Beth-El Baptist Church

09/10/06

Greg Tomlinson

What does the bible mean regarding the laying on of hands?

Within the pages of scripture are many topics that are deemed controversial. One of those topics has to do with the concept of laying hands on another. We will take a look at its usage in the Old and New Testament, especially the New Testament to understand what it means and when it is applicable today.

1. What are some of the fundamental usages?

Exodus 29:15, 19

Leviticus 1:2-5; 3:2, 8, 13-14, 4:3-6, 13-17, 22-25, 27-33; 8:18, 22; 16:21-22

Numbers 8:12

2 Chronicles 29:23

Here the laying on of hands has to do with sacrifices. The person who laid their hands on the sacrificial animal was symbolically transferring their sins to the sacrifice. He was personally identifying himself with the sacrifice in order to acknowledge that the animal was being killed for his sins and not for the animals.

Leviticus 24:14-16

Job 9:33

Here the laying on hands has to do with judgment. The people of Israel were indicating that they were rightly judging the condemned individual and that his offense was very serious. They are in essence indicating that they agree with the judgment and thus they are willing to carry out the declared judgment of God.

Genesis 46:4; 48:14-18

Psalm 139:4-7

Ezekiel 39:21

Matthew 19:13-15

Mark 10:13-16

Revelation 1:17

Here the laying on of hands has to do with the conferring of a blessing. It is the act of identifying the individual as being in the hands of God to be encouraged and lifted up before him. It is also used to indicate that the recipient of the blessing is to receive something great at the hands of God. This we need more of in our society.

Numbers 8:9-11; 27:22-23

Deuteronomy 34:9

Acts 6:1-6; 13:1-3

1 Timothy 4:14

2 Timothy 1:6

Here the laying on of hands has to do with identifying, conferring, commissioning or ordaining an individual to a position of authority. They are being specially identified for all to see that other leaders have approved of them to carry out the work of God.

Matthew 8:3; 9:18

Mark 1:40-42; 5:23; 6:5; 7:32-35; 8:23-25; 16:16-18

Luke 4:40; 5:13; 13:11-13

Acts 9:12, 17; 28:8

Here the laying on of hands has to do with physical healing. Jesus, his disciples and Paul would place their hands on someone that was sick and their healing would follow.

Acts 8:14-17; 19:1-6

Here the laying on of hands has to do with the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

2. What does laying on hands have to do with healing?

Genesis 20:17

Numbers 12:13-14

Deuteronomy 32:39

2 Kings 2:21-22; 20:5-11

2 Chronicles 7:14; 30:18-20

Psalm 6:2; 30:2; 41:4; 42:11; 43:5; 60:1-2; 103:2-4; 147:3

Proverbs 4:20-23

Isaiah 6:9-10; 19:22; 53:5

Jeremiah 3:22; 17:14; 30:17

Ezekiel 34:2-4

Hosea 6:1; 7:1

Zechariah 11:15-17

Malachi 4:2-3

Matthew 4:23-24; 8:6-8, 13; 10:7-8

Mark 7:32-35

Luke 4:18

Acts 4:29-31; 10:38; 14:9-11; 28:27

1 Corinthians 12:9, 28-31; compare 1 Corinthians 13:8-9

James 5:13-16

1 Peter 2:24

The healing does not come by way of the laying on of hands, but by the power of God. The laying on of hands associated with healing was associated with prayer. It is a point of identifying God with the healing so that people know that it is God that heals and not the medication nor the individual.

3. What does laying on hands have to do with the coming of the Holy Spirit?

Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-48; 19:1-6

1 Thessalonians 1:4-6

2 Peter 1:20-21

The Holy Spirit comes upon men when they are saved. In the book of Acts, there are four primary cases in which the scriptures identify a special significance associated with the coming of the Holy Spirit. There are of particular interest.

Passage	Recipients	Messenger	Mechanism for Spirits arrival	Reason
Acts 2:1-4	Jewish disciples	None	Came on them
Acts 8:14-17	Samaritans	Deacon Philip	Laying on hands by Peter & John	Confirm message to Samaritans from Philip same as Peter’s
Acts 10:44-48	Gentiles	Peter	Came on them	Salvation available to the gentiles
Acts 19:1-6	Gentiles	Apollos/Paul	Laying on hands by Paul	Confirm Paul’s Apostleship like Peter’s

In each of these cases, the Holy Spirit is coming on people further away from Jerusalem and via a preacher further disassociated with the Apostles. The laying on of hands is an Apostolic confirmation of the validity of the message to gentiles and a confirmation of the message delivered by non-Apostles.

4. Is there anything else that we need to know about the laying on of hands?

Hebrews 6:1-2

Here the write of Hebrews is encouraging the recipients to move beyond the elementary or basic doctrines that were not necessarily only Christian in nature, but were fundamentally Jewish in nature. The recipients are being urged on to perfection and to move into a deeper study and understanding of the scriptures and their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Summary:

While the principles behind the laying on of hands are important, they are secondary to the person and the work of Jesus Christ. The healings and coming of the Holy Spirit by laying on of hands are to point back to God as the provider. It is Jesus who heals and who gives the Holy Spirit. Healing is more a function of prayer than of Christian “hands on” action. The Holy Spirit is more a function of faith then of “hands on” action. The laying on of hands has historically been better associated with the conferring of blessings and the recognition of an individual set apart for service unto God.