‘Remember those who had the rule over you, men who spoke to you the word of God; and considering the issue (or ‘end') of their life, follow (or ‘imitate') the faith, “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and for ever”.'
Fifthly they are to show their brotherly love by honouring their godly leaders who spoke to them the true word of God, keeping them before them as an example, and looking to them for guidance, both through the word of God and through their manner of life. The importance that the writer places on the leadership is brought out by his constant references (see Hebrews 13:17; Hebrews 13:24). In the days before the New Testament these leaders were the local deposit of the truth.
They are to ‘follow the faith', the faith that they taught and teach, or possibly ‘imitate the faith (i.e. their faith)', that is, imitate their faith as revealed in faithfulness to God and the result of their faith as revealed in their lives. Compare Hebrews 6:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:12.
‘Remember those who had the rule over you, men who spoke to you the word of God.' The word remember means ‘call to mind, consider, think upon', in the same way as we are told to ‘remember your Creator in the days of your youth.' In the same way these readers are to remember those who had the rule over them, especially as it was they who had brought to them the word of God. This may have in mind especially those who, having heard the Lord's words, confirmed them to them (Hebrews 2:3). But those who were appointed by them would also have brought to them the word of God. Thus the thought probably includes all godly men who had watched over them and had been faithful to the Scriptures and the Testimony of Jesus
‘Considering the issue (or end) of their life' may signify that some have been martyred, or may simply mean ‘consider the manner and result of their life'. If the former this would indicate that his readers are also to be ready for persecution and possible martyrdom. Either way they are to ‘consider them carefully' and follow their example.
‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and for ever.' It may be that we are to see this as defining, ‘follow the faith', and as being a well known credal statement of the early church. (This latter would explain why it is not conformed grammatically to ‘the faith'). Thus they are to ‘follow the faith, “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today and for ever” ' This makes most sense of its introduction here.
And they can do this with confidence knowing that Jesus Christ does not change. The One ‘yesterday' (in the past) revealed to them through the word, Jesus the Messiah, is the same today and for ever (compare James 1:17). If anyone therefore come with some new doctrine that portrays Christ differently they should be rejected, for He continues always the same, unchanging for ever. And it is He Whom their godly teachers hear and follow. That is why they too are to follow them.
The statement is absolute. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today and for ever” He remains unchanged. He is the same as the living One, sent from God, Who brought God's word to men, as found in the Testimony of Jesus (the living tradition about Jesus passed on in the churches). He is the same as the crucified One. He is the same as the One Who watches over His people in their sufferings (Acts 9:4-5). He is the same for ever.
The thought includes the fact that ‘Jesus Christ', is the Jesus of chapter 2, the Christ of chapter 3, the Jesus of chapter 4, the Christ of chapter 5 and so on. In both other mentions in the letter (compare Hebrews 10:10; Hebrews 13:21, see also Hebrews 3:1) the combination ‘Jesus Christ' has in mind His being offered as a sacrifice and the effect that that has on His people. The point here is that He has not changed since they were first converted and learned the fundamental truths about Him; is the same today in their present situation and as He has been revealed in the letter; and will continue the same for ever. Thus their lives are based on Someone permanent and enduring. Leaders come and go, but He goes on for ever.