What follows is a continuation of our walk through the Bible for clues. Clues to help us sort out how God can tell us to be subject to all human authorities, even bad ones. It springs from Romans 13:1-7, in which God tells us that all authorities are instituted by him.
Luke 2:1-7 God brings about glorious things through taxation decisions.
This is the fulfilment of an ancient prophecy (Micah 5:2), that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. What caused Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem just before Jesus’ birth? A governmental decision that all should return to their homeland to be registered for tax purposes.
Mark 12:13-17 Jesus is unconcerned about exorbitant and corrupt taxation.
Jesus was born into a society plagued by exorbitant and corrupt taxation. In this passage he is asked if God’s people should submit to such taxes. This would have been a perfect opportunity for Jesus to say, “You’re right. These authorities are corrupt and therefore illegitimate. You must resist them and their evil taxes.” But he seems almost unconcerned. It’s a non-issue to him.
Luke 19:1-10 Jesus is concerned about people over politics.
Rather than take on the tax system, Jesus changes an individual tax collector’s heart.
John 18:1-11 Jesus could stop persecution, but submits to it.
He knocks his persecutors to the ground with a word, yet he subjects himself to their arrest. When Peter takes violent action to stop the arrest, Jesus rebukes him saying, “shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?” His unlawful arrest is from the Father. Therefore, even thought he could stop it, he submits to it. (Check out 1 Peter 2:13-25 in light of this!)
John 19:10-11 God gave Pilate the authority to crucify Jesus.
Jesus tells the Roman ruler, Pilate, “You would have no authority over me at all unless if had been given to you from above.” Even the rulers who crucified Jesus did so with authority given to them from God. (See also Acts 4:23-31.)
Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus has been given all authority.
Our ultimate authority figure, Jesus, tells us to do one thing: make disciples. We can operate beneath all lower authorities so long as they don’t try to stop us from this task.
Clues
This barely scratches the surface, but here is a summary of our clues from part one and two of this study:
- God is the Authority of authorities.
- God owns and distributes all authority.
- God’s authority trumps human authority.
- God is amused by the vain plotting of the nations.
- God sometimes brings about bad things through human authorities for his glory or to fulfill his word.
- God gave Pilate the authority to crucify Jesus.
- Jesus was concerned about people over politics.
- Jesus was unconcerned about exorbitant and corrupt taxation.
- Jesus could have stopped his own persecution, but chose not to.
- Jesus has been given all authority.
- Based on Jesus’ authority, we are to make disciples.
Conclusion
The rule: Be subject to the governing authorities.
The reason: Because God is the ultimate authority.
Discussion Starters
- Take some time to catch up as a group. How is everyone doing?
- Using 1 Timothy 2:1-2 as a template, have a time of prayer for all our human governmental authorities.
- Based on the passages above, how should a Christian think about human government?
- Based on the passages above, how does a Christian American differ from a non-Christian American? How are they different in political conversation? How are they different in election seasons? (Or maybe, how should they be different from non-Christians?)
- How does Romans 8:18-39 impact your understanding of 13:1-7?
- How does Romans 12:9-21 impact your understanding of 13:1-7?
