Romans 13:6-9

A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 96 Chapter 13:1 – 14

“Our relationship to our Goverment.” - Part 3 Verses 6 – 9

By Pastor Randy Johnson

1. Verse 6 “For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.”
1. Paul continues with how we are to obey our government, no matter how ungodly they become. However we are still to obey God rather than man, but if mans law does not contradict with Gods law we are to still obey it.

a. Because they are appointed of God, actually obeying Gods predestinated plan.

b. We trust God, He is in charge of every detail and therefore obey the laws He has allowed them to set in place.

2. “For for this cause pay ye tribute also…” The word “tribute” means taxes due.

a. If a Christian says it is unscriptural to pay taxes, they are wrong.

b. Matthew 22:17 - 21 “Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? (18.) But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? (19.) Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. (20.) And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription (an inscription)? (21.) They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.”

c. We need to always remember God told us in verse 2 “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God…”

d. If we do not do it to truly honor our government then we do it to honor Gods commandments.

3. “…attending continually upon this very thing.” – The words “attending continually” means - to be earnest towards – that is toward what God has just told us in paying taxes.
4. God has appointed these people in a secular service, they are not appointed in a godly service therefore they do what lost people do, and we as Christians must follow along. Do we trust God or not? Do we trust the predestinated will of God or not? If so then trust God and do as He wills without question.
1. Verse 7 “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour”

1. “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due…” to whom ever money is due. A good Christian never fails to pay taxes as well as tithe.
2. “…custom to whom custom…” - this includes a wide variety of taxes and services like local and state taxes.
3. “…fear to whom fear…” – To fear God is to have reverence toward God, to reverence our governments and powers in this world is to also fear them.
4. “…honour to whom honour” - If one honors God then he will honor his parents no matter how bad they are, if one honors God the they will honor any other person that requires our honor. A king is to be honored as a king because of his office, we cannot choose whom to honor or not, whether we love them or not honor is due the office of position regardless.
5. The Lord never told us to respect them all the same but we do have to honor them both. 1 Timothy 5:17 “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”
2. Verse 8 “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

1. “Owe no man any thing…” – I do not believe this applies to all things such as home loans, school loans, car loans, or etc. we all must be in debt to buy many things, however we should not be careless and borrow what we cannot repay.

a. It is believed this is still talking about taxes, however if you owe money pay it.

b. Debt makes one a slave to the lender and allows the lender to have some control over the one receiving the money, a Christian should not owe anyone outside of necessity, but when a loan is made repay it.

2. “…but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” The law of God commands we love all others, not the exact same but that we have a love for all other humans. James 2:8 “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:”
3. Verse 9 is a deeper explanation of verse 8, “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
4. “…Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Verse 9 – Why as yourself? - You will take care of yourself, you will not go hungry, you will not go without a roof over your head, you will not go naked, you will not go without, and etc. see the picture. James 2:8 “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:”