Hebrews 13:17

Obey. See on v. 7.

Submit yourselves. God has appointed leaders to shepherd His flock, and He calls upon His sheep to submit to those appointed over them, the while these leaders themselves obey the Master. Here reference is to present leaders, not to former leaders as in v. 7.

They watch. The leaders God has appointed over the church are responsible to Him for the welfare of His people, and He will require a strict account of their stewardship.

For your souls. That is, “for you” (cf. on ch. 12:9, 23).

Must give account. A steward is accountable to his master for any goods entrusted to his care, and knows that he must answer for his stewardship. By cooperating with their appointed leaders church members make it much easier for them to render a faithful account of their stewardship.

With joy. That is, in the knowledge that they have faithfully discharged their responsibility. Compare the experience of the faithful servants who were summoned to enter into the joy of their Lord (see Matt. 25:21).

Not with grief. Literally, “not with groaning.” Compare the experience of the unfaithful servant (Matt. 25:28-30).

Unprofitable. Church members gain no advantage by making it difficult for their appointed leaders to render a good account of their stewardship. Both will share together the “joy” or the “grief” of the accounting day.