Now to the King … be honor…
Summary: We owe our king everything.
Have you ever heard the expression, to “pay someone honor?”
When you come before a king and bow down, you are literally “paying” with your life. A person whose face is to the ground cannot see to defend themselves. Their necks are exposed, too. This is the exact posture a person would be forced to take if they were going to be beheaded.
The Greek word Paul used is “timḗ” (tee-may’). It is a word that is often translated as “honor,” but is also used to express value or cost. It can literally refer to the price paid for something, even a person’s life.*
When Paul writes, “To the King be … honor…” he is describing the value we attribute to our God.
Think about that for a moment.
What value do we attribute to God, and how do we do it?
With an earthly king, the real moment of danger is when we are physically in his presence (Esther 4:11). When we are out of sight, we are, generally speaking, out of mind — and safe.
With God, our heavenly King, we are never out of sight or out of mind. God is omniscient (Hebrews 4:13) and omnipresent (Proverbs 15:3). We are always before our King.
If we want to pay God honor, no time or place is not the right time or place. By the same token, there is no place to hide. If we dishonor God, he will know.
So what should we do?
Fortunately, Scripture provides us with an answer. In fact, Scripture provides us with an array of answers.
1. God says, “You shall have no other gods before me,” (Exodus 20:3).
2. His Word also says, “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him” (John 5:23b).
3. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39)
4. “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
5. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
When we do these things, and all the other things that please our King, we pay him honor.
Application: We owe more than we can pay, but we can pay honor out of gratitude.
Food for Thought: What is the difference between paying honor and a righteous “work?”
*”G5092 – timē – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (NIV).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 15 Feb, 2026. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5092/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.
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What is the difference between paying honor and a righteous “work?”
Paying honor is distinguishing or recognizing something that transcends “the normal” about or in someone else’s character. It could be their authority and responsibility, their longevity, their perseverance, their long-suffering, their forbearance; it is distinguishing the inequity between you and another with humility. A key component to honor is humility.
Proverbs 15:33
33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.
A righteous “work” speaks to one’s own character. It is the outward fruit of internal desire to do “good.” A key component to righteous “work” is on what basis “good” is defined.
Luke 18:19
19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
1 Timothy 6:11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
I think this is where the difference or distinction comes in for a follower of Christ. As Christ does, we honor God in recognizing and distinguishing His character, His Will, and His commands as the good we base our righteous “work” upon. We honor Him by recognizing the inequity of His righteousness and our own nature, we honor Him by submitting to His good Will, we honor Him in our desire to be transformed to love as He loves, and the basis of His good becomes the foundation of righteous “work.”
1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Thank you, Chris!
I like how you intertwine humility and righteousness together. That is certainly where they belong!
I think a righteous work can be done to honor the King. It partly depends upon the motive of the one doing the work. Of course, righteous works should be done to honor the King. Righteous works are one way to honor the King, but it is a subset of many things that could be done to honor the King.
Matthew 5: 16: In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Thank you, Rich!
Now you have me wondering … subset of what???
🙂
I was thinking that righteous works could be one of many ways to honor the king. Thus, they are not the same thing as honor, but honoring the Lord is a larger category in which righteous works are a part. I hope that makes sense.
Yes! Completely. You just started my gears going is some interesting directions. 🙂 Thank you!!
What is the difference between paying honor and a righteous “work?”
Matthew 6:33, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
In America, men honor women as we hold a door open for them allowing them to enter before we do, seat them at the table before we set. In the military you honor the rank, not the individual as you salute the rank in passing.
For humans, righteousness often means being a good person, as a believer in Christ, righteousness more accurately means living in right relationship with God and others, which is expressed through obedience to His commands, as we demonstrate justice and mercy in our relationships.
Deuteronomy 6:25, If we are careful to obey all this law before YHWH our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.
Micah 6:8, He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Luke 9:23: And he said to all, If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Dying to self involves releasing all personal desires and ambitions as we embrace a life centered in Christ. It signifies a shift from self-centeredness to a focus on spiritual growth and service to others.
We honor God as we seek His will over our own. Live our lives in the power of Jesus Christ as we daily die to self and live in Christ.
Thank you, Ron.
I hear you drawing a distinction between “righteousness” and “righteous works.”