Romans 13:1-7
Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 2 So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. 4 For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. 5 Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. 6 And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.[a] 7 Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.[1]
13:2-5
Are there times to rightly resist governmental authority?
What if we resist the governing powers in all righteousness and they respond negatively?
“Do you want to be unafraid…? Do what is good ….”
He is God’s servant for what purposes? Which is primary?
Those who advocate for capital punishment often cite v. 4.
Thoughts
There
is a difference between may and must.
Our
desire as Christians is that all people come to faith and repentance.
Capital
punishment is not an effective deterrent of crime.
Gallows
in the Middle Ages
Human
nature
Thor:
I do not intend to die today!
Heimdall: None do.[2]
Submission
We really
don’t like this word! The word means to place someone above yourself so that
you become subordinate. It is an act of humility and trust. (Of course there
are those who are not worthy of such trust.)
Wrath vs.
conscience
Do we ever obey the law out of fear of being caught or potential penalties?
13:6-7
Taxes
Matthew
17:24-27 – When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax
approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25 “Yes,” he said.
When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him
first, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect
tariffs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers?”
26 “From strangers,” he said.
“Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him. 27 “But,
so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first
fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin. Take it
and give it to them for me and you.”
Mark
12:13-17 – Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the
Herodians to Jesus to trap him in his words. 14 When
they came, they said to him, “Teacher, we know you are truthful and don’t care
what anyone thinks, nor do you show partiality but teach the way of God
truthfully. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or
shouldn’t we?”
15 But knowing their
hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you testing me? Bring me a
denarius to look at.” 16 They brought a
coin. “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them.
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
17 Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him.
Taxes - tribute
Tolls – custom duty
Respect – fear
Honor – value
Those last two are badly violated in the political climate of
the United States these days.[3]
[1]
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used
by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered
trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
[2]
2011 Marvel movie: Thor
[3]
I am not saying that this is new. Indeed, our political history is incredibly
disrespectful. However, in my opinion, we are in a particularly negative time,
and, as Christians, we are exhorted to display a different attitude “in light
of the mercies of God.” I’ve seen stories that argue that this time is the
worst for political discourse since the 1860’s.
Comments