Yesterday’s passage widened the focus of our living sacrifice, from ourselves right through to the world around us. Now it widens further, to those in governing authority over us, whom we’re to receive as the gift of God (vs 1,4,6). Human society needs order, sustained by law and authority, and that is God’s gift in creation. Sceptical westerners might be shocked by this; those suffering active injustice or persecution might even be offended by it (vs 2,5). 

Before we accuse Paul of being naive, remember that his era experienced every type of government we know today, and he suffered much from authorities himself (eg 2 Corinthians 11:23–26). Moreover, remember Paul’s not defending specific governments; it’s the institution that’s ordained rather than its particular expression.

We’re required, as living sacrifices, to submit to the governing authorities as part of our submission to God, as did Jesus himself in John 19:9–11. Wherever these two conflict, the second always has precedence over the first – as martyrs showed in refusing to repudiate Jesus to declare Caesar as Lord. But even when we refuse to obey, we must still commend Jesus through paying what is owed to government (vs 6,7).

Pray for leaders of the world, especially those of your own country, and the decisions they will be making today.

However we may feel about our current political situation, the law and the governing authorities of our society are a good thing. Of course, our world and its systems are imperfect. Yet, Paul teaches that such public authorities receive their power from God, for our good. In these very early times of the church, believers (understood to be a Jewish sect) were a privileged religious group under Roman law.¹ It made sense to ‘live at peace’ with everyone.² As Paul reminded Timothy, good government brings about a peaceful context in which to live for God.³

Law-abiding living is commended across the New Testament. Jesus himself assisted Peter in paying their taxes.⁴ Here, Paul insists on obeying the law, as a matter of conscience (v 5), because in doing so we submit to God’s appointed servants who uphold right behaviour (v 4). Paying taxes and giving due respect to those in authority are all part of our submission to God-ordained governing authorities (v 7).

Yet, these verses raise difficult questions. What about our reactions to governments who are working in ways which oppose God’s law and his people? As always, a particular passage must be understood in the context of other scriptures. Jesus gave us the principle: ‘give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s’.⁵ Paul does not advocate blind obedience.⁶ There are times when Christians will recognise that a ruler is falsely claiming divine right and they will choose to ‘obey God rather than human beings’.⁷ At other times, the church would face persecution from rulers: suffering for our faith is a major theme in Paul’s writing about how we are to live as God’s people. Eventually, as believers, our allegiance is to Christ who is head over all authorities. 

Pray for those who are suffering today because of their determination to obey God rather than human leaders. 

¹ FF Bruce, Romans, Tyndale, 1971, p231  ² Rom 12:18  ³ 1 Tim 2:2  ⁴ Matt 17:24–27  ⁵ Matt 22:21 ⁶ John Stott, The Message of Romans, 1994, p340–343  ⁷ Acts 5:29