Render to All Their Dues Romans 13:7

Paul the apostle told the believing people in Rome, “the minister of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain. For he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that does evil”, and he concluded, “Wherefore you need to be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.” Paul told his believing readers, “For for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing”, and in chapter thirteen and verse seven of Romans, Paul told the believers, “render therefore to all their dues” where we read:

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom;

fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

The verse begins, “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due;” Paul began with the word, “render” which means “deliver, pay off, discharge what is due” “therefore” or “then, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “to all their dues” which means “toward each, every, the whole and everyone what is owed and obligated”: “tribute” or “taxes levied upon houses, lands and persons” “to whom tribute is due” which means “to the person or entity that taxes levied upon houses, lands and persons are owed and obligated”. Paul told his believing readers to “pay” to everyone what they are “owed and obligated”, and this includes “taxes” as well.

The verse continues, “custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” Paul added the word, “custom” which means “toll, continual custom and the point aimed at as a limit” “to whom custom” or “to the person or entity that toll, continual custom and the point aimed at as a limit” should be given; “fear” which refers to “dread, terror and reverence” “to whom fear” or “to the person or entity that dreaded, terror and reverence should be given”; “honor” which refers to “value, deference and reverence” “to whom honor” or “to the person or entity that value, deference and reverence should be given”. Paul instructed his believing readers to give “custom, fear and honor” to those who should be given them.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see the importance of “delivering” what is “owed and obligated” to every person. This includes “taxes, tolls, reverence and value”, and those who have received Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord” should comply with Paul's directives. God Almighty is the absolute authority to whom everyone should submit, and by “rendering” to people “taxes, tolls, reverence and value” we subordinate ourselves to His divine will.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “owe no man any thing, but to love one another”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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