1Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. 2Therefore he who resists the authority withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the authority, 4for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil. 5Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, continually doing this very thing. 7Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
8Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.
11Do this, knowing the time, that it is already time for you to awaken out of sleep, for salvation is now nearer to us than when we first believed. 12The night is far gone, and the day is near. Let’s therefore throw off the deeds of darkness, and let’s put on the armor of light. 13Let’s walk properly, as in the day; not in reveling and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and lustful acts, and not in strife and jealousy. 14But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.
In an attempt to lure Jesus into a verbal trap, the chief priests asked Jesus if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar (Luke 20:20-26). Whether He said yes or no, they thought He would incriminate Himself. His response, however, left them marveling in silence (v. 26). The words, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's," demonstrated the politics of Jesus. Rather than side with one earthly faction against another, He affirmed the propriety of civil government under God. As the ruler of the Roman Empire, Caesar had the right to collect taxes; and honoring God did not exempt a person from paying them. Peter later exhorted Christians to submit themselves "to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake..." (see 1 Pet 2:13-17). Paul explained that "the authorities that exist are appointed by God" (Rom 13:1-7). Rather than align Himself with the zealots and other political forces opposed to Roman domination of Israel, the kingdom of Jesus is "not of this world" (John 18:36) because He is "not of this world" (John 8:23). He said, "'If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews'" (John 18:36). When Jesus returns, however, the kingdom of God will be established on earth (Matt 26:29; Luke 22:29-30). Only then will God's "will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt 6:10). Until then, the only justification for civil disobedience is when obedience to the higher authority of God requires it (see Acts 4:19-20).