Verse of the Day for Friday, April 15, 2022

 

Verse of the Day
Friday, April 15, 2022

Romans 13:6-7

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

Governing authorities, however bad they may appear, are instituted by God. The first application Paul draws from this truth is that to rebel against authorities and break the law of the land is rebellion against God. Such action will incur his judgment even if it escapes the notice of law enforcement. The second application is a pragmatic one: keeping the law of the state means we can be free from anxiety about punishment. It is for our good that authority exists, because anarchy is worse than almost any terrible but orderly regime. Paul sums up these applications: we should obey the governing authorities not just for the ordinary pagan reason of avoiding possible punishment from the state but to keep our consciences pure before God. The third application is the specific instance of paying taxes: like Christian workers who deserve their wages, governors merit payment as well. The final application is general: give to all in authority what is due them, whether in money or in attitude. These attitudes of respect and honor are necessary to follow, but they also express the limits of obedience. Fearing God always has priority over obedience to authority. As a result, when God and government clash, obedience to God has priority.

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Scripture from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.