Do we really understand the meaning of “laying on of hands”?

Many Christians in the church today have only a partial understanding of the meaning of "laying on of hands" and often misuse it, causing them to sin without us knowing it. As soon as some believers see people with spiritual authority, they do not hesitate to ask them to lay their hands on them. In fact, they do not understand the true meaning of "laying on of hands" at all. When there are some believers in the church who are sick, they will ask others to lay hands on them and pray. They think: "As long as they experience the laying on of hands and pray, their diseases will be cured." What is even more worrying is the casualness in the church. The phenomenon of laying on hands or casually receiving the laying on of hands by others. Some believers do not understand the meaning of "laying on hands". Laying hands on believers casually will not only fail to cure the diseases on the body, but will also aggravate the diseases on the body. What is the reason for this? "Laying on of hands" represents authority and cleansing. If a person who has no authority and is unclean himself lays hands on others, how can the person on whom his hands are laid be healed? Only when we truly understand the meaning of "laying on of hands" can we not lay hands on others casually or on their heads, let alone allow others to lay hands on ourselves. Let’s take a look at the meaning of “laying on of hands” from a biblical perspective:

1. “Laying on of hands” indicates recognition

“Put your hands on the head of the sheep to acknowledge the Israelites All their iniquities and transgressions, all their sins, will be laid on the head of the sheep, and they will be sent out into the wilderness by the hands of those who are appointed to do it. "Bear all their sins and carry them to an uninhabited land" (Leviticus 16:21-22)

"Do not lay hands on anyone hastily; do not be a partaker of other people's sins." "Keep yourselves clean" (1 Timothy 5:22)

From this passage, we see that "laying hands" on something means that the person who lays hands acknowledges his shortcomings and sins. By "laying on hands", one's own sins are imputed to the thing on which one is laid. This kind of "laying on of hands" was usually used in the Old Testament to lay hands on the sacrifices and to atone for sins through the sacrifices. We must pay special attention in the church: if we are laid on by someone who is sinning, praying or blessing us, we may bear his sins and curses, and vice versa, if we lay our hands on others with a filthy life , and will not be heard by God. "Do not be hasty when you lay hands on others; do not share in the sins of others, but keep yourselves pure." (1 Timothy 5:22)

2. "Laying on of hands" means blessing

"Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the second son; and he put his left hand on the head of Manasseh, who was the eldest son." (Genesis 48:14)

We see that the second meaning of "laying on of hands" is blessing. The order of blessings is generally from top to bottom, from oldest to youngest, but we do not exclude particularly prestigious young people from blessing others. Jacob of Israel represents authority and elders. He lays his hands on the heads of his grandchildren and blesses them. Now in the church, some brothers and sisters do not understand the true meaning of the laying on of hands, and they make jokes. Once, an old pastor and I were holding a spiritual training meeting in the countryside of Henan. A sister came over and said, "Old pastor, can I lay my hands on you and bless you?" After hearing this, I felt funny and pitiful for this sister. . If we lay hands on people and bless people casually, there will be confusion in the order in the church. Ask God to have mercy on us, let us know what our identity is, and let us do things commensurate with our identity, so as to please both people and God.

3. "Laying on of hands" means entrustment

"While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said: 'Apart for me Barnabas and Saul, to be my "Then he sent them away with fasting and prayer, and laying his hands on their heads" (Acts 13:2-3)

This passage of Scripture tells us that this is what happened. "Laying on hands" requires special caution, because "laying on hands" means entrusting missions and important responsibilities to the other party. Before we "lay hands" on the entrusted person, we must have a fasting and praying mentality before we can lay our hands on the head of the entrusted person. Otherwise, we cannot lay our hands on the person being entrusted. Nowadays, the church has too many people who are entrusted with the laying on of hands haphazardly. The people entrusting the hands have no vision, and the people being laid on are confused. As a result, they serve in the church without a sense of responsibility.

4. "Laying on of hands" means healing

"While Jesus was saying these words, a synagogue ruler came to him and worshiped him, saying, 'My daughter has just died. Please go. Lay your hands on her, and she will live.

’” (Matthew 9:18)

“He can take serpents with his hands; and if he drinks any poison, it will not hurt him; he will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. " (Mark 16:18)

"Laying on of hands" means healing. We are not unfamiliar with it, because Jesus often laid hands on people in the four gospels, and their illnesses were cured. . If we are sick in the church, we must urgently pray for Jesus’ hands to be laid on us, and then our diseases will be healed. We must not be impatient and seek healing from the laying on of hands. Sometimes, not only is it not done well, On the contrary, it will be more serious. We must know that it is not human hands that have power, but Jesus gives them authority and power. How can we be healed without the mercy of Jesus?

5. "Laying on of Hands" Indicating the giving of the Holy Spirit

“Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on them. So he gave the apostles money and said, ‘Give me this power also, that whoever I lay my hands on may do it. Receive the Holy Spirit. '" (Acts 8:18-19)

The fifth meaning of "laying on of hands" is often misused by heretics or extremes. These heretics claim: "As long as we lay our hands on you, you will You will be filled with the Holy Spirit and you will be struck down by the Holy Spirit. "I think this kind of laying on of hands is not about being filled with the Holy Spirit, but being filled with evil spirits. As children of God, we should not be used by heretics or extremes. To be filled with the Holy Spirit, we need to pursue it in our minds and God's words in order to achieve the power of the Holy Spirit. Fill.

6. “Laying of hands” means consecration and ordination

“Bring the Levites before the LORD, and the Israelites shall lay their hands on them. Aaron also presented them before the LORD as a wave offering for the Israelites, so that they might do the work of the LORD. " (Numbers 8:10-11)

"Do not neglect the gift you have received, which was given you by prophecy when the elders laid their hands on you. ” (Timothy 4:14)

?The pastors and elders in the church today should have been ordained and ordained by the laying on of hands. If not, they cannot be called pastors and elders. In the end of the world, on earth There are many false prophets and preachers in the church who claim to have been appointed by God. Such people will bring chaos to the church. Christians must follow biblical principles and procedures when accepting offices, and cannot use spiritual words. Cover the pride in our hearts. May God have mercy on this era and allow us to keep our duty.