Rom 13 | MHM | STEP | Submission to Government Authorities In this section, Paul teaches Christians about their duties toward government and those in authority. He explains that all authority comes from God, and that rulers are meant to keep order and punish wrongdoers. Paul encourages believers to obey laws, pay taxes, and show respect, not just to avoid punishment but because it is the right thing to do before God. This teaching helps Christians understand how to live peacefully and honorably in society, even when the government is not perfect. v. 1 : “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1 ). Paul tells all Christians to obey the rulers and government. He says that all authority comes from God, so to resist the government is, in a way, to resist what God has set up.

‏ Romans 13

Submission to Government Authorities

In this section, Paul teaches Christians about their duties toward government and those in authority. He explains that all authority comes from God, and that rulers are meant to keep order and punish wrongdoers. Paul encourages believers to obey laws, pay taxes, and show respect, not just to avoid punishment but because it is the right thing to do before God. This teaching helps Christians understand how to live peacefully and honorably in society, even when the government is not perfect.

v. 1: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1 ^a). Paul tells all Christians to obey the rulers and government. He says that all authority comes from God, so to resist the government is, in a way, to resist what God has set up.

v. 2: “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:2 ^b). If anyone fights against the government, they are also going against God’s command, and they may face punishment for it.

v. 3: “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same” (Romans 13:3 ^c). Paul explains that government leaders are supposed to reward those who do right and punish those who do wrong. If you do what is right, you should not be afraid of the authorities.

v. 4: “For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Romans 13:4 ^d). Leaders are called God’s servants, and their job is to protect people and punish those who do wrong. If someone breaks the law, they should be afraid because the government has the power to punish.

v. 5: “Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake” (Romans 13:5 ^e). Christians should obey the law, not just to avoid punishment, but because it is the right thing to do in God’s eyes.

v. 6: “For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing” (Romans 13:6 ^f). Paul reminds believers that paying taxes is part of respecting those who work for the government, as they are serving God by keeping order in society.

v. 7: “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” Christians are told to give everyone what they owe—whether it is taxes, respect, or honor—because this is part of living rightly as followers of Jesus. This means we should give everyone what we owe them, especially those in authority. For example, we must pay taxes and respect the government, because they serve a purpose in society. Taxes and customs should be paid honestly, just as Jesus taught when He said to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. We should also show respect and honor to those who deserve it, such as parents, teachers, and leaders. This is part of the fifth commandment, “Honor your father and your mother.” Paying debts and being fair with others is important because “the wicked borrow and do not repay.” We should try not to owe anything to anyone if we are able to pay.

v. 8: Paul continues, Owe no man any thing, but to love one another (Romans 13:8 ^g). The only debt that should always remain is the debt of love. Love is not optional; it is something God commands. When we truly love others, we are following God’s law. Love includes all the duties we have toward people. If we love others, we will treat them kindly and fairly. God is love (1 John 4:16 ^h). Love should shape our actions and attitudes every day.

v. 9: Paul gives examples from the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not covet . He says all these are summed up in the command, You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18 ⁱ). If you love your neighbor as yourself, you will not want to harm them in any way. True brotherly love is not just about feelings, but about wanting good for others and protecting their well-being.

v. 10: Paul sums it up: Love works no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:10 ^j). If we have real love in our hearts, we will not plan or do anything bad to others (Micah 2:1 ^k). Instead, we will try to do good whenever possible (Proverbs 3:27-29 ^l). Love is active and leads us to obey all of God’s commands. If we have the law of love in our hearts, we are truly living out God’s law.

The Christian Directory

This section gives practical advice for living as a Christian. Paul explains four main things for our daily life: when to wake up spiritually, how to dress ourselves with good habits, how to behave in public, and how to care for our needs. The focus is on living with self-control and being ready for Jesus’ return.

v. 11: Paul tells us, Now it is high time to awake out of sleep (Romans 13:11 ^m). He means we should not live in spiritual laziness or sin. We need to be alert and serious about our faith. The time for sleeping is over, because now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. When we first became Christians, we started a journey, and now we are closer to eternal life than before. Knowing this, we should be more active and eager to do what is right. The more time passes, the closer we are to meeting Jesus, so we should live with purpose and energy (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 ⁿ).

v. 12: Paul writes, The night is far spent, the day is at hand (Romans 13:12 ^o). He is saying that the time of darkness and sin is almost over, and God’s light is coming. So, we should cast off the works of darkness. This means we must stop doing wrong things and avoid sin. Instead, we should put on the armour of light—good habits, honest actions, and faith that protects us. Living this way helps us stand strong against temptation and shows we belong to God (Ephesians 6:13 ^p).

v. 13: Paul continues, Let us walk honestly, as in the day . Our actions should be good and open, not hidden or shameful. He warns against three pairs of sins: rioting and drunkenness (wild parties and drinking too much), chambering and wantonness (sexual sin and behaving in a lustful way), and strife and envying (fighting and jealousy). Christians should avoid these things, because they damage our lives and our relationships with others (Proverbs 23:29 ^q).

v. 14: Finally, Paul says, Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof (Romans 13:14 ^r). This means we should let Jesus’ character and teaching shape our lives. We should not let our natural desires control us or think only about our own pleasure. It is okay to care for our needs, but we must not let our desires lead us into sin. Instead, we should focus on growing in faith and living to please God (Galatians 5:16 ^s).