one28 PodcastAn Appendix on Authority
A New Testament Look at Following and Influencing the Man
1 Peter 2:13-3:6
2007.11.11
one28 Sunday worship
The subject of submission to authority is so significant. We’ve been reminded of our obligation to follow authority and our opportunity to influence authority the last couple weeks from Ecclesiastes 8. And even though Solomon has more insight in the last half of the chapter about how to deal with authority, I am compelled to stop and park on some of the same issues for one more week.
Ecclesiastes has given us some solid and challenging truth about authority, but authority is not just an Ecclesiastes issue, it is a Scripture issue. And though Solomon’s original readers may not have had much of the Old Testament and obviously they had none of the New Testament, we do. So I want to take a step back from the immediate context of Ecclesiastes and consider the issue of authority in its broader biblical context.
I have endeavored to let Solomon make his own case, but since we do have more of God’s revelation than Solomon’s original audience, I want to take this morning and add some NT, Christian understanding to following and influencing the man. This is bigger than just adding a footnote onto our study in Ecclesiastes 8. Let’s call today’s message An Appendix on Authority.
Even though there are a lot of OT and NT passages that deal with the subject of authority, I know of no clearer section of Scripture that depicts the why of submission and the how of submission and the benefits of submission than what we get in 1 Peter 2:13-3:6. The apostle Peter makes the case for humble submission, even–if not especially–when the authority is wrong.
Let me try and set the stage of Peter’s letter and show where submission fits. After greeting his readers, Peter celebrates the salvation God provides from 1:3 through 2:10. God has caused us to be born again. He has reserved an inheritance for us in heaven and is preserving us so that we are certain to enjoy it. He sent His Son, who gave His life for us like a pure, spotless lamb. He sent us the gospel that caused new birth and now He is growing us in salvation by His Word and making us into His precious people. Like I said, most of chapter one and the first section in chapter two is a