Laying on of hands

In the Word of God we find the doctrine of “the laying on of hands.” Many Christians do not pay attention to the importance of this scriptural ordinance. If we want to be like the early church, we must do what they did, that is, persevere in the doctrine of the Apostles and not be negligent in our study. This doctrine is found along with the six fundamental doctrines of Christianity: repentance from dead works, faith in God, baptisms, resurrection of the dead, eternal judgment, and the doctrine of Christ. Heh. 6:1, 2. 

It is well known that a ceremonial laying on of hands is practiced in some churches. Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, spoke about it: “the laying on of empty hands on empty heads.” However, this fact does not imply its cancellation, but rather that this divine means of imparting blessing must be used scripturally and profitably. In the Word of God it is a well-established doctrine and can be easily understood by those who seek the Truth. 

The Word of God reveals that through the laying on of hands, blessing and healing are imparted, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is ministered, the gifts of the Spirit are imparted, captives are set free, and ministers are established.

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Offerings in the Old Testament. 

In the Old Testament offerings, when hands were laid on the sacrifice something was imparted and something was also received. “Aaron and his sons will place their hands on the head of the calf.” Ex. 29:10. “Aaron and his sons will lay their hands on the head of the ram.” Ex. 29:15. We can note that this chapter deals with the consecration of the priests and their sacrifice. Can it be said that the imperfections of the worshiper were transmitted by faith in the sacrifice of Christ and the perfections of the sacrifice of Christ were received by faith through the laying on of hands on the sacrifice? What would you think of the priest who doubted the power of such an ordinance? God made both forms of dispensing. In the present, through the laying on of hands the power of God is transmitted by the minister and received by the person in need.

  

 

 

Impartation of blessing.

“Then Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head.” Gen.48:14  Why did Joseph rush to remove his father's hand from his youngest son's head in Genesis 48:17,  if it was just a ceremony? For the reason that it contained a true blessing which has passed for centuries in the tribe of Ephraim.

The Impartation of the Gifts: We will cover this later in our study, however, we only mention it here. We find God's method of imparting gifts through the laying on of hands. “And the LORD said to Moses, Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is a spirit, and lay your hand on him; and he laid his hands on him, and gave him charge.” No. 27:18, 23

 The result of this ordinance can be clearly seen in Deuteronomy 34:9 where we read:

                    “And Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, because Moses                                                                                               had laid his hands on him.”

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In the ministry of Christ. 

The Lord constantly practiced the laying on of hands to bless and heal. The Bible says:

“Then children were brought to him, so that he could lay his hands on them and pray; and the disciples scolded them. And having laid his hands on them, he departed from there. Mt.19:13-15.

“And he could not perform any miracles there, except that he healed a few sick people, laying his hands on them.” Mr.6:5

“Then, taking the blind man's hand, he led him out of the village; and spitting in his eyes, and putting his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything.” Mr. 8:23.

 “And they bring him a deaf man who stutters, and they beg him to lay his hand on him. Mr. 7:32.

“And he besought him greatly, saying, My daughter is at death's door: come, and lay your hands on her, that she may be saved, and she may live.” Mr. 5:23.   

The Lord definitely exhorts believers to use the laying on of hands for healing.​

“They will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mr. 16:18.

   The Apostles believed what Jesus taught them regarding the laying on of hands, for in Acts 5:12 we read: “And by the hand of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people.” Towards the end of the book of the Acts of the apostles, Paul still fulfills this ministry:

“And it came to pass that the father of Publius was in bed, sick with fever and dysentery; And Paul came in to see him, and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him, and healed him.” Acts. 28:8.

A deeper study into the doctrine reveals that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was received through the laying on of hands. 

In the spiritual revival that took place through Philip's preaching, Peter and Paul were sent from Jerusalem to guide these new Christians to a deeper experience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

                          “Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts. 8:17.

The Apostle Paul received it in the same way. Ananias then went and entered the house, and laying his hands on him, said: Saul, brother, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me so that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. In the same way, the believers in Ephesus received him.” Acts. 9:12-17.

“And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them; and they spoke with tongues, and they prophesied.”  Acts. 19:6.

   Men can be ordained or established and also a divine commission  can be confirmed through the laying on of hands. Paul and Barnabas were confirmed in their divine commission by the laying on of hands “The Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, having fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them away.” Acts. 13:1-4. The same principle was used in establishing deacons in Acts 6:6. “Whom they presented before the apostles, who, praying, laid hands on them.” Could the laying on of hands be the cause of Stephen's change in Acts 6:8? “But Stephen, full of grace and power, performed great wonders and miracles among the people.” The same thing also happened to Philip in Acts 8:5-7. “Hearing and seeing the signs he made.”

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The possibility of such an event is confirmed by Scripture in I Timothy 4:14: “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” Paul also warns Timothy not to lightly lay hands on any person for the purpose of ordaining him or establishing him within an office in the church. There must be prayer and fasting and the ministry must be confirmed by the elders: “Do not lay hands lightly on anyone.” I Ti. 5:22.

 

   In the Old Testament the children of Israel put the Levites into their ministry through the laying on of hands. “And when you have brought the Levites near before the Lord, the children of Israel will lay their hands on the Levites; and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD as an offering for the children of Israel, and they shall serve in the ministry of the LORD.” No. 8:10, 11.

   The impartation of spiritual gifts. 

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   Let's go back to the Old Testament and look at Deuteronomy 34:9. “And Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him.” Are we wrong if we say that Moses in the will of God imparted this wisdom to Joshua? Another example of the impartation of gifts is in 2 Kings 2:13-15. Could this be an indirect method of imparting power in the same way? Even today, mantles fall from one servant of God to another, as in the healing ministry of Dr. Price and Lorne Fox.

  Certainly, Timothy received spiritual gifts through the laying on of hands “Therefore I advise you to fan into flame the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.” II Ti. 1:6.

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” I Ti. 4:14. 

   Furthermore, it is biblical that prophecy (regarding ministry or gifts) is given by men who have been ordained in the ministry. Prophecy confirms the ministry and gifts that God has given to those who are ordained. We are exhorted to listen to the prophecies and fight according to them:

 

“This commandment, son Timothy, I charge you, that according to the prophecies that were made before concerning you, you may fight the good war by them.” I Timothy 1:18.

 

How much would it strengthen established servants to have their ministry and gifts confirmed in this way?
 The gifts are given by the Holy Spirit as stated in I Corinthians 12:11.

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                                               “Distributing to each one individually as he wants.”

 

Sometimes, ministerial offices impart the gifts to carry out a specific work in the Body of Christ.

 

Questions concerning the doctrine of laying on of hands:

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   1.     What place does the laying on of hands have in Hebrews 6:1-2 in relation to the other doctrines? What are you talking about?
   2.     What example from the Old Testament serves to show the Truth of the laying on of hands?
   3.     What are the uses of the laying on of hands?
   4.     How is prophecy used when the presbytery ordains approve men into the ministry?
   5.     What is the laying on of hands according to the Scriptures?
   6.     Who gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
   7.     Who sometimes imparts the gifts of the Holy Spirit?