Chapter 13
With the weighty words of the last verse of the 12th chapter in mind, so important for every young Christian, and every old Christian too, we enter on chapter 13, where is more on the theme of Christian conduct, the first 7 verses shedding divine light on the proper relation of believers, to their governments, called “the higher powers”, or more simply “the authorities that are above them.” To these every soul (not only every believer) is to be subject.
When this Epistle was written, the ruler of the Roman Empire was the outstandingly wicked young Nero under whom both Paul and Peter are believed to have suffered martyrdom about 9 years afterward. The Roman governor Pilate, contrary to law, delivered Jesus to death, while pronouncing Him just, or righteous (Matt. 27:24, 26).
Felix, another governor, 29 years later was a corruptible Roman officer (Acts 24:26).
Christians are nevertheless to be subject to the existing authority or government, whatever be its form or character; thus in 1 Peter 2:13-14 the word of God tells us to.
“Be in subjection therefore to every human institution for the Lord’s sake; whether to the king as supreme, or to rulers as sent by Him for vengeance on evil doers, and praise to them that do well.” (N.T.)
It is of God that there shall be rule, or authority, in the earth, and so our first verse declares: “for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist are set up by God.” (N.T.)
Without government, how long would life or property be safe in this world? One who sets himself in opposition to the authority, resists the ordinance of God, and such persons bring sentence of guilt on themselves. (“Damnation” here is a translator’s error.) What is in view in these verses is very plain; the subject of what is due to God is not referred to; we may find that in the Lord’s answer to the Pharisees and Herodians in Matthew 22:15-22, and in Acts 5:17-29 in the words of the apostles in the last of these verses. In John 17:16, too, an important truth often overlooked by young Christians is stated, which should govern all the children of God in every detail of their lives.
Verses 5, 6, 7. The believer’s subjection to authority is not only on account of wrath—to avoid the consequences of incurring the displeasure of the government, but for a higher reason than actuates the world: and that is because of conscience, since all authority is from God. “Tribute”, or taxes on property and persons for the upkeep of the government, must be paid, too, and the collectors are “God’s ministers” (or officers), as the ruler or magistrate in verse 4 is “the minister” (or servant) “of God.” To all their dues are to be rendered; tribute to those to whom it is due; custom (taxes on merchandise) where required; fear to whom fear is due; honor to whom honor is to be paid. The seventh verse covers a wide range. And you will observe that in all this instruction from God there is no provision for the believer’s seeking any advantage, any recognition, any place for himself in the world. Indeed the whole of it is outside of what belongs to the believer, except that in observing what is laid down in verse 1 to 7 he is honoring God.
Verses 8, 9, 10. The Christian should have no debts in this world, except one which can never be paid in full, but on which we should always be paying—to love one another. He that loveth another, hath fulfilled (or fulfills) the law. As another has said,
“By the conduct which flows from love, the law is already fulfilled before its requirement is applied.” And the eighth chapter has already been before us with its declaration in verses 3 and 4 that,
“What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness (or righteous requirement) of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.”
This, then, is normal Christianity; a high standard of walk, but one that God has made possible for us, His children.
The ninth verse quotes from the ten commandments given at Sinai (Ex. 20, Deut. 5), those of them that have to do with man’s attitude toward his fellows, which are comprehended in the words found in Leviticus 19:18,
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” The commandments Godward are comprehended in the passage in Deuteronomy 6:5,
“Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” It was to these two verses that the Lord Jesus referred in speaking to the lawyer in Matthew 22:35-40.
In the tenth verse the paying of the debt of the eighth verse is shown for us to carry it out: Love worketh no ill to the neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling, or literally translated, the fullness, of law.
The closing verses of this chapter bring out another motive that must actuate believers, in addition to love, which alone will not do. In expectation of early deliverance from the present scene of Satan’s power, we are to be aroused out of sleep; the “works of darkness” are to be cast away, and the “armor of light” is to be put on. Morally, the night began when Christ was rejected and crucified; it will end at His appearing, when the day of the Lord begins, which is so often referred to in both Old Testament and New (one Scripture reference must suffice here: 2 Peter 3:10).
The night was already “far spent” when the Epistle to the Romans was written, and believers were even then to be aroused to a realization of this. God, with the purpose of saving souls, even now, has through the past centuries restrained the characteristics which mark the near approach of the day, so that we also may say, “the night is far spent; the day is at hand.” Our salvation, each believer can rejoicingly say, is nearer than when we believed; salvation here takes in the whole result, as regards us who have trusted in Him, of the cross of Christ, when at His coming for us salvation will include the body, our souls being already saved (1 Peter 1:9; Phil. 3:20, 21).
Though the character of things all around us speaks of the night, we, aroused by the Word of God to a realization of the time, the day being drawn nigh, are enjoined in the 13th and 14th verses— “As in the day, let us walk becomingly; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and lasciviousness, not in strife and emulation. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not take forethought for the flesh to fulfill its lusts.” (N. T.)