13 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities." This is a very simple phrase and abandoned often times for various reasons. But I want to ask the question of freedom. Most people in the world today, I think, wish for people to be free. This desire comes to be free from those who would oppress us. The desire to be free from ruthless dictators who cruelly mistreat their people. Freedom is something that most Western people think they have and are not willing to give up.
The question of Freedom though really stems from this passage. If I am truly free, then I must not answer to any authority or submit myself. Think of a Slave verse a free person. A slave is subject to a master. A free person is subject only to himself, he is free. The idea of Free Will verses a bound Will. Free Will by definition has no limits, you can do anything. (I always like flight or invisibility, but more basic is clothing and food.) A Bound Will is subject to the world around it, such as gravity, photons, science, and what you can purchase or grow.
The question of Freedom comes from this text because all of us are to submit to authorities. Whether we are supposed to submit to Gravity, what we can purchase or grow, or even submitting to the authority of the Government. There are all kinds of authorities that are placed over us. These authorities have their place because of God. Granted St Paul is strictly speaking of Governments or Kings who bear a sword to punish those who do evil.
But does that Authority relate to a Parent who punishes his child or disciplines his child? Does it not relate to a school teacher or principal who has to keep a child after school or even give them a grade (bad or good)? The child has to submit to these authorities. Adults have to submit to employers and police officers. This things all limit our freedoms.
There are many people in authority over us. We are supposed to submit to those authorities, because they have been given us by God. But we still need to submit ourselves to God. God is still our Lord and Master. We are His Children for him to discipline. We are His Children who he searches out to Save or Redeem. We are Slaves of our Lord Jesus Christ who has claimed us and bought us with a price.
The question of Freedom though really stems from this passage. If I am truly free, then I must not answer to any authority or submit myself. Think of a Slave verse a free person. A slave is subject to a master. A free person is subject only to himself, he is free. The idea of Free Will verses a bound Will. Free Will by definition has no limits, you can do anything. (I always like flight or invisibility, but more basic is clothing and food.) A Bound Will is subject to the world around it, such as gravity, photons, science, and what you can purchase or grow.
The question of Freedom comes from this text because all of us are to submit to authorities. Whether we are supposed to submit to Gravity, what we can purchase or grow, or even submitting to the authority of the Government. There are all kinds of authorities that are placed over us. These authorities have their place because of God. Granted St Paul is strictly speaking of Governments or Kings who bear a sword to punish those who do evil.
But does that Authority relate to a Parent who punishes his child or disciplines his child? Does it not relate to a school teacher or principal who has to keep a child after school or even give them a grade (bad or good)? The child has to submit to these authorities. Adults have to submit to employers and police officers. This things all limit our freedoms.
There are many people in authority over us. We are supposed to submit to those authorities, because they have been given us by God. But we still need to submit ourselves to God. God is still our Lord and Master. We are His Children for him to discipline. We are His Children who he searches out to Save or Redeem. We are Slaves of our Lord Jesus Christ who has claimed us and bought us with a price.
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