Foundation of Laying on of Hands

We see in Hebrews 6 that the laying on of hands is an elementary principle in the Word of God. Which means the laying on of hands is one of the basic and uncomplicated aspects of being a disciple of Jesus. It isn't complicated. It’s basic. However, some people may not believe laying on of hands is basic and uncomplicated. So we will go through scriptures to see the different aspects of laying on of hands.

Let’s begin by noticing that laying on of hands is an action. We are shown a person performs the action of laying on of hands, and then we see the Holy Spirit’s result of that action. The person, who is laying on the hands, is a vessel that God uses to commission someone for a position of authority, to heal someone, to baptize someone in the Holy Spirit, to give spiritual gifts and to pronounce blessings.

1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Hebrews 6:1-2 NKJV

Commissioning

We see laying hands on people for commissioning for specific responsibility in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Commissioning - order or authorize (a person or organization) to do or produce something. To appoint (someone) to the rank of officer in the armed services.

In Numbers 27:18-20, Moses is instructed to lay his hands on Joshua in order to transfer some of his authority onto Joshua.

18 The Lord replied, “Take Joshua son of Nun, who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. 19 Present him to Eleazar the priest before the whole community, and publicly commission him to lead the people. 20 Transfer some of your authority to him so the whole community of Israel will obey him.

Numbers 27:18-20 NLT

Numbers 8:10-11 shows how the people were instructed to lay their hands on the Levites in order to commission them to do the service of the Lord.

10 When you bring the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, 11 and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the Lord.

Numbers 8:10-11 ESV

In Acts, we see how prayer and the laying of hands preceded commissioning a person to do the work God commissioned them to do.

1Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 6:1-7 ESV

1Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 13:1-3 ESV

Be aware of who you are laying hands on.

Paul gives us some instructions on commissioning people to positions of authority. We must look at the fruit of the person before we commission anyone to a position of authority and we must ask God for direction in every situation.

22 Do not be in a hurry in the laying on of hands [giving the sanction of the church too hastily in reinstating expelled offenders or in ordination in questionable cases], nor share or participate in another man’s sins; keep yourself pure.

1 Timothy 5:22 AMPC

We actually see Paul test people in 2 Corinthians 2:9 to see if they are obedient in everything.

9 For this was my purpose in writing, to see if you would stand the test, whether you are obedient and committed to following my instruction in all things.

2 Corinthians 2:9 AMP

We need to make sure the person we are commissioning lines up with the Word of God. Titus chapter 1 and 2 gives us detailed qualification for leadership in the body.

Laying on of hands for healing.

In Mark 6:5, Jesus laid his hands on people and healed them.

5 And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.

Mark 6:5 ESV

Again, Luke 4:40 shows us Jesus laid his hands on the sick and they were healed.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.

Luke 4:40 ESV

Jesus commissions the disciples to lay hands on the sick. We have been given this same commission.

14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

Mark 16:14-20 ESV

When Receiving the Holy Spirit

Believers, who are filled with the Holy Spirit, lay their hands on other believers in order for them to receive the Holy Spirit.

14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 8:14-17 ESV

Ananias, in Acts 9:17, lays his hands on Saul, in order for him to regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 9:15-17 ESV

Giving Spiritual Gifts

The laying on of hands, fills a person with the spirit of God’s wisdom. In Deuteronomy 34:9, Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom.

9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Deuteronomy 34:9 ESV

In 1 Timothy we see Paul instructing Timothy to not neglect the gift he was given by prophecy when the elders laid their hands on him. Paul instructs Timothy to properly conduct himself before believers and to do this by devoting himself to publicly reading scripture, to exhortation and to teaching. Paul was trying to help Timothy put this gift of ministry Timothy had received into action. Then Paul reminds Timothy that he already has this gift from the laying on of hands and for him not to neglect it, but to put it into practice so that it may grow.

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.

1 Timothy 4:12-15 ESV

Timothy is also told to guard the deposit that was entrusted to him. Guard the gift.

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

1 Timothy 6:20-21 ESV

In 2 Timothy 1:6, Paul is encouraging Timothy to not be ashamed of the gospel, but to be a leader when it comes to the teaching of the gospel. He encourages him to rekindle the gift of leadership and teaching he had received when Paul had previously laid hands upon him.

6 Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God had not given us a spirit of fear, but one of poor, love, and sound judgement. 8 So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner.

2 Timothy 1:6 CSB

We can see from these scriptures that we can lay hands on people and they can receive spiritual gifts but they must do their part in using the spiritual gift they received. It is their responsibility to properly grow the gift they receive.

Blessings

Prophetic blessings are given with laying on of hands.

14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” 17 When 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 move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”

Genesis 48:14-19 ESV

Matthew 19:13-15 shows Jesus blessing children by laying his hands on them.

13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Matthew 19:13-15 ESV