Romans 13
The Christians and Civil Government.
SUMMARY.--Civil
Government an Appointment of God. A Protection to the
Law-Abiding. A Terror to Evil Doers. Must be Supported by
Taxes and Customs. Love the Fulfillment of the Divine Law. The
Christian to Live a Holy, Spiritual Life.
1-5. Let every soul be subject to
the higher powers. To the established civil government.
Why should Paul, in this portion of the epistle devoted to
Christian life, give this exhortation to obedience to civil
government? Perhaps for several reasons: (1) The Christians at
that early period were usually associated by the heathen with
the Jews, and the Jews were noted for turbulence. See Acts 18:2. (2) The fires that broke forth a
few years later, in the Jewish uprising that led to the
destruction of Jerusalem, were already smouldering wherever
there were those of Jewish blood. Many Christians were Jews by
birth. (3) There was danger that Christians, especially under
persecution, should be inclined to make disturbance. (4) Some
even held that since Christ's kingdom was established human
governments had no rightful existence. There is no power
but of God. He is the source of all authority, and he has
appointed human governments for the welfare of man. The
existing government over us is to be regarded as a divine
arrangement. 2. Whosoever therefore
resisteth the power. It follows that he who seeks to break
down his government is fighting the ordinance of God, and
shall be liable to punishment. This implies a loyal submission
to the forms of government over us. It does not imply that we
shall obey wicked magistrates when they command us to disobey
God. See Acts 4:19. 3. For rulers
are not a terror to the good work. This is the general
rule. Of course there have been occasional exceptions, when
some human monster has been invested with absolute power, but
the principle is true. It is not the law-abiding, but the
lawless, who fear the law. Rulers as a class are a blessing.
There was an exception a few years later when Nero developed
his fiendish hate of all good. 4. For he
is the minister of God to thee for good. The ruler, the
guardian of order and the preserver of peace is, as a rule, a
blessing. He beareth not the sword in vain. Not only
did the magistrate wear the sword, but one was borne before
him in public processions as an emblem of his right to use it
in the interests of order and justice. 5. Wherefore . . . not only for
wrath, but also for conscience's sake. There are two
reasons for obedience to the civil ruler: (1) If one fails to
obey him, he will be a subject of his wrath (judgment)
and be punished. (2) It is God's will that we should obey our
civil rulers. Hence, conscience should be a motive.
6, 7. For this cause pay ye tribute
also. Taxes. The taxes gathered from the Roman provinces
were called tribute. As the rulers are God's ministers, his
agents to attend to necessary duties, it is right that they
should be supported. 7. Render therefore
to all their dues. To all rulers. Render them whatever
they have a right to claim. Tribute. Direct taxes,
whether upon persons or property. Custom. A toll on
goods, similar to the modern tariff. It was usually collected
at the gates of cities on all goods entering. See Matt. 9:9.
8-10. Owe no man any thing, save to
love one another. Not only pay all tribute due, but all
that is due every man. Every obligation must be discharged.
The church member, who makes debts and does not meet them,
violates this command. Bengel says: "Pay every debt; let none
remain due to any man, save that immortal debt of mutual love,
which, though fully paid, is still forever due." Hath
fulfilled the law. He who loves his neighbor will not do
to his neighbor any of the things forbidden by the law; will
not steal, kill, commit adultery, bear false witness, covet,
and hence his love fulfills the Mosaic law. 9. It is briefly comprehended. It is
summed up in the single sentence Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. The several laws that flow from love
are gathered up in this saying as a fountain head. 10. Love worketh no ill, etc. Neither
the ills forbidden in the commandments, not any other. Love
is the fulfilling of the law. Not the law, but law.
There is no article in the Greek. All divine law is fulfilled
by love. God requires nothing which is not comprehended in
this word.
11-14. It is high time to awake out
of sleep. To awake from carelessness and indifference.
For now is our salvation nearer, etc. Their eternal
salvation. That was certainly true of them, and is true of
every believer now. Some have thought that Paul referred to
the speedy second coming of the Lord. He did not know the time
of that event, nor did any man (Matt. 24:36), but it might be that he shared
the hope of the early, suffering church, that it would be
speedy. See 1 Thess. 5:1, 2; 2 Thess. 2:1. 12. The night is far spent. The night
is the period before the full realization of that salvation
named in verse 11, whether that be when Christ comes,
or when we are called to Christ. That salvation is the
day. The works of darkness. Such sinful deeds as
men do under the cover of darkness, and all sinful deeds.
The armour of light. The armor worn in the light, and
with which the Christian will be clad when "the day" comes.
See Eph. 6:11. 13. Let us
walk honestly. Dishonesty seeks the night. The children of
the day will walk honestly. This implies honest, upright, pure
lives, which need no concealments. Not in rioting.
Nocturnal revels. Chambering and wantonness. In
lascivious vice. Not in strife and envying. These
followed naturally upon revels and drunkenness, and shameless
sensuality. This passage is referred to by the great Augustine
as the cause of his conversion. It rebuked his own sins, which
were the common sins of his time. (Confessions, 8.12.).
14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus
Christ. See Gal. 3:27, for the way to put on Christ. To
put on Christ is to enter into fellowship with him. He who is
in fellowship with Christ cannot fulfill the lusts of the
flesh. "He walks after the Spirit, and not after the flesh."