Friday, March 9, 2018

Romans Chapter 13 Breakdown



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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