First Epistle of Peter
THE CHRISTIAN AND THE GOVERNMENT
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:13 (KJV)
"Submit yourselves"
This verse tells us what our attitude, as strangers and pilgrims, should be toward the government in power. It should be one of submission. In fact, to submit is a characteristic that a Christian should have in most of his relationships. He submits to Christ first of all for salvation. Then he is to submit himself to God day by day (James 4:7). As servants, we are to be subject to our masters (1 Pet. 2:18). Then as Christians, we are to submit to one another (Eph. 5:21). And here, in 1 Peter 2:13, it is to the government. To submit is a very hard thing for a human to do, especially when things are not right. It is far easier to resist. The only one we are told to resist is the devil.
Christians have made very serious mistakes in time past by resisting the government. Paul says in Romans 13:2, "Whosoever resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God." Paul says this at a time when wicked Nero was on the throne of the Roman Empire. So no matter how wicked the ruling power may be, we are not to resist them. In Proverbs 24:21 we read, "My son, fear thou the Lord and the king; and meddle not with them that are given to change." There are those in our land today, who are actively trying to overthrow our present form of government. Some Christians are even vocal in the pulpit about changes needed in our government. A Christian should have nothing to do with any of it at all.
A Christian is on a much higher plane than any earthly potentate. The things said of the children of God in verse nine of our chapter, could never be said of earth's greatest rulers. We will be reigning with Christ someday. In 1 Corinthians 6:3, it says that we are to judge angels, to say nothing of humans. Even though we are so exalted, and the powers that be may be ever so base, still we are to submit. The Lord Jesus says, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's" (Matt. 22:21).
We have already noted that the early Christians were charged with plotting against the government. It was claimed that their meetings were secret gatherings in which, under cover of religion, they were scheming to undermine those in authority. To offset this, they were to submit in every way.
"to every ordinance of man"
This would tell us that we are to obey the minor laws as well as the major. We should be as careful about speed laws as we are about stealing or rebellion. Sometimes, it is easy to say, "O, that foolish little ordinance, no one pays any attention to that." It is true that with the multiplicity of ordinances passed these days it is sometimes difficult to know just what is what. But knowingly, we should submit to every ordinance of man.
"for the Lord’s sake"
There are many things in the Scriptures we are exhorted to do for the Lord's sake. This one is no less important than the others. To resist brings reproach on the name of Christ. To submit brings Him glory.
"whether it be to the king, as supreme"
The king was the highest authority in the Roman Empire. They were to submit to him. This would answer to the president of our land. We are to obey the federal government as well as the state or city.
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:14 (KJV)
Governors were the magistrates sent out by the Roman king to govern certain provinces of the Roman Empire. The Christians were to submit to them as well as to the king. This would tell us that we are to submit to all authority, federal, state and city, down to the policeman on his beat.
"that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers"
It may seem strange to some that government officials are sent by the Lord, but our verse plainly states this. In Romans 13:4, Paul, in writing of rulers, says, "For he is the minister of God to thee for good." He also says in Romans 13:1, "the powers that be are ordained of God." The Lord has ordained that mankind be governed by law.
Law may not be so good and officials far from what they should be, yet what would our country be without it? Any kind of government is better than anarchy. For the most part, government officials do punish those that do evil, and praise them that do well. A police force may be ever so corrupt, yet the worst will try to apprehend a robber or a murderer and confine such to prison. I would hate to think what might happen in a city like New York if the police force and the courts were suddenly dissolved. It surely would not be a very safe place in which to live. What Paul says in Romans 13:3 is as true today as ever. "Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same."
Of course, sometimes government officials can be dead wrong, and when we must choose between obeying the Lord or obeying them, we are to obey the Lord. In both the fourth and fifth chapters of Acts, the apostles are ordered by the authorities not to speak or teach in the name of the Lord Jesus. This they definitely refused to do. Their answer in the fourth chapter is found in verses 19 and 20. In chapter five, verse 29 they say, "We ought to obey God rather than men." The Lord had said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." The official might say, "Do not do it", but they would not obey. Many a child of God, especially in those early times, found themselves in jail because they refused to obey man when to do so meant to disobey God.
Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:15 (KJV)
"For so is the will of God"
The word "so" refers back to the last few verses. It is the will of God that we submit to all human authority. Sometimes folks say, "How can I know the will of God?" In some particular instances it may be difficult to know, but ordinarily, there is plenty in the Word to tell us what is His will. In 2 Corinthians 8:5, we read it is His will that we "give ourselves to the Lord" and to His servants. In Ephesians 5:17, it is His will that we "redeem the time", and 6:6 that we be the "servants of Christ." In 1 Thessalonians 4:3, it is His will that we "be sanctified" (life set apart). In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, it is His will that we, "In everything give thanks." In Hebrews 13:21 it is that we be "perfect in every good work." So here in our verse in 1 Peter, it is the will of God that we submit to human authority, and by other good works, as explained in verses 9 to 12, "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men."
"with well doing ye may put to silence"
Unsaved men are bound to talk about the Christians. Sad to say, too often Christians give them occasion to talk. They often do foolish things and sometimes evil things. When they do, there is absolutely no stopping the mouths of the unsaved. Sometimes one wrong deed will take years to live down, especially if done by one of the leaders in a congregation. One wrong deed will do more harm than one hundred good ones can offset. The only way to stop the mouth of sinners is for them to see a stream of good deeds.
The unsaved were very anxious to find fault with the apostles in Acts Chapter 4. However, in Acts 3 we have the story of a man lame from birth healed. Peter had said to him, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." In Acts 4:16 these unsaved leaders said, "What shall we do to those men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it." So men may have a desire to do harm to or to speak evil of Christians, but they cannot help but note good works done by them, and they will be compelled to be silent.
"put to silence"
The word for "silence" has the sense of muzzled like we would muzzle a dog. The wicked unsaved may have the greatest desire to speak against the Christian, but they are silenced, just cannot say a thing, because of the Christian's good works.
"ignorance of foolish men"
These words are both a little stronger than the original would indicate. "Ignorance" would just mean, "lack of understanding" while "foolish" would be better as "unwise men." No one would ever speak against a Christian if they really understood the matter. Nor would they do anything evil toward them if they really knew. When they crucified the Lord Jesus, we hear him say, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." If they had really known, they would not have dared crucify Him. To speak evil of or to persecute a Christian is the same as doing it to Christ Himself.
Saul, (later Paul) was persecuting Christians and dragging them off to jail. He is stopped on the Damascus road by Christ Himself, who says, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Saul had apparently never seen the Lord Jesus before. The Lord was, as it were, saying, "Saul, when you persecute my people you are persecuting me." If the unsaved realized that every word against the Christian is a word against Christ; and that Christ is, indeed, God, they would hesitate to speak evil of the Christian. However, they are ignorant and they are unwise, and so the only effective way to silence them is by well-doing.
