THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

Foundation Principles Series - Part IV

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  And this will we do, if God permit.”  - Hebrews 6:1-3

In the above verses, we find six concepts that St. Paul refers to as “the principles of the doctrine of Christ,” and, in chapter 5 of Hebrews, “the first principles of the oracles of God.”  We have explored the first three principles, Repentance from Dead Works, Faith Toward God, and The Doctrine of Baptisms, in earlier messages.  Now, let’s turn to the fourth principle, Laying On of Hands.  

Laying On of Hands

It appears that the act of laying hands on an individual as a religious rite has its roots planted solely in the Judeo-Christian tradition.  There is no known account of this practice in ancient texts until it is mentioned in the Old Testament.  The Bible, therefore, is the only source of information concerning its origins.  It is clear in scripture that the laying on of hands was an integral part of worship to the Jews and to the early church.  Its absence from many churches in modern times is a curious omission of Biblical practice.

The laying on of hands served many purposes in both the Old and New Testaments.  It was used to:

1.       Impart a blessing;

2.       Establish and anoint leaders;

3.      Consecrate individuals for divine service;

4.      Impart spiritual gifts, strength, or wisdom;

5.      Substitute or transfer judgment;

6.      Impart healing;

7.      Deliver an individual from demonic assault;

8.      Utter a prophetic word over an individual;

9.      Impart the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

All of the various uses of the laying on of hands, however, can be reduced to two main purposes: impartation and identification.

Imparting Spiritual Blessings, Gifts, Honor

In the 48th chapter of Genesis, we read that when Jacob was near to death, Joseph brought his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, before his father to receive a blessing.  Jacob then pronounced a prophetic word over the boys.  That word of blessing was inspired by the Holy Spirit.  This indicates that the laying on of hands often accompanied and was an important part of bestowing spiritual blessings and pronouncing prophetic utterances over an individual.

Moses was instructed by the Lord to lay hands on Joshua to anoint him to take his place and lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.  "And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.  And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient."  (Numbers 27:18-20)  By laying his hands on Joshua, Moses imparted to him the spirit of wisdom that he himself had received of the Lord, but also conferred honor upon Joshua before all of the children of Israel.  "And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him."  (Deuteronomy 34:9)

Similarly, in the New Testament when the Apostles ordained the seven deacons to watch over the daily ministrations, they laid their hands on them, and prayed over them.  (Acts 6:6)  In the church at Antioch, after the Holy Spirit had indicated that He wished to separate Paul and Barnabas for the work of planting churches, the church leadership laid their hands on them and released them to the work that they were called to.  (Acts 13:1-4)  Notice, however, although the church leadership had prayed over them and formally laid hands on them, scripture is very clear that it was the Holy Ghost that had chosen and sent them to the work and not merely man.  There was a prophetic word that came from the Holy Spirit as a result of fasting, praying, and seeking the Lord (v. 2,4). 

The laying on of hands was used to bestow specific spiritual gifts upon individuals, as in the case of Timothy, to whom Paul said, "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery."  (1 Timothy 4:14)  And again, "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands."  (2 Timothy 1:6) 

In all of these cases, the laying on of hands was used to transfer spiritual blessings and gifts, and to formally "sanction" an individual, or a work by an individual, by the existing leadership.  Its use was quite common and accepted both in the Old and New Testaments.  It is also clear that it was not just "ceremonial" in nature, but that there was a genuine transfer of spiritual energy and authority associated with the act.  

Imparting Healing

There are numerous examples in the Bible of healings taking place as a result of the laying on of hands.  Christ commissioned believers to, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."  (Mark 16:15)  One of the signs that He said would follow them was, "…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (v. 18b).”  The scripture mentions many occasions where Jesus healed by the laying on of His hands.  Examples can be found in Mark 5:23; 6:5; 8:23; Luke 4:40; 13:13.  Paul laid hands on Publius' father and healed him of a fever and a bloody flux.  (Acts 28:8)

The Apostle James, in his letter to the churches said, "Is any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord."  (James 5:14)  It is apparent from the verses cited above that such anointing for the purpose of healing was probably accompanied by the laying on of hands.  John Gill (Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible) wrote, ". . .this refers to an extraordinary gift, which some elders had of healing diseases, as sometimes by touching, and by laying on of hands, or by expressing some words, and so by anointing with oil."

