Daniel and his three friends find themselves in a terrible predicament. Chosen by the King of Babylon to be trained as counselors for his court, by royal order they are given a ration of the king’s food. Daniel and his friends not wanting to defile themselves by eating that which was against the law of Moses asked if they might be given other food in its place. Daniel knew that the royal court meant it for their good yet were ignorant of the Scriptural obligations they had as Jews. So instead of resisting the authority of those above him, Daniel asked to be given an alternative and a test. “Give us vegetables and water for our diet,” Daniel asked. “Then after ten days, see if we are not as healthy as the others and deal with us according to your wishes.” Daniel and his friends were submitting to the authority that God had placed over them in Babylon. They didn’t start with, “We’re not eating this garbage, because God told us not to.” They knew that God had given Babylon the authority over Judah and they were to obey.
In this section of Scripture, Peter is dealing with a similar situation. Here were Christians scattered throughout the known Roman world under a myriad of laws and rules which constrained them as residents of those places. But Peter had addressed them, in verses 11 and 12 as aliens and strangers. He told that this world was not their home. They didn’t belong here. So what do they do as long as they are here? Do they go off and found their own country based on the Bible like the Nation of Israel? Do they run off to monasteries where they can be free from the rules and laws of the land? What Peter tells them and us in this passage of Scripture is clear. The key idea in this section is, as the Lord’s free people, we ought to cheerfully submit to those God has placed in authority over us.
In this passage of Scripture Peter explains to whom, why and how to submit to those God has given for our protection
1. To whom do we submit? (vv. 13-14)
First, Peter answers the question, “To whom do we submit?” He is talking specifically about our government officials from the highest to the lowest level. Verses 13 & 14 describe this. “Submit yourselves . . . to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.” This means from the President of the United States to the police officer who patrols your neighborhood. Peter is saying that for the most part, government that God has set up is for the good of the people. God has set them up to protect people. And we are to obey them. But think about this for just a moment. Peter writes, “The king as the one in authority.” About whom is he speaking? He is telling the people that they are to submit to Caesar. Caesar who? At the time of Peter’s writing this letter, it is Nero. This is the ruler who had a great idea for an urban renewal plan. Burn down Rome and blame it on the Christians. This is the man to whom Peter says his readers should submit. The man that will eventually (very soon) order Peter to execution on a cross!
Peter also mentions that they should also submit to the governor. These are the lower officials who are sent to carry out the business of the king. Who is the governor that Peter probably knows the best? Pilate who had been the Governor of Judea! The very man that sentenced his Lord and Master to death. I think the message that Peter is giving us here is clear. Our duty is to submit to the authority that God has placed over us regardless of how they behave as that authority. There is one exception to this rule of submission Peter gives us that we will cover shortly.
I am not saying that our nation will not suffer for having leaders that are ungodly (especially in a society where we have the ability and responsibility as Christians to elect leaders) for Proverbs says that “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people” I am also not saying that we cannot or should not speak out in protest against the wrongs which our society embraces, such as murdering unborn people, approving of the lifestyle of the sexually immoral or countless other things that our society has tolerated as acceptable.
Though Peter specifically has in mind submission to governmental authorities, he also means that we must submit to other authority structures that God has allowed to exist. We see this by Peter’s broad statement, “every human institution.” One commentator says,
“The phrase ‘to every human institution’ gives the verse broader application than just to civil government . . . The inclusiveness of the word ‘every’ makes it appropriate to apply this statement to other legitimate human authorities (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.”
I suppose that we can define human institution in this way, “any organization created for the purpose of order, in which we find ourselves involved.” If my manager from when I used at Fed Ex called and asked me to come in to work, I would have no obligation to obey. I am no longer involved in that institution. God no longer has that authority structure over me.
Now we must not think that God has ordained authority structures as some penalty for sin and that somehow authority was forced upon us because of the fall of Adam and Eve. No, there is nothing inherently evil in authority. There is an authority structure among the angels in heaven (1 Cor. 11:10) and there is authority among the members of the Trinity which shows that submission in no way implies inferiority (1 Cor. 15:28). Adam was also given authority over the creation before sin came into the world. The Scripture does not necessarily cast authority in a bad light. It treats it in a similar way as money, “the love of money is the root of all evil, not money itself.” Authority is not bad, but it is the abuse of authority that is evil. What Peter wants us to see is that submission to authority, regardless of the authority structure is not wrong. We are not responsible for that authority’s actions. We are only responsible for our actions in regard to that authority. This brings us to the exception of Peter’s rule for submission to every human institution.
