F. We could have those appointed come up front.
G.
If the congregation is a
size where everyone knows everyone, public recognition might be an
announcement.
27. There are some things in the New Testament which are cultural.
28. The challenge for every Bible student is distinguish between culture and acts God wants us to perform.
29. The laying on of hands was an old custom.
30. Other items are not custom. Believing in Christ is not a custom. It is a command.