1 Peter 2:13

1 Peter 2:13 ‘Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to. king as the one in authority,'

‘Submit yourselves' -One of the common accusations directed against Christians is that they did not obey the laws of the land (Acts 16:21; Acts 17:7). At times, the only option we have in dealing with slander, is to simply out live it. ‘Submit'-which includes obedience to the one in authority (Luke 2:51; Ephesians 5:24). Note the next word, ‘yourselves': ‘submission only because it is forced upon one from external (human) sources is not in the Spirit of Christ.' (Oberst pp. 118-119) The only submission that counts is submission that is rendered because we love Jesus and this is what Jesus wants (Ephesians 5:22 ‘as to the Lord'; 1 Peter 6:1 ‘in the Lord'; 1 Peter 6:7).

‘for the Lord's sake' -Which modifies and limits the above statement: 1. The true authority is Christ, and not Caesar or any other human authority. We are to submit to those in positions of civil authority, not because they have inherent authority within themselves, for they are merely another human being. But because Jesus commands submission because He created civil government in the first place (Romans 13:1 ff). 2. The motive for submission needs to be pure. Too many people merely obey because they feel that disobedience carries too high of. price tag. 3. The expression also suggests that we are not bound to obey when civil authority commands something that would involve us in sin, if we did obey (Acts 5:29; Acts 4:19; Daniel 3:13; Daniel 6:10; Exodus 2:17). Thus, obey, except when commanded to sin. ‘This is the Christian's responsibility toward all forms of rightful authority, whether the individual Christians agrees with all the policies of that authority or not.' (Grudem p. 118)

‘to every human institution' -‘Institution'-‘institution or authority' (Arndt p. 456).

POINTS TO NOTE: 1. ‘Every'-In the context this includes civil authorities and employers (1 Peter 2:18ff). ‘authority structures in businesses, educational institutions, voluntary organizations, etc..). God has established such patterns of authority for the orderly functioning of human life, and it both pleases and honors him when we subject ourselves to them. Nor should we think that the need for authority is only due to sin, for there is authority among sinless angels (Judges 1:9)…'(Grudem p. 118) 2. God expects submission to every form of government, and not just. certain kind. 3. Submission doesn't mean that we don't have. voice, or can't work for improvements. But it means that when we do speak, let us speak respectfully, and let us offer solutions, instead of complaining just for the sake of having something to criticize. 4. This verse is. rebuke to those who think that no government would constitute the ideal society. In addition, God is. big supporter of having ‘citizenship classes' as part of the course of study in any school or university.

‘whether to. king as the one in authority' -The emperor, termed ‘king' by Greek writers. (John 19:15 ‘we have no king but Caesar'). Peter now applies the previous statement to. specific office. ‘The Roman emperor at the time Peter wrote was Nero (reigned A.D. 54-68), under whose persecution Peter himself would later be put to death….God expects Christians to be subject even to human authorities who are neither believers nor morally upright.' (Grudem p. 119) In our modern times this would be or include the President. ‘As the one in authority'-‘as the supreme authority' (TCNT). The exact same Greek word (‘authority') is translated ‘higher' powers in Romans 13:1. In the form of government which these Christians found themselves under, the Roman Emperor held the supreme place of authority.