Elder Responsibilities and Rewards
Note: God wanted Moses to share responsibility with elders.
So, the LORD said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of
Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over
them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand
there with you. Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will
take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them;
and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not
bear it alone.” Numbers 11:16-17
Note: Elders should administer justice.
“But if anyone hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises against
him and strikes him mortally, so that he dies, and he flees to one of
these cities, then the elders of his city shall send and bring him from
there, and deliver him over to the hand of the avenger of blood, that
he may die. Your eye shall not pity him, but you shall put away the
guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with you.”
Deuteronomy 19:11-13
Note: Elders are responsible for the safety of people.
“If anyone is found slain, lying in the field in the land which the
LORD your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who killed
him, then your elders and your judges shall go out and measure the
distance from the slain man to the surrounding cities. And it shall be
that the elders of the city nearest to the slain man will take a heifer
which has not been worked, and which has not pulled with a yoke. The
elders of that city shall bring the heifer down to a valley with
flowing water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and they shall break
the heifer’s neck there in the valley. Then the priests, the sons of
Levi, shall come near, for the LORD your God has chosen them to
minister to Him and to bless in the name of the LORD; by their word
every controversy and every assault shall be settled.” Deuteronomy
21:1-5
Note: Elders are responsible for the tranquility of communities.
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice
of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have
chastened him, will not heed them, then his father and his mother shall
take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the
gate of his city. And they shall say to the elders of his city, “This
son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he
is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of his city shall stone
him to death with stones; so, you shall put away the evil from among
you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.” Deuteronomy 21:18-21
Note: Elders are to understand the law of God.
So, Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of
Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the
elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of
every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the
Feast of Tabernacles, when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD
your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before
all Israel in their hearing. Deuteronomy 31:9-11
Note: Elders should know what God has done in the past.
“Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations. Ask
your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you:
When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, when He
separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples
according to the number of the children of Israel. For the LORD’s
portion is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance.”
Deuteronomy 32:7-9
Note: Elders should protect the innocent against a revenger.
The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying, “Speak to the children of
Israel, saying: Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I
spoke to you through Moses, that the slayer who kills a person
accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your
refuge from the avenger of blood. And when he flees to one of those
cities and stands at the entrance of the gate of the city and declares
his case in the hearing of the elders of that city, they shall take him
into the city as one of them and give him a place that he may dwell
among them. Then if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not
deliver the slayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor
unintentionally, but did not hate him beforehand. Joshua 20:1-5
Note: Elders should be consulted for inheritance rights.
Therefore, the close relative said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” So,
he took off his sandal. And Boaz said to the elders and all the people,
“You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was
Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, from the hand of
Naomi. Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have
acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his
inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among
his brethren and from his position at the gate. You are witnesses this
day.” Ruth 4:8-10
Note: Young rulers should listen only to the advise of elders.
Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father
Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to
answer these people?” And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a
servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and
speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” But
he rejected the advice which the elders had given him and consulted the
young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. And he said
to them, “What advice do you give? How should we answer this people who
have spoken to me, saying, ‘Lighten the yoke which your father put on
us’?” Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him,
saying, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you,
saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on
us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than
my father’s waist! And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you,
I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will
chastise you with scourges!’” So Jeroboam and all the people came to
Rehoboam the third day, as the king had directed, saying, “Come back to
me the third day.” Then the king answered the people roughly, and
rejected the advice which the elders had given him; and he spoke to
them according to the advice of the young men, saying, “My father made
your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you
with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” So, the king did
not listen to the people; for the turn of events was from the LORD,
that He might fulfill His word, which the LORD had spoken by Ahijah the
Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. 1 Kings 12:6-15
Note: Dysfunctional societies will be rude toward elders.
“I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over
them. The people will be oppressed, everyone by another and everyone by
his neighbor; The child will be insolent toward the elder, and the base
toward the honorable.” Isaiah 3:4-5
Note: Elders should lead the people in the building the kingdom of God.
Then Tattenai, governor of the region beyond the River, Shethar-Boznai,
and their companions diligently did according to what King Darius had
sent. So, the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the
prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And
they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of
Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes
king of Persia. Now the temple was finished on the third day of the
month of Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
Then the children of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest
of the descendants of the captivity, celebrated the dedication of this
house of God with joy. Ezra 6:13-16
Note: Elders should not neglect the word of God for traditions.
Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus,
saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?
For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered and
said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God
because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, honor your father
and your mother’; and He who curses father or mother, let him be put to
death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever
profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need
not honor his father or mother.’ Thus, you have made the commandment of
God of no effect by your tradition. Matthew 15:1-6
Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having
come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread
with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the
Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a
special way, holding the tradition of the elders. When they come from
the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many
other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of
cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. Then the Pharisees and
scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the
tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” He
answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites,
as it is written: This people honors Me with their lips, but their
heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as
doctrines the commandments of men.’ For laying aside the commandment of
God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups,
and many other such things you do.” Mark 7:1-8
Note: Elders should understand scriptural teaching.
Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of
the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what
authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”
But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing,
which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do
these things: The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or
from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say,
‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as
a prophet.” So, they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He
said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these
things. Matthew 21:23-27
Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple,
the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. And they
said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who
gave You this authority to do these things?” But Jesus answered and
said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I
will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of
John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.” And they reasoned
among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why
then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men’”—they feared
the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 So
they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus answered
and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these
things.” Mark 11:27-33
Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the
temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes,
together with the elders, confronted Him and spoke to Him, saying,
“Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he
who gave You this authority?” But He answered and said to them, “I also
will ask you one thing, and answer Me: The baptism of John—was it from
heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we
say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are
persuaded that John was a prophet.” So, they answered that they did not
know where it was from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell
you by what authority I do these things.” Luke 20:1-8
Note: Elders should never accuse an innocent person.
Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him,
saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as
you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and
elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear
how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one
word, so that the governor marveled greatly. Matthew 27:11-14
Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with
the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led
Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate. Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You
the King of the Jews?” He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”
And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered
nothing. Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing?
See how many things they testify against You!” But Jesus still answered
nothing, so that Pilate marveled. Mark 15:1-5
Note: Elders should never cause a riot by demanding the release of the guilty.
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they
should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and
said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They
said, “Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus
who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”
Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried
out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that
he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he
took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am
innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” Matthew
27:20-24
Note: Elders should never mock the death of an innocent person.
And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying,
“You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself!
If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise, the
chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He
saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let
Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted
in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am
the Son of God.’” Matthew 27:39-43
Note: Elders should take to heart the preaching of Jesus Christ.
And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and
scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and
Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were
gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the
midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the
people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed
done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be
known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the
dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the stone
which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief
cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no
other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:5-12
Note: Churches need godly elders.
And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many
disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening
the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith,
and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of
God.” So, when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed
with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had
believed. Acts 14:21-23
Note: Elders need to make decisions based on Scripture.
Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And
when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men
and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that
by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and
believe. So, God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them
the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between
us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you
test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither
our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as
they.” Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and
Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through
them among the Gentiles. And after they had become silent, James
answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: Simon has declared
how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people
for His name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it
is written: ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle
of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will
set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, even all the
Gentiles who are called by My name, says the LORD who does all these
things.’ “Known to God from eternity are all His works. Therefore, I
judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are
turning to God.” Acts 15:6-19
Note: Paul’s final words to the Ephesus elders.
From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the
church. And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from
the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among
you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials
which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; how I kept back
nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you
publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to
Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the
things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit
testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to
myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I
received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of
God. And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone
preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore, I
testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For
I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which
the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God
which He purchased with His own blood. For I know that after my
departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also, from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things,
to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore, watch and
remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night
and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the
word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an
inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one’s
silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands
have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I
have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must
support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He
said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” And when he had
said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Then they
all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most
of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no
more. And they accompanied him to the ship. Acts 20:17-38
Note: Godly elders should be honored.
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture
says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and
“The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Do not receive an accusation
against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are
sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. 1
Timothy 5:17-20
Note: Elders should be blameless, husband of one wife, and have faithful children.
For this reason, I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the
things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I
commanded you— if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having
faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a
bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not
quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy,
self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught,
that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict
those who contradict. Titus 1:5-9
Note: By faith godly elders obtained a good testimony.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. Hebrews 11:1-2
Note: Elders should be called when a person is sick.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let
him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? 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 5:13-14
Note: Elders should be willingly good examples to the people that they serve.
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a
witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory
that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you,
serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for
dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to
you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd
appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1
Peter 5:1-4
Note: Elders should rejoice when children are in the truth with love.
The Elder, to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth,
and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, because of
the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: Grace, mercy,
and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus
Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. I rejoiced greatly
that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we
received commandment from the Father. And now I plead with you, lady,
not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have
had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love that we
walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment that as you
have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. 2 John 1:1-6
Note: Elders should rejoice when people are living in the truth.
The Elder, to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray
that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul
prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of
the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no
greater joy than hearing that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:1-4
Note: Elders in heaven will be before the throne of God.
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in
heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking
with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must
take place after this.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a
throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there
was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a
rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the
throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four
elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on
their heads. Revelation 4:1-4
Note: Elders in heaven give all rewards and praise to God the Father.
Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him
who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four
elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who
lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne,
saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were
created.” Revelation 4:9-11
Note: Elders in heaven give praise and worship to Jesus Christ.
Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the
twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and
golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And
they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and
to open its seals; For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by
Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and
have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the
earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the
throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them
was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying
with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power
and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Revelation 5:8-12