Romans – A Treatise
Chapter Thirteen
THE STRONG ARM OF THE LAW
Scripture Reading: verses 3-8 (Darby translation)
FOR RULERS ARE NOT A TERROR TO A GOOD WORK, BUT TO AN EVIL [ONE]. DOST THOU DESIRE THEN NOT TO BE AFRAID OF THE AUTHORITY? PRACTISE [WHAT IS] GOOD, AND THOU SHALT HAVE PRAISE FROM IT; FOR IT IS GOD’S MINISTER TO THEE FOR GOOD. BUT IF THOU PRACTISEST EVIL, FEAR; FOR IT BEARS NOT THE SWORD IN VAIN; FOR IT IS GOD’S MINISTER, AN AVENGER FOR WRATH TO HIM THAT DOES EVIL. WHEREFORE IT IS NECESSARY TO BE SUBJECT, NOT ONLY ON ACCOUNT OF WRATH, BUT ALSO ON ACCOUNT OF CONSCIENCE. FOR ON THIS ACCOUNT YE PAY TRIBUTE ALSO; FOR THEY ARE GOD’S OFFICERS, ATTENDING CONTINUALLY ON THIS VERY THING. RENDER TO ALL THEIR DUES: TO WHOM TRIBUTE [IS DUE], TRIBUTE; TO WHOM CUSTOM, CUSTOM; TO WHOM FEAR, FEAR; TO WHOM HONOUR, HONOUR.
Romans, chapter 13, sets forth the Christian’s responsibility as an obedient subject under the constituted authority which God has set up in the land. Every Christian should keep this in mind, especially because we are living in days of anarchy and rebellion. God’s teaching to us is that we should be subject to the powers that be, and the reason for that subjection is that these powers are ordained or set up by God Himself.
Political affiliation has no bearing on the case. The Christian must look beyond the personality of the officer or the party that may be in power and see that the authority wielded by those in office is constituted by God Himself, and to such the Christian is bound to be subject and obedient.
In verse 3 Paul reminds us that “rulers are not a terror to a good work, but to an evil [one].” One of the most admirable pageants of power can be found in a criminal courtroom. Any witness in a Federal court trial will no doubt come away with a deep impression of the tremendous power that is wielded by the judge on the bench. As a gesture to the honor of his position, the entire courtroom rises to its feet when he/she enters. There is nothing personal about this move. It is a recognition of the authority that has been placed in the hand of that man or woman. It is an authority delegated by the Federal government, but the power that delegates it has also been given by God who first constituted authority in this world.
Listening to deliberations in a courtroom, one is impressed again and again by the sincere effort which most judges make to mete out justice to the criminals before them. On most occasions, one senses that the judge has a great regard or the sword he wields. Within the limits of the constituted authority that has been provided, the judge has power to send the convicted person to county jail, hard labor, the penitentiary for life imprisonment or even to death, according to the offense that has been committed. The judge does not wield the sword in vain and the wrath of that sword is something that should be feared by the evildoer. In this passage, Paul’s contention is that the person who does well has nothing to fear from that sword. Thus, if the Christian behaves in obedience to constituted authority there is no need to fear its wrath. Sad to say, there are many Christians today who live where that power is not weilded by people of conscience or have a sincere desire for justice. In many lands, ruthless, unscrupulous officers of the law care little for justice. Christians should be grateful to the Lord for the marvelous way in which He has maintained law and order in those lands where justice is highly regarded.
Christians are required to be subject to the authority for two reasons, as cited in verse 5: “Wherefore it is necessary to be subject, not only on account of wrath, but also on account of conscience.” In other words, the Christian should always be on good behavior, not simply because it will keep him out of jail, but because he knows the Lord expects it of him. It is the answer of a good conscience toward God, leading him in paths of righteousness. The restraining hand of God is still on the world. According to 2 Thessalonians 2, there is a day coming when
He who now hindereth will hinder until he be taken, out of the way and then that. wicked one will be revealed whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, and in all deceit of unrighteousness to them that perish, because they have not received the love of the truth that they might be saved.
There are twin reasons for those of us who are Christians to observe the laws of society: first, as a matter of conscience, sin is the result of breaking the law; and second, in order that we might not incur the legal penalty of lawbreaking. The preeminent consideration is that of pleasing God, as Peter expressed it, “Obey every ordinance of man, for the Lord’s sake” (1 Peter 2:13). As long as Christians are in this world they must be subject to the powers that be, because of the fear of wrath from constituted authority and for conscience’s sake. So Paul says in verse 6:
For on this account ye pay tribute also; for they are God’s officers, attending continually on this very thing. Render to all their dues: to whom tribute [is due], tribute; to whom custom, custom; to whom fear, fear; to whom honour, honour.
Thus, all that was said of policemen in Romans 13:1-5 is likewise applied here to all civil servants and officers of the secular state. Being part of the institution “ordained of God,” which is the state, they partake of the dignity and authority pertaining to it, and are entitled to obedience, respect, courtesy, honor, and the cooperation of all Christians, who, in the discharge of such obligations, are doing so “as unto the Lord,” and not “as unto men,” for such is the commandment of the Scriptures.
The Christian’s obligation is not only to pay taxes, but to give honor to those who occupy positions of authority within the realm. These truths touch on practical issues in our lives and give us valuable instruction regarding our behavior in a world of confusion such as we have today.
