GIVE RESPECT TO THOSE TO WHOM RESPECT IS DUE

Passage: Romans 13:1-7

Key verse: 7

NIV

Submission to Governing Authorities

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,(A) for there is no authority except that which God has established.(B) The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,(C) 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 you will be commended.(D) 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.(E) 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.(F)

6 This is also why you pay taxes,(G) for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes;(H) if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

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ESV

Submission to the Authorities

13 Let every person (A)be subject to the governing authorities. For (B)there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you (C)will receive his approval, 4 for (D)he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, (E)an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also (F)for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 (G)Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. God established governing authorities (1-5)

Paul was writing to a church whose very existence was a violation of Roman law. He knew that God's laws must have priority. But he did not use this as an excuse for disobeying the law. God ordained governments to hold man's sinful nature in check--so we should obey the law-not only because we fear punishment, but also because it is right to do so. The spirit of rebellion is never pleasing to God; it comes from the sinful nature.

2. Give to everyone what you owe (6-7)

Some people have the false idea that respecting a leader or a parent or a teacher is a violation of the principle of equality. So they do not respect anyone or anything. This is a grave mistake. If we do not respect others, we cannot respect ourselves. We should pay our debts, including taxes. Jesus said, 'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's' (Mt 22:21).

Prayer: Lord, forgive my rebellious spirit. Give me the mind of Christ who even respected little children. Help me to obey the law.

One Word: Pay debts and respect others