The exception to this rule of submission comes in cases where this authority abuses its power in seeking to cause us to sin. For example, an authority may abuse its power and sanction the murder of innocent unborn babies. This is within its power and authority to do. Though they are doing wrong, this person or institution does not cease to become our authority. We are still obliged to obey in other areas. However, if this authority forces us to comply with a directive that orders us to murder our own unborn baby, then we have no option but to do right, and keep that baby alive. A prime example of this kind of civil disobedience took place in Egypt when Pharaoh ordered the Israelites to kill their first born males. They could not comply with that order. This is what Peter means in verse 15, when he says that the will of God is obeying by doing right. We cannot absolve ourselves from our responsibility by appealing to the fact that our authority told us to sin. Neither can we say that someone forfeits their authority because they do wrong. Because the federal government does not protect unborn babies does not negate the authority of the United States government over us. Nor does it give us authority to carry out righteous justice where we are not given the authority to judge. We cannot carry out the death penalty on those who murder unborn babies because the federal government refuses to do so. This is where we must as Peter says in verse 23 of this chapter entrust ourselves to God who judges righteously. Even Jesus did so when injustice was being carried out against Him. And how we view this is going to determine whether we have a Christian attitude in our response to our government and our leaders. We should not make light of our leaders or harshly criticize them, but we should pray for them all the more when they are doing wrong.
To clarify what Peter is saying I will outline it as follows:
i. We are to obey every human authority God has placed over us.
ii. Poor judgment and/or wrong action by the authority does not terminate that institution’s authority to rule.
iii. Our obedience to authority must never result in doing wrong.
iv. Our ultimate trust and pleading must rest in God, our ultimate authority, to right injustices occurring from authorities that attempt to make us sin or bring suffering upon us for doing right.
2. Why Do We Submit? (vv. 13, 15)
Secondly, Peter answers the question, “Why do we submit to those in authority over us? Peter gives us three reasons why we should submit to authority.
A. Submitting to authority is for the Lord
First, Peter tells us in v. 13 that submitting to authority is for the Lord. I believe that Peter is referring to the fact that because we are believers, we ought to seek to obey all the more because we are related to the Lord lest we bring reproach upon the name of Jesus. So submitting to authority is for (or because of) the Lord. Our actions should bring glory and not shame to the name of Jesus. As a Christian, when you disobey your authority (government, boss, parents) you are shaming Jesus Christ. So Peter says it is for the Lord’s sake that you are to obey.
B. Submitting to authority is God’s Will
Second, Peter tells us in v. 15 that doing good in submitting to our authorities is God’s will. Christians often go about saying, “I am looking for God’s will in my life.” Well, go no further. There is no reason to grope around for God’s will when it is staring you right in the face. We are to be doing good in submitting to our authorities. The way that others see our submission to authority goes a long way in how people perceive our Christianity. If you want to be doing God’s will then submit to your authority. Rejecting God’s authority over you is sin and places you out of God’s will.
C. Submitting to authority silences ignorant foolish men
Third, submitting to authority silences ignorant foolish men. This is what Peter says at the end of verse 15. When we refuse to do wrong and choose to obey those in authority it silences those who would foolishly speak against us. This is the purpose in obeying authority by doing good. Peter says that these people are ignorant. This word doesn’t just mean that they are speaking without knowledge, but that they are closing their minds to the revealed Word of God. In a sense they are choosing to be ignorant. They are making accusations based on their perceived knowledge that is not real knowledge.
The prophet Daniel is a perfect example of what Peter says we should be. The OT book that bears his name details how he interacted righteously in a pagan society under a pagan authority. Daniel 6:4 says that
“The commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. Then these men said, ‘We shall not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.’”
And you know the story. These men make a petition to the king to prevent anyone from praying to anyone except the king for 30 days. Daniel couldn’t follow that law. These commissioners knew that they would be able to trap Daniel in this because of what kind of person he was. But when he obeyed God though these ignorant fools tried to have him killed God rescued Daniel. And those who tried to silence Daniel were silenced themselves.
Can the same be said about you? Can people make any real accusation against you? Do you let the law slip when the boss isn’t around or your parents aren’t watching or the speed trap isn’t set up? Or are you like Daniel, being faithful with no negligence or corruption to be found?
Peter says we ought to be dogooders in keeping the law because of the Lord, because its God’s will and because it will silence the ignorant talk of foolish men (That is those who refuse to have their minds opened to the Word of God).
3. How Do We Submit? (v. 16)
The third question that Peter answers in this passage is “How do we submit?” In order to submit according to the will of God Peter says that there are three truths we must recognize.
A. We should recognize that we are free
First Peter says that, in submitting to these human institutions, we should recognize that we are free. This is what Peter says in the beginning of verse 16, “Act as free men.” As a believer in Jesus Christ, regardless of your financial or social status, you are a free person. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” Being a Christian means being set free from the penalty and power of sin. We no longer need to be slaves to sin and its power. What Peter wants us to realize is that regardless of what kind of political situation that we are in, we are free in Christ. Whether our government is democratic, communistic, monarchial, pro-Christian, anti-Christian, Peter says that we are free. Whether our government restricts our personal freedom, our freedom to do good and to serve Christ is not limited. It may be opposed but it cannot be stopped. So Peter says, act as free people. Use the freedom you have in Christ to serve Him wherever you are and whatever you are doing. Don’t waste all your time arguing about what you can’t do, do what you can do!
