1 Peter 2:13-15 “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, (14) or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. (15) For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.”

This passage looks pretty straight forward to me. We are to submit ourselves to all earthly authority for Christ’s sake. Sounds easy enough right? Well, when you look a bit deeper there is more to be found. First the word submit. According to BlueLetterBible:

This word was a Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader”. In non-military use, it was “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden“.

What caught my attention about this was the “voluntary attitude of giving in” part. How many times do we submit, yet unwillingly. Begrudgingly we agree to obey, but inside we are revolting. We are to voluntarily submit! That is what pleases Christ.

Next, the phrase “every authority.” The KJV says, “…every ordinance of man…” According to BlueLetterBible the word used for”authorit” and “ordinance” literally means “building or creation.” Out of all the times it is used, it is only used as “ordinance” once in this passage. Pretty interesting. So authority here is implying more then just the laws placed over us by government. It is implying EVERY creation of man that we are under. One of the commentaries I have been consulting regularly has the following to say about this very passage:

13. every ordinance of man–”every human institution” [ALFORD], literally, “every human creation.” For though of divine appointment, yet in the mode of nomination and in the exercise of their authority, earthly governors are but human institutions, being of men, and in relation to men. The apostle speaks as one raised above all human things. But lest they should think themselves so ennobled by faith as to be raised above subordination to human authorities, he tells them to submit themselves for the sake of Christ, who desires you to be subject, and who once was subject to earthly rulers Himself, though having all things subject to Him, and whose honor is at stake in you as His earthly representatives. Compare Rom 13:5 , “Be subject for conscience’ sake.”

Jamieson, Robert; A.R. Fausset; and David Brown. “The First Epistle General of Peter.” Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Blue Letter Bible.

So though Peter has spoken about being strangers in this world, raised above human things, etc… In this passage he is clearly showing us that we are to submit to those placed in authority over us. These human institutions are ordained by God and our submission to them pleases him.

We are also to submit to these authorities voluntarily because it causes those opposed to us to be silenced. Our critics are silenced by our willful obedience. How can they have anything to criticize if we truly live as Christ commands? How much more could those opposed to us criticize us (and rightly so) if we were constantly disobeying or bickering about obeying God ordained authorities?  However, obviously we are not to obey these authorities if what they compel us to do violates what our King of Kings commands.  We must obey God above all else.


Application:

  •  Realize  that government and all other forms of human authority are ordained by God.
  •  Realize that we should submit willingly to authority because it pleases Christ and silences critics.
  •  Willingly submit to authority without grumbling, for Christ’s glory.