In many of the examples that have been cited above, the laying on of hands was accompanied either by fasting, anointing with oil, or, most generally, prayer.  Often, there is a transfer of energy - an anointing, a virtue - that results in the recipient receiving a healing, a spiritual gift, or power to accomplish a work that has been ordained of God.   In Luke chapter 8 we read the story of a woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years whom her doctors could not cure.  She had an extraordinary measure of faith to be healed, however, because she believed that if she would only touch the hem of Jesus’ robe as He passed by, she would be healed.  Though Jesus didn’t see her when she touched Him and didn’t physically feel the touch itself, He stopped immediately and asked, “Who touched Me?”  The disciples reasoned that any number of people had touched the Lord because they were thronging Him and pressing upon Him due to the sheer numbers that wanted to be close to Him.  He said something very telling here, however.  He said “Somebody hath touched Me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me.” (V. 8:46).  This same virtue, or anointing, is that which is transferred through the laying on of hands.  Obviously, God can, and has, blessed and gifted people even where there is an absence of this foundational principle: "I will work, and who shall let [hinder] it?" (Isaiah 43:13).  I do believe, however, that the Church has suffered untold loss by laying aside that which is fundamental and clearly taught in scripture.

There are a number of instances in the New Testament where the apostles laid hands on new believers, and they received the gift of the Holy Spirit.  In Acts 8, Peter and John went to Samaria and laid their hands on the converts Phillip had preached to and baptized.  “Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”  In Acts 9, Ananias laid hands on Paul, who was newly saved, and his eyes were opened, and he received the Holy Ghost.  Later, in Acts 19, Paul encountered gentile believers who had not been baptized into Christ.  He baptized them in Jesus name, laid hands on them, and they received the Spirit.  "And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."  (Acts 19:6).  As explained in the previous message on The Doctrine of Baptisms, these were exceptions to the rule and not the rule itself.  We cannot deduce by these exceptions that the only way to receive the Holy Spirit is by the laying on of hands.   

Identification: Transferring of Judgement

Under the Old Covenant, God required many blood sacrifices of His people Israel in order to purify them of their sins and carnality.  The animals used for the sacrifices were only a substitute.  It was the Israelites’ lives that God really required, but this would have left Him without a people at all.  Instead, He allowed the sacrificial animal to take the place of the offending human.  Their iniquities were transferred to the sacrifice, and thereby they received redemption by the death of the animal.  By laying hands on the head of the beast, the Israelites (or the priest in their stead) became identified directly with the experience of the beast.  When the beast's blood was let out, it was as if the person's blood was let out.  When the beast died, it was as if the person had died.  The judgment that was exacted on the beast was that person's judgment.  The redemption that was secured by the shedding of blood was also transferred to the person offering the gift.  "If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.  And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him."  (Leviticus 1:3,4)  Also, see Leviticus 3:2, 8, 13; 4:15.

In the case of the scapegoat in Leviticus 16, the beast was sent off to parts unknown rather than slain; but the principle of laying on of hands was the same.  "And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness." (Leviticus 16:21, 22).  This reminds me of a precious word in Psalm 103:11, 12.  “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”  In Christ Jesus our sins have been cast away as far as the east is from the west and sent off on the head of our Scapegoat never to be seen again.

Of course, the whole concept of laying hands on the sacrificial offering in order to identify with it has its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ our Lord.  He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world.  Simply by believing in and accepting His sacrifice, we become identified with His passion and receive redemption through the spilling of His blood.  "For HE hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."  (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Who has the authority to lay hands on other believers?  I believe it is primarily the work of the leadership of the church.  Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Pastors, Elders, Deacons may do so, but also those whom God has called to the work of the ministry and proven.  Potentially, that could include every mature believer.  I would not recommend that young Christians make a practice of laying hands on other believers until God has established them in the faith; and they have been discipled by seasoned men of God.  Paul warned Timothy to, "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure."  (1 Timothy 5:22)  Remember that there is an identification aspect associated with the laying on of hands.  If we lay hands on one who is not worthy, and they dishonor God, we become identified with that dishonor in a sense as well.  We must first learn to be spiritually discerning before we lay hands on another individual.

There is a great need for the laying on of hands as it was practiced by the early Church.  Those believers were led, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  They were also able to impart many spiritual gifts and blessings on one another by the prayerful laying on of hands.  May the Lord restore to the Church in these last days the power, faith, and anointing that those early saints had.