As Peter the apostle
continued to share ways the “scattered” Christians were to
live as witnesses of the glory of God, he told them to “Submit”
themselves “to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake”,
and he began the example of “whether it be to the king, as
supreme”, and in chapter two and verse fourteen of his letter
to them, he continued with “governors” who punish
“evildoers” where we read:
Or unto governors, as
unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers,
and for the praise of
them that do well.
The
verse begins, “Or unto governors, as unto them that are
sent by him for the punishment of evildoers,...” Peter
continued the previous verse with, “Or unto governors”
which refers to “a leader of any kind, a guide, ruler,
prefect, president, chief, general, commander or sovereign”,
“as unto them that are sent”
which is one Greek word “pempō” and
means “to send, bid a thing
to be carried to one or send, thrust or insert a thing into another”
“by him” which
refers to “the ruler and commander” “for the
punishment” or “revenging,
vengeance, vindication and retribution” “of evildoers”
which refers to “a bad doer, criminal or malefactor”. Christians
are to submit to those who are rulers over them as they have
authority to “punish”
people who are criminals and violate the ordinances of man.
The
verse goes on to say, “...and for the praise of them that do
well.” Peter added, “and for the praise” which means
“approbation and commendation” “of them that do well”
which means “those who act right and are virtuous”. In addition
to “punishing” the “evildoers”, rulers are also
sent to give approbation and commendation to those who do right and
good things.
When we
think through these words of Peter, we begin to understand the role
of leaders within governments. They are to insure that criminals are
punished for their bad behavior, and they are to commend those who do
good things. If we realize this, we should have no difficulty
submitting to them. Regardless of whether these authorities obey the
directives given by God to them, Christians are to “submit”
to them as they conduct themselves appropriately.
Next
time Peter tells the “scattered”
Christians
how submitting is “the will of God”
and “it
puts to silence the ignorance of foolish men”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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