Of the doctrine of baptisms, and the laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and the eternal dead, and of eternal judgment.
Hebrews 6:2
We have all been exposed to the doctrine of the laying on of hands, whether as observers or receivers. It is a subject that is familiar to those who have participated in an evangelical worship service. What we do not know is why and for what purpose such a practice is executed within churches.
The doctrine of laying on of hands was taken from the traditional practice of Mosaic Judaism and integrated as an extension of the ritual observance of the Law.
The only difference between before and after it became part of the apostles’ doctrine was that it was popularised by the apostles, prophets, elders, presbytery, etc. within the daily customs of the Lord’s church. Previously, its practice was limited to the rituals of the sacrifices and holocausts offered in observance of the fulfilment of the Mosaic Law. The apostles integrated it into their doctrine, introducing a more active participation in the use of various ministerial applications.
Nevertheless, the entire people had a clear understanding of the value of the laying on of hands.
The LORD will send his blessing upon your barns, and upon all that you put your hand to; and he will bless you in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
Deuteronomy 28:8
For spiritual purposes, the hand was not to be placed on any other part of the body, but only on the head,
Then Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the youngest, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, thus placing his hands deliberately, although Manasseh was the firstborn. … 17When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; and he took his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.
Genesis 48:14-17
In the biblical conception, the head represents the existence of the person,
At the end of three days Pharaoh will raise you up, and restore you to your place: and you shall give the cup to Pharaoh in his hand, as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. And when the chief baker saw that he had declared for good, he said to Joseph, I also dreamed that I saw three white baskets upon my head; … 19And at the end of three days Pharaoh shall take away thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on the gallows, and the fowls shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
Genesis 40:13-20
In the sacrifices, the laying of hands on the head of the animal represented the substitution of the person in exchange for the animal,
And you shall bring the bullock before the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bullock. … 15And you shall take a ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram.
Exodus 29:10-15
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and he shall accept it to make atonement for him.
Leviticus 1:4
And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and afterward he shall kill it before the tabernacle of the testimony; and Aaron’s sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.
Leviticus 3:8
And he shall bring the bullock to the door of the tent of meeting before the LORD, and lay his hand upon the head of the bullock, and kill it before the LORD.
Leviticus 4:4
In the sacrifices, they laid hands on those who were to pay with their lives for their sin, represented by the animal, and free their lives from death. By laying hands on the animal, the sins of the people were transferred, and they were charged on the animal. The animal died in substitution of the person, and the sins were dissolved in its death.
And you shall bring the bullock before the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bullock… 15And you shall take the one ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram… 19And you shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram…
Exodus 29:10-19
And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD; and they shall kill the bullock before the LORD.
Leviticus 4:15
And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering unto the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.
Numbers 8:12
WHAT DOES THE LAYING ON OF HANDS CONSIST OF?
The laying on of hands is the spiritual form for imparting and transferring spiritual virtues. It is not a religious rite or a symbolic form to indicate a divine operation. It is the means established by God to transfer upon the person the virtue invoked by the one who lays hands.
The importance and spiritual value of its use is clear from the recommendation of the apostle Paul to Timothy not to lay hands lightly.
Lay hands lightly on no one, and do not communicate in other people’s sins: keep yourself in cleanliness.
1 Timothy 5:22
It is not about using any hand at the discretion of the person who practices it. It has to be the right hand. In the biblical conception, the imposition of the right hand on a person indicates that he is greater than the one on the left. The following texts evidence this.
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the youngest, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, putting his hands on purpose, though Manasseh was the firstborn. … 18And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn; lay thy right hand on his head.
Genesis 48:14-18
Furthermore, it is clear that what is on the right represents a person or persons approved by the one who establishes the difference.
33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, and the goats on his left. 34Then the King will say to those on his right hand, ‘Come, you who are blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. … 41Then he will also say to those on his left hand: Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Matthew 25:33-41
Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, which is clear proof of the Father’s pleasure in the work entrusted to Him.
IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:1 (see also Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 10).
THOSE WHO LAY HANDS
It is a fact that not every person is authorised to lay hands. As we have already stated, in the laying on of hands there is spiritual transference. There is no doubt that a person can transfer contamination to another. The case of Simon the magician is a clear example of this. Despite being a believer, his level of contamination would have transferred to those he laid hands on. This was due to the magical spiritual contamination he carried.
And when Simon saw that by the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Acts 8:18
Biblically, the authorized persons are:
AN ORDAINED AND RECOGNIZED MINISTER
An ordained minister is an apostle, a prophet, a pastor, an elder, etc. They are, in general terms, a minister who preaches the Good News of the Gospel. Let me be clear: when we speak of an ordained minister, we are referring to a minister chosen by the Lord who is exercising the ministry according to the biblical disposition. We are not referring to the “ordination” ceremony that some associations perform on their members.
The first ordination of a minister is spiritually executed by the Lord when He chooses and confers ministry to the person. The Bible recognises the preeminence of some ministries over others, and the laying on of hands is executed depending on the availability of the region. Discrimination against ministries is unacceptable. God honors the ministries that He Himself has raised up.
Therefore, I advise you to awaken the gift of God, which is in you through the imposition of my hands.
2nd Timothy 1:6
THE PRESBYTERY
A presbytery is a ministerial body. It may be of the local church, of the association of churches, or of the accredited pastoral body present in an occasional assembly.
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which is given to you by prophecy with the imposition of the hands of the presbytery.
1 Timothy 4:14
WHAT IS THE IMPOSITION OF HANDS USED FOR?
for imparting and/or ordination of ministry
The ministries are imparted according to the confirmation of the Holy Spirit upon those God calls to establish the Gospel of the Kingdom.
When these therefore had ministered unto the Lord, and were fasting, the Holy Ghost said: Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 3When they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them away.
Acts 13:3
to recognize and submit to local ministries
The act of laying hands on a ministry is to recognise and submit to them. It is a clear and unambiguous act of submission by the members of a congregation to the local ministries. This is done in recognition of the divine authority of the ministries and to avoid any defiance of that authority.
And when thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD, the children of Israel shall lay their hands upon the Levites; 11and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, and they shall minister in the service of the LORD.
Numbers 8:10,11
to impart the baptism of the Holy Spirit
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a spiritual operation of Jesus on the person himself. In many cases, the baptism of the Holy Spirit has been operated without the intervention of a person, as in the case of Cornelius and his household. However, if the person has not received it after some time, a minister must intervene to correct the teaching if there is any deficiency.
Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:17 (NKJV)
And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Acts 19:6 (NKJV)
to impart spiritual gifts
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.
1 Timothy 4:14
- to take authority and/or exercise liberation
And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18they shall take up serpents in their hands; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Mark 16:17-18
- To impart healing
And he besought him much, saying, My daughter is at the point of death: come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be saved, and she shall live.
Mark 5:23
Then Ananias went and entered into the house, and laid his hands on him, and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the way by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9:17
TO BLESS
It was customary for fathers and patriarchs to bless their sons, daughters-in-law and grooms at weddings.
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the youngest, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, and laid his hands deliberately, though Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God that hath preserved me from the time that I was until this day, 16 The Angel that delivereth me from all evil, bless these young men: and let my name be called upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac: and let them multiply exceedingly in the midst of the earth.
Genesis 48:1-16
The laying of hands is a doctrine that has lost much of its spiritual meaning. In many places, it is even inoperative, not because the Lord has deactivated it, but because the ministers do not receive, nor are they updated, with adequate biblical and spiritual formation on the subject.
The Lord is still at work among his people, raising up many capable ministers who will act by faith to unleash the glory that has been bestowed upon us through the revelation of his Word.
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version, 1909 (NKJV).
