Introduction
“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended.” Romans 13:1-3
Submission to Governing Authorities
Why is there a change of subject? The Jews were under Roman authority and the Jews resented the Roman soldiers walking around, Deuteronomy 17:15.
That’s why the Jews asked Jesus the question about paying taxes to Caesar in Luke 20:22. In Rome there was a large Jewish community and the Roman church was made up of Romans and Jewish people.
God has instituted the principle of human government, whatever form it is. In Romans 13:4, the word servant is the Greek word ‘diakonos’ and in Romans 13:6, the word servant is the Greek word ‘leitourgos’ which means ministering servant. Paul is not discussing bad servants.
The Book of Romans was written before the Christian persecutions before Nero was on the scene. Nero was the first person to start persecuting the church.
Newell, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Your Saviour suffered under Pontius Pilate, one of the worst Roman governors Judea ever had; and Paul under Nero, the worst Roman Emperor. And neither our Lord nor His Apostle denied or reviled the ‘authority!’
What if the rulers are evil? This is not discussed in Romans 13. We have the right to vote today but they didn’t have this right in Paul’s day. Paul doesn’t talk about what happens if you have a bad government.
The point is that God has determined that we should be governed and to a degree, this is an endorsement for capital punishment, Genesis 9:4-5 / Numbers 35:33. We have a responsibility to act correctly, pay our taxes etc., 1 Peter 2:13-17.
Now again, this section refers to the normal functioning of governments, not evil ones. It was given, no doubt, to answer the question,
‘What about hardened criminals? Can we render evil for their evil?’ Paul has just shown that Christians are to love their enemies, return good for evil, and leave vengeance in the hands of God, Romans 12:17-21. Now he shows how God’s vengeance is carried out on earth. It is not the Christian’s place to execute God’s wrath.
He is rather to demonstrate God’s love, by word, that is, by teaching the Gospel, and by life, that is, doing good to all, blessing enemies, etc.. God has established civil government to carry out His wrath on the earth. These verses deal with the divine ‘order’ or ‘arrangement’ of civil justice.
‘Governing authorities’, Romans 13:1 / 1 Peter 2:13-14 / Titus 3:1. They have been established or instituted by God. They are a part of a civil arrangement instituted by God. They exist to serve His purpose and are constantly under His watchful eye.
The fact or principle of civil government is from God, Romans 13:1, but it is up to man to choose whatever form, democratic, monarchical, socialistic, which best serves the divine purpose at a given time and under present circumstances.
Not all authorities, and probably none in every instance, serve the purpose for which they were ordained. The Christian may therefore find himself being commanded by the ruling officials to do that which is contrary to the will of God.
In such cases, the Christian must obey God rather than man, Acts 4:18-15 / Acts 5:28-29. When civil government tries to force its citizens to do wrong, or when it permits and encourages that which is evil, it has transgressed its divine right, Romans 13:2.
The Christian has no right to resist government as such. It has always been a common sin to rebel against civil government. Even if a government is exceedingly wicked, the Christian has no right to forcibly overthrow it, e.g., go to war against it.
Consider the government existing during Paul’s time. God is still in charge, and He will punish the wicked in His own time and manner, Daniel 2:20-22 / Revelation 1:5. They bring the condemnation of God upon themselves.
Those in power are not a terror to those who do good, but to those who do evil, Romans 13:3. This verse shows the proper purpose and function of civil government as ordained by God.
1. To protect and encourage the good.
2. To restrain and punish the wicked. The person who does what is right has no need to fear the government which functions properly. Rulers should be a terror to lawbreakers.
There can be no government without laws. There can be no law without penalty. There can be no terror of law without the enforcement of the penalty.
And so, it is the duty of the government to bring criminals to trial swiftly and punish them justly. Paul’s own application is, ‘do what is good, what is lawful and right, and you will have praise from the rulers,’ Romans 13:3.
“For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.” Romans 13:4-5
God’s arrangement regarding civil government is for the good of the Christian, 1 Timothy 2:1-3. God’s order provides for the lawful authority to be a revenger and to execute wrath on those who do evil. In this sense, the ruler is a minister of God, Romans 13:4.
In praising the well doer and punishing the evildoer, it is exercising its God-ordained function and is to be viewed by the Christian as God’s appointed servant, Romans 13:4.
The words, ‘bear the sword’, Romans 13:4, is referring to the emperor Trajan. The sword was the symbol of life and death, Luke 21:24 / Acts 12:2 / Revelation 13:10 / Hebrews 11:34.
The government has an obligation to enforce the laws which are designed to protect the innocent. To fail to inflict just punishment upon the wicked would be to fail in the very purpose for which God appointed it.
The word, ‘therefore’, Romans 13:5, tell us there is a conclusion drawn from Romans 13:3-4. We must be subject, not only so that the ruler’s anger will not be executed upon us, but for conscience’s sake, that is, because God has told us to do it, in order to have a clear conscience before Him.
One who can disobey the laws of his government without having any remorse or conscience is lacking in respect for God’s commands.
“This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour. Romans 13:6-7
We pay taxes in order to escape the wrath of the ruler and to have a clear conscience before God, Romans 13:6. Our Lord taught His disciples, as well as all, to pay taxes, Matthew 17:27 / Matthew 22:15-22.
Government needs funds in order to function, and no Christian should try to avoid paying his just share of government expenses. They are God’s servants carrying out a divinely ordained service by rewarding the good and punishing the guilty.
‘Taxes’ are charges laid on a person and his property, Romans 13:7. ‘Revenue’ are charges levied on imports and exports, Romans 13:7.
The words, ‘respect and honour’, Romans 13:7, refer to that which is due regarding rulers. Honour should be given, not only to rulers but to all those who deserve it, 1 Timothy 5:17 / 1 Peter 2:17. If no honour is due, it should not be given, Job 22:21-22.
