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.
Every man should submit to their
government due to YHWH putting each of those men in their position. Aside from
breaking YHWH’s law, there is no reason to not keep the laws the government
puts forth. Paul is not saying any government law is good to keep. Considering
Hitler was a leader and he put forth laws that were significantly harmful
toward YHWH’s people, I would suggest this does not apply to every government.
It seems much more likely Paul is referring to leaders who teach YHWH’s law.
The Greek words used for “governing authorities” do not necessarily mean
governments. The Greek for governing is Strong's G5242 – hyperechō and it means
superior or higher in rank. The Greek for authorities is Strong's G1849 –
exousia and it means power or authority. So it can be translated as governing
authorities, but it simply means those individuals who hold a higher rank in
authority.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God,
and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
Because YHWH put these people in
authority, do not resist them. They are there because it is part of YHWH’s
plan. Here Paul suggests the leaders he is referring to are those who hold to
the ordinance of YHWH. He goes on to say those who resist these ordinances will
bring judgment upon themselves.
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.
Paul gives reason to believe what
I have said previously is correct. The rulers are not a terror to good work,
but to evil works. This was not the case for Adolf Hitler. He was a terror to
good works. Hitler singled out the Torah following Jews as his target to
exterminate due to his anti-Semite belief system. That being said, Paul is not
telling believers they must submit to any and all rules their particular
countries government puts forth.
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.
Those in higher rank in terms of teaching
Torah and authority, are ministers for good. If you are doing evil, as in
anything contrary to keeping the law of YHWH, you should be afraid, because
this minister of YHWH does not hold the sword in vain. Using this sword, which
is the word of God, this minister executes wrath on those who practice evil.
Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God
5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for
conscience’ sake.
This is why you should be subject
to the “governing authorities”, because you fear YHWH, as well as your
conscience, because if you know YHWH, you know His law, which is His word.
Knowing His word means you know right from wrong.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers
attending continually to this very thing.
Here we see Paul claiming the tax
being paid goes to YHWH’s ministers who continually are working toward avenging
to execute wrath on the evil doers.
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.
Pay taxes to who they should be
paid. Pay fees to who fees are due. And pay respect to who respect is do.
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves
another has fulfilled the law.
By doing this you will never owe
anyone anything except love. By loving others we are keeping the law because
the law was given to show us how to love our neighbor. Paul is talking about
the law found in Leviticus.
Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children
of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Paul understands that the whole
point of the law of YHWH is to love not only YHWH, but also our neighbors.
9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not
murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall
not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this
saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Exodus 20:13–15, 17;
“You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your
neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor
his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Deuteronomy 5:17–19, 21
‘You shall not murder. ‘You shall not commit adultery. ‘You shall not
steal.
‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire
your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox,
his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’
Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children
of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Paul simply sums up how all the
laws given show love to our neighbor. Merely proving the statement I made
above.
10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment
of the law.
Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not
come to destroy but to fulfill.
The word here for fulfil does not
mean to abolish. The Greek word is Strong's G4137 – plēroō. Its definitions are
A. to make full, to fill up, i.e.
to fill to the full
B. to render full, i.e. to
complete
I. to fill to
the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim
II. to
consummate: a number
a.
to carry through to the end, to accomplish,
carry out, (some undertaking)
III. to carry into effect, bring to realisation,
realise
a.
of matters of duty: to perform, execute
b.
to fulfil, i.e. to cause God's will (as made
known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God's promises (given
through the prophets) to receive fulfilment
Matthew 3:15
But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus
it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.
This is the very same word used
for fulfil in both instances and the previous are the possible interpretations
of the word. None of which imply bringing an end to YHWH’s law.
Because keeping the law shows
love for our neighbor, and does no harm to them, it is how we should live, it
is another reason to keep the law.
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out
of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
Do these things, keep the law,
pay what is due to who it is due, and love your neighbor. Believers have been
lost far too long, but our salvation is much closer now than it was
yesterday.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast
off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
The time is now. Stop keeping the
law of sin, continually breaking the law of YHWH. Keep His law, because this is
putting on the armor of light. It is time for the House of Israel to begin
keeping His law again.
13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness,
not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
To walk properly, in the light of
day, meaning keeping His law. Do not continue walking in the dark, continually
partying and being drunk. Get away from the ways of the world and come back to
the ways of YHWH.
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the
flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Do not walk in the flesh,
committing the sins of the flesh. To avoid this, keep the law of YHWH. It is
the only way to stop sin in your life.
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