1 Peter Series Honor Authorities

                                                             Honor Authorities 

1 Peter 2:11-17

If there is one urging that is difficult to do, it is submitting to ungodly authority. Today, our world seems to be run by autocratic authoritarians. In many countries there is violence and civil strife against anyone who goes against the ruler’s demands and laws. Throughout history there has been autocratic authority of one kind or another: kings, emperors, sultans, imans, presidents, prime ministers, chancellors, and premiers. Peter lived under the auspices of four Roman emperors from Tiberius to Nero, and various perfects (governors) and kings. The Jews in Peter's time were always divided and fighting over Jesus Christ, and it was the mindset of the authorities to squash the rebels and the rebellions in these religious sects against their rule. It is in this context Peter writes this urgency. Let’s look at the text,

 “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”

Peter began with urging all the exiled believers to again abstain (do not take part in) sinful desires. He has reiterated this abstinence several times, because he knew the true battle was in the spiritual realm, not just the physical. Their very souls were in danger. Then Peter exhorts the believers to godly living among the unbelieving world, so much so that their good works will speak of their devotion and obedience to Jesus Christ, and the unbelievers could possibly praise God for the exceptional lives demonstrated under duressed times. 

Applications - I am as guilty as the next believer today, when I experience a contortion of the truth by our present authorities and yet speak out against such rule, and yet God’s word instructs us to abstain from ungodly and sinful behavior that is warring against our very souls today. Jesus' admonishment on the use of our words is from the very heart and soul of who we are. “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matt. 12:35-37)

Our lives should be an example of Jesus living in us, not just when we are out in the world, but at home and in our groups or clicks. There are going to be times of warring against the enemy of God, and he will use the weakness of our flesh to attack our very heart and soul. So let us take the words Peter has spoken to heart and soul. And like David lets pray Psalms 51:10-13 - “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.”

Next Peter reaches down to the very rub of the road of life to the believers. They are to submit to every authority because God has placed them there for his purpose. Let’s look again at the text, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” 

Peter’s submission to all authorities shows how far he has matured in the Lord. From an angry fisherman and self-promoting disciple who boldly claimed he would never deny or shame Jesus. Now he understands how Jesus showed the way to submit to authorities. The believers now had Peter as an example of submission to authorities. 

By submitting to the authorities the believers were actually submitting to God. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Col. 3:23-24

Peter needed to remind them that the reigning authorities were also punishing the disobedient, violent, and rebellious. And Peter didn’t want them to fall into this disarray. Peter wanted them to focus on God’s will, not their own. For it would silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Second, their freedom was not to lead a rebellion, and live their freedom as a cover up for evil. Peter reminded them they are God’s slaves, not out of fear and coercement but out of freely giving themselves as bond servants and slaves. Third, they were to “show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.” 

An old adage, respect is earned. They were to respect others as they would want to be respected, the golden rule “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matt. 7:12

Fourth, the exiled believers were to love the family of believers wherever they lived. If there was any concept the believers needed, it was love for one another, Jesus’ command. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 They are to love like a family of believers.

Fifth, to the exile believers fearing God was the easiest of the tasks that Peter had given them to adhere to. Jesus had taught Peter to fear God not men, in both reverence and duty “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt. 10:26-28 . Last, Peter taught the exiled believers to honor the Emperor, whether it was Tiberius, Caligula, Cladius, or Nero. These emperors were vicious towards everyone who would not follow their every order, even to the point of killing to prove their point. Peter knew the importance of honoring an authority. He watched Jesus obey Pontius Pilate, the Perfect (governor) in Jerusalem during the trial. Honor would be given by God to whom God decides, and since these emperors were in authority during these times, God was using them to fulfill his Purpose and will.

Application - LIke I said at the beginning, it is easy to be upset with the twisting of truth, or the bold face lies used by autocratic authorities to rule with supreme power. But to the Christian, our allegiance is to God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Understanding Peter’s change in mindset came through obedience and yielding to authorities as yielding to the Lord and God’s will. Every believer today is facing and honoring the authorities that God has put into place, not because we agree with the contorting of the truth, but we believe that God has placed them there for this present time for his purpose. Like Jesus who faced Pontius Pilate, he honored the perfect’s position of authority, but he stated clearly that God was the one who had complete authority.  Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him...“Where do you come from?” He asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” John 18:33-38, 19:9-11. 

So today, honor the reigning authorities for God has told us too and we must remember that they have no power over us if it had not been given to them from God above for His will and purpose. Jesus, Peter, Paul, and many others lost their lives under autocratic authorities, but they did not fail to honor those to whom God placed into authority.

If you would like more lessons go to https://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week. In His Service Mike Davis