Morris, in his commentary, says the following.
‘We may pay our taxes and be quiet. We may give respect and honour where they are due and have no further obligation. But we can never say, ‘I have done all the loving I need to do.’ Love then is a permanent obligation, a debt impossible to discharge.’
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law.” Romans 13:8-10
Paul tells us that law is fulfilled by love, Romans 13:8-10. We should seek to not be overburdened with an indebtedness so that one can be free to give, Romans 13:8 / Proverbs 22:7 / Ephesians 4:28. This doesn’t mean that Christians can’t borrow from others, Matthew 5:42.
Love is what we always owe to everyone, Matthew 5:43-45 / John 13:34-35 / 1 Peter 1:22 / Luke 6:27-35 / Luke 14:12-14. Love is a debt that can never be paid in full. We must continue to love as long as we live.
‘For whoever loves others has fulfilled the law’, Romans 13:8. There is no definite article, ‘the’ here before law. And so, literally Paul says, ‘he who loves another has fulfilled law.’ However, in context, he is referring to the Old Law. Since love demands doing good to others, it fulfils law.
When one loves, he has reached the end for which the law was given. One who loves others, would not do to them any of those things mentioned in Romans 13:9. Adultery, steal, murder and covet, Exodus 20:13-15 / Exodus 20:17 / Deuteronomy 5:17-19 / Deuteronomy 5:21.
Up to this point, the Christians have a decent relationship with the Romans. Peter asks Jesus about the temple tax, Matthew 17:24-27. Jesus submitted to the Jewish and Roman authorities which is the example we should follow, Matthew 5:40-41 / Romans 12:20.
‘You shall not commit adultery’, the seventh commandment, Exodus 20:14. It is the breaking of the marital bond. ‘You shall not murder’, the sixth, Exodus 20:13. The unlawful taking of human life.
‘You shall not seal’, the eighth, Exodus 20:15. The unlawful taking of that which belongs to another. ‘You shall not bear false witness’, the ninth, Exodus 20:16. Testifying falsely. It prohibits all lying. ‘You shall not covet’, the tenth, Exodus 20:17. All unlawful desire for that which belongs to another.
‘And if there is any other commandment’, Romans 13:9, means any others not named here. ‘Are summed up in this one command’, Romans 13:9, which is quoted from Leviticus 19:18. And so, all the commandments are briefly comprehended in the command to love one’s neighbour as himself.
When one loves his neighbour, he will not sin against him, Romans 13:10, by violating his marriage, destroying his life, taking his property, misrepresenting him falsely, or desiring his property or possessions. Love is defined, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Such love is not of human origin but is derived from and developed by God.
‘Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law’, Romans 13:10. The definite article ‘the’ is before law here in the original. Since the one who loves would do no harm to his neighbour, but greatly benefits his neighbour, love fulfils the law. Love establishes the kind of relationship the law demanded.
“And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” Romans 13:11-14
‘To wake up from your slumber’, Romans 13:11, is figurative of their indifference and inactivity. Few Christians are as wide awake as they should be, Ephesians 5:14 / Hebrews 12:12-13 / 1 Corinthians 15:34 / 1 Thessalonians 5:6. All Christians should be diligent in preparing themselves and others for eternity.
‘Because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed,’ Romans 13:11. As time passes, eternity comes nearer and each passing second brings us closer to meeting our Maker. Certainly, this is true for every Christian. The end of all things is nearer than when we first believed.
Here we read of exhortations to holiness based on the nearness of eternity, Romans 13:13-14. And do this especially because you know how critical the time is. In one sense or another, everyone lives in critical times, hence, the admonition here applies with equal force to all, regardless of when or where they live.
The ‘night’, no doubt refers to our life period on this earth, and the ‘day’ refers to the next period, Romans 12:12 / John 9:4. It perhaps refers to the existence of the present age, as opposed to the one to come. Let us cast off works of the flesh, ignorance, false doctrines, etc, Galatians 5:19-21 / Ephesians 5:11 / 1 Thessalonians 5:4-7 / John 3:19-21.
‘Armour of light’, Romans 12:12, is the panoply of the Christian, Ephesians 6:13-17 / 1 Thessalonians 5:8 / 1 John 1:5-7. Let us cast off the works of the flesh, and put on the fruit of the Spirit. Let us leave the old sinful way of life, and put on the new Christian way.
Morris, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Putting on Christ is a strong and vivid metaphor. It means more than put on the character of the Lord Jesus Christ, signifying rather Let Jesus Christ Himself be the armor that you wear.’
‘Let us behave decently,’ Romans 13:13, means let us walk in such a way that brings honour to our Lord and Saviour. Let us walk properly as in the light of day, doing everything honourably and openly. Paul lists six practices that must be avoided.
Paul lists three sets of sins that accompany each other in Romans 13:13.
‘Not in carousing and drunkenness’, means revelling, tumults, disorders, and drunkenness, drinking and the conduct of those drink.
‘Not in sexual immorality and debauchery’, means immodest behaviour, and lasciviousness, anything tending to promote or fulfil fleshly lusts, 2 Corinthians 12:21.
‘Not in dissension and jealousy’, means contentions, wrangling, fighting with words, and evil desire to obtain what another has, Matthew 27:18 / Proverbs 27:4.
We must clothe ourselves with the character of our Lord, Romans 13:14 / Colossians 3:10 / 2 Corinthians 3:18. We must put ourselves completely under Him, and follow what He taught.
We must make no provision to fulfil evil fleshly desires, Romans 13:14. We must be pure as was our Lord. Let us move onward and upward, and never backward to the world.
The footnote for the word flesh in Romans 13:14, says the following.
‘In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.’