I remember hearing of one Christian in an African country in which it was illegal to baptize. He baptized one convert to Christianity and was arrested. He was place in prison and he began to witness to those in the prison. He then baptized these people in the water hole in the open courtyard of the prison. After one week the warden brought him in and said, “Outside you baptized one person. Here you have baptized many. You are more dangerous to me in prison than outside.” Then they drove him to the end of the province and released him. The man remarked, “Praise God, He gave me a free week of room board, several converts and 50 miles of free transportation!” Even in prison he recognized that he was the Lord’s free man.
B. We should recognize that we must not use our freedom to do wrong.
Secondly, Peter says we should recognize that we must not (I repeat must not) use our freedom in Christ to do wrong. This is the middle of verse 16, “Do not use your freedom as a covering for evil.” Don’t say, “Since Christ freed me from my sins, I can do anything I want.” That’s not freedom, that is slavery once again. Paul says in Galatians 5, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free, therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Peter says that we cannot use this freedom as a covering, or an excuse, for doing wrong.
C. We should recognize that being God’s slave offers us the most freedom
But thirdly, Peter says we should recognize that being God’s slave offers us the most freedom to obey authority. This is how Peter ends verse 16, “Use your freedom as bondslaves of God.” When are we most free? Really free? When you are the boss or when someone else is? Is it easier to just know when to come in to work and do what your boss says, or is it easier to make sure all your employees made it to work, to find out what isn’t working and how long it will take to fix it? Is it easier to keep track of your voice mail and pager and cell phone and keeping the business going?
When I was in the Navy and our sub went into the shipyard for decommissioning I was made the Assistant Engineer. It was a great position to have. I had the authority over everyone in the engineering department. I supervised what went on during plant procedures. It was great, that is, until the Engineer went on vacation. I got calls at 3 AM from the Engineering Duty Officers telling me what was going on as they changed shifts. Then the shipyard broke one of our nuclear cooling systems and I had to stay in the shipyard until the paperwork to fix it was done so I could sign the package to allow the Machinery division to begin work. I liked being the Assistant Engineer much better.
The same analogy applies spiritually. Is it when you are running your own life, figuring your way out of every situation and planning your own strategies, worrying about the outcomes of your gambles? Or is it when you let the Lord take care of that? When you say, God you are the boss, you run the show.
No slaves do not choose their work assignment, there is no extra overtime pay. But there is a freedom in serving and obeying God that can’t be found in serving yourself.
Many years ago two men saw an entire island without the witness of the gospel. It was an island filled with slaves who labored for the individual who owned the island. These two men saw that the only way they could get to the island and witness to these people would be to sell themselves as slaves. They did this and had opportunity to lead many to Christ who would have otherwise never heard the gospel. These men recognized that they were completely free because they belonged to Jesus Christ. They knew that it didn’t matter who their earthly authorities were because in submitting to them they were under God’s authority.
Are you willing to place your freedom totally into the hands of God so that He could free you completely serve Him wherever and whenever he wants. We can have this kind of freedom in submitting to the authorities that He has placed over us.
4. The Summation of Submission
Finally in this passage we see the summation of submission. Verse 17 says, “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” In this verse Peter sums up what he has just said in the previous verses. I see a parallel in this to when Jesus summed up the law by the two great commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. Peter may very well be alluding to this passage. Peter puts his summation of submission in sort of a pyramid format that you can see from the text. He begins with honor and ends with honor, but, in the center, he has something a little more important, a little higher up on the pyramid. What Peter is saying in this verse is, “If you want to respect and submit to authority the way God wants you to here is the formula”
Show honor to everybody. As every human being is made in the image of God, honor them. Peter means everyone. This means the Goth sub-culture. This means Muslims. Peter doesn’t limit the statement, “Honor all people.” But there is a special relationship between believers. Love the brotherhood. Show self-sacrificing love to them. Even the ones who are a little different. Jesus said, “Others will know that you are my disciples by the love you have for one another.” Our love for each other is to be so evident that people realize there is something amazing in the way we live for each other.
Then Peter moves to the authority figures in our lives. Fear God. This is at the top of the pyramid. Even when you can’t understand what he is doing in your life, give the respect, honor and awe that is due His name. Know that it is he who has made us and not we ourselves. Fear God, He is the one in control. Then Peter says, “Honor the king.” He brings the king down to the place of everyone else. Show him the same respect that you would show anyone else. He deserves that respect. Or as Peter recognized, Honor the king, even when he is cutting your friend’s head off. But you don’t need to fear him as you do God. Since you are a Christian, all the king can do is destroy your physical body. Show proper respect, but don’t worry because the One who is really in control already has taken care of everything.
Some of you may be still under the authority of Satan. The Scripture makes it clear that we were all born under the authority of the devil as his children under God’s wrath. This is one person to whom God does not want us to submit. Unfortunately, the Bible says that if you have never been born again you are still under his control. Ephesians 2 says that you are being led along by Satan like his little puppet. But Jesus has given an invitation to those under the authority and yoke of Satan
“Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you shall find rest for your souls.”