Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.
We have spent two days talking about the first seven words of verse 13. In “The Meaning of Submit” and “For His Sake” we looked at what it means to submit, or “put under,” and why this is important to Christians. Now we look at the rest of this verse and the next.
We live in a time where everything is seemingly being turned upside down. The year of this writing is 2020. If you are reading this at some future date, you will know how 2020 turned out. For the rest of us, reading this in the middle of this unusual year, we are still wondering what will happen.
What we see happening right now is the bitter fruit of our nation drifting away from God. What happens when people don’t submit to God? All we have to do is turn on the television or check the internet. Pictures of destruction are everywhere. Minneapolis alone suffered more than 500 million dollars in damages from the recent riots. Some streets look as if they had been carpet-bombed.
These riots do not stand alone. There are years of indoctrination behind them. They are the fruit of decay in our schools and universities. They are the fruit of broken families and the loss of sexual mores. From what I can decipher from the news, there are enemies of our country on all sides that have been patiently preparing for this day, picking away at the weaknesses inherent in a free society. People are scared. Gun sales are setting records.
On top of all of this, the COVID-19 plague has immobilized our nation (except for the rioters). People are afraid of being around each other. We are being told where to stand, how far apart to stay, and what to cover our faces with.
To complicate matters, we live in a country that was founded on the premise that the authority of our government rests in the God-given “unalienable rights” of the governed. Submitting to authority then depends on who you believe is the authority: the government or the people. The very first sentence of the U.S. Constitution reads:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
When the Union is fractured, Justice has gone awry, and domestic Tranquility is absent, it would appear that those employed to govern our nation have abdicated their responsibility. Are we still required by our faith to submit to such people? If not, then what is left? Who is our authority? Is it not God? And what would God have us do that is different?
Jesus lived in a time when Jerusalem was governed by Rome, but Jewish law still governed the Jews. The history of Israel is one of failure to abide by God’s rules. In effect, they suffered the same fate as we are suffering now. The people in places of responsibility for God’s people were not abiding by God’s will. Yet Jesus still submitted to them.
As we each consider how we will respond to the turmoil around us, let us ask ourselves the question posed to us by Peter: Is what I am doing for the Lord’s sake or mine? And then, whatever we choose to do, let us hold fast to our God.
Application: Read your Bible every day. Pray every day. Trust God as Jesus did.
Food for Thought: What does the phrase ”sent by him” mean in today’s verse?
It shows that God ordains human government and is in control. It also should serve as a reminder to governing leaders that they submit to God and answer to Him (Romans 13: 1 – 8). King Nebuchadnezzer learned this the hard way (Daniel 4). Yes, it says something to those under their authority, but I think we often forget it also reminds all of us of the One truly Sovereign and in control. Thus, we should all always seek to submit to Him first.
Rich,
Thank you! It can be hard to see in the midst of turmoil but you are absolutely correct. God is truly sovereign and in control!
You nailed it Rich.
Ultimately, all authority comes from our sovereign God, by not stopping them, He sent them. It seems, this verse is pointing to sent by authorities of this world to enforce their will which we are to obey as a witness of our obedience to our Lord.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority, or to governors, who are sent by him.”
Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
Jesus willingly submitted to the earthly power of men, was falsely accused, punished and crucified so God’s will would be done and is our example.
Matthew 26:53, Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will immediately provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
At the same time, what do we do if “sent by him” commands we
commit an act of disobedience to God?
Matthew 22:21, Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
Acts 5:29 Peter stated our priority pretty bluntly, when the Jewish
authorities commanded him to stop preaching the gospel. “We ought to obey God rather than men”.
Ron,
I appreciate your take on this. I think it is easy to misunderstand these three little words. You have cast some light on them that is helpful.
Yep,..I would have gotten the answer wrong,..I was looking at “him” with a lower case so I was thinking of some other authority figure having being sent by him,…I always thought when him is lower case h it refers to a human and when the H in Him is capitalized it is referring to God,..of course grammar and literature wasn’t a big topic of mine,..sooo
Thanks for the insight,..keep smiling!
John,
The good news is that there are no “wrong” answers here. The hope is that we are all growing towards a better understanding of the Word. All who take time to comment here help us along the way. You never know what you might share that triggers an insight in someone else.
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Wow!! THREE thumbs up! I think that is a new record! 🙂
Thanks Ron. I was just going through Acts 3 and 4.