RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE GOVERNMENT (13:1-7)

Introduction

We’ve seen from our last few weeks that our existence as a transformed child of God is not to remain in a static state of awareness but that we are to Serve God As Members of One Body. We do this by the use of our spiritual gifts which are given for the edification of the body, and is to be done with zeal and joy. The application of this is played out in the various Miscellaneous Exhortations that the apostle gave us that will help us in our life in the body. Now we turn to what many would consider to be the secular or non-sacred. But as we will see, to the Christian, there is no division between the sacred and the secular which will be clearly seen in this morning’s lesson in our Responsibilities to the Government.

Text: Romans 13:1-7

Romans 13:1–7 ESV

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

A. BE IN SUBJECTION (1-5)

1. For governing authorities are appointed by God (1-2)

(1) be subject to (hupotasso) - a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden

governing authorities - the supreme authority which was established as the constitution of government

no authority (exousia [noun]- the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)) except from God - this power comes form God

(2) whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed…those who resist will incur judgment

resists (aantitasso [pre, act, mid]) the authorities - a continual action of defying authority with the emphasis on resisting men

resists (anthistemi [per, act, ind]) what God has appointed - the revelation that the one who thinks he is resisting man, is really resisting God

those who resist ((anthistemi [per, act, par]) will incur judgment - judgment occurs because what God has established from the beginning as an institution is being rebelled against just like any other form of disobedience against God!

2. For governing authorities are God's ministers to avenge evil (3-4)

(3) For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.

(3) Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?

(3) Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,

(4) For he is God’s servant (diakonos) for your good - one who executes the commands of another

(4) But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain - punishing the guilty

(4) For he is the servant (diakonos) of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer

3. To avoid wrath and maintain good conscience (5)

Therefore one must be in subjection (hupotasso [pre, pas, inf]), not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience - As a matter of conscience, or of duty to God, because he has appointed it, and made it necessary and proper

A good citizen yields obedience because it is the will of God

B. FULFILL WHAT IS DUE (6-7)

1. Taxes, customs (6-7a)

For - further explanation

Taxes (phoros) - the annual tax levied upon houses, lands, and persons

Revenue (telos) - indirect tax on goods (sales tax)

(6) for the authorities are ministers (leitourgos - one who works in the service of a deity) of God - a public minister, a servant of the state (used also of one busied with holy things)

2. Fear (respect), honor (7b)

Respect (phobos) - that which strikes terror

Honor (time) - a valuing by which the price is fixed

Luke 20:20–25

20 So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”