Romans 13:1-2 – Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

These verses are not difficult to understand. Paul’s writing is clear and succinct. The challenge is to accept what they say and obey it. The only way we can do that is to believe that our God possesses all authority and is truly sovereign. Only a sovereign, all-powerful God could entrust the leadership of nations, states, cities, and communities to human beings, with all our faults, weaknesses, and fleshly desires…and tell us to obey!

Subjection is the Greek word hypotassō, primarily a military term meaning “to rank under.” The literal translation is hypo (under) and tassō (to arrange). It is to voluntarily put oneself under the authority of another. Lest we think this is an impossible task—submitting ourselves to governments we don’t agree with or like—consider the first use of this word in the New Testament.

Luke 2:51 – And He [Jesus] went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them [Mary and Joseph]; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

While I fully believe Joseph and Mary were kind and loving parents, Jesus gave us many examples of submitting to earthly authorities, even when they did not have His best interests in mind or understand who He was.

Matthew 17:24-27 – When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt. However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”

This was a religious tax, two drachmas collected from Jewish males for the upkeep of the temple. Jesus reminds Peter that He is the Son of the one for whom the temple was built and therefore exempt, yet He submits as an example.

In a similar event, Jesus was challenged by the Pharisees as to whether it was lawful for God’s people to pay taxes to Caesar, who proclaimed himself to be a god.

Matthew 15:15-22 – Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away.

Jesus didn’t owe taxes to any earthly king. He and His Father created and own everything made (Colossians 1:15-17). God told Moses, “All the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5). “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers” (Psalm 24:2). Yet He obeyed the law of the land as an example for us and paid the tax due to the Roman government, the established authority at that time. Because they lived under Roman rule, they were obligated to pay the taxes defined by Roman law.

You might ask, “How can anything good come from submitting to ungodly governments and authorities?” Aren’t we obligated to “rise up and resist” when we see injustice?

We often hear people cite Jesus as an example of someone who battled injustice by rebelling against government authority. They love to point to His overturning the tables of the moneychangers. But recall where this took place and against whom. Jesus was addressing the corruption among the religious Jews. They had turned the worship of God into a business for their own profit. 

Jesus never rebelled against the Roman government. Rather, He voluntarily submitted to His own execution, knowing that the powers that ruled had no cause or authority to condemn Him.

John 18:35-37 – Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

We, too, are citizens of another realm, as those who have been born again into the kingdom of God. We answer to our King, Jesus, and owe our allegiance to Him. Yet, just as those who visit another country must follow the laws of the land, we are obligated—commanded—to submit ourselves to the earthly authorities which God has allowed to be in power.

Does this mean we can never be dissatisfied with governing authorities? Does God expect us to simply go along with what we see as injustice or corruption and say nothing? Should we take the Amish example and withdraw from society as much as possible?

Not necessarily, although I do appreciate the desire to separate ourselves from the world’s influence and live a simpler, more focused lifestyle.

In America, we are blessed with a Constitution that provides a way to have a voice in government. We have the right (by law) to gather and peacefully protest, to run for office if God wills it for us personally, and to vote for those we believe will best serve in godly ways. But there are limitations, both legal and scriptural.

If “peaceful” protests become law-breaking mobs that harm people and damage property, we are wrong no matter what the cause is.

If expressing our political opinions crosses into malicious slander, we are wrong, no matter how much we dislike them.

If our fight for justice in earthly kingdoms becomes more important than our ability and obligation to represent the gospel, or if it is detrimental to that representation, we are wrong, no matter how wicked those in authority may be.

History is replete with faulty, fallible rulers who wrought great damage to others. Yet, in His sovereignty, God says there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. As hard as it may be, as God’s people, we are called to submit within the laws of our land, to trust in God more than our government, and to focus on what is eternally important more than our earthly existence.

By all means, exercise your right to vote!

By all means, speak up with grace and truth!

By all means, care about those who are treated unjustly!

By all means, do what God calls you to do to relieve suffering!

By all means, serve where God calls you to serve!

By all means, pray diligently for those in authority!

But remember that earthly kingdoms will come and go. The greatest thing we can do to make the world a better place is to share the gospel, which changes and transforms people from the inside out. Let us imitate Jesus’ example by submitting to the governing authorities as people who serve an eternal King.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 – First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.