You've probably seen TV "faith healers" laying their hands on sick people, or hitting them on their foreheads, to produce a supposed healing. This is the typical modem view of "laying hands" on someone.

But what does the Bible say about laying hands on people? Let's look at its use in the Old Testament.

• Jacob laid his hands on his grandsons to convey his blessings-Genesis 48:14.
• Priests laid hands on the heads of sacrificial animals, appointing them for sacrifice-Leviticus 3:1,2; 4:4; 8:22.
• Priests laid hands on the "scapegoat's" head, transferring the people's guilt to the animal before sending it into the wilderness-Leviticus 16:21.
• Hands were laid on men being "ordained" to special service-Numbers 27:18-23.
• Judgment was passed through laying on of hands-Leviticus 24:14.

Now, let's notice how this practice was used in the New Testament.

• Jesus used this means to convey a blessing to little children-Mark 10:13-16.
• Jesus transferred his healing power to people by putting his hands on them-Matthew 9:18,25; Mark 6:5; Luke 4:40; and 13:13.
• The apostles also used this means to convey healing-Mark 16:15-20; Acts 5:12 and 28:8, as well as Acts 9:12,17.
• By laying their hands on them, the apostles transferred miraculous spiritual gifts to others-Acts 8:14-17; Acts 19:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6.
• This practice accompanied appointment or ordination to service-Acts 6:1-6; 13:1-3.

Let's investigate whether we should practice this custom in the church today. Some of the purposes for laying on of hands have ceased.

• Since Jesus was the final sacrifice, there is no need to lay hands on the heads of sacrificial animals (Hebrews 10:1-14).
• The purpose for miraculous spiritual gifts has been fulfilled, so they have ceased. Therefore, there is no need to transfer them to others (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). Also, we only have record of apostles having the power to transfer these gifts-and all the apostles are dead.

However, we well may be able to use this custom in ordaining or appointing men to special service in the church. Such was done with the seven deacon-like men appointed in Acts 6, and with the preachers Saul and Barnabas in Acts 13:1-3.

It should be noted that there is no New Testament command for us to lay hands on people, but we do have examples, as illustrated above.

Laying hands on someone appears generally to symbolize conveying or transferring something--authority, blessing, healing, or approval--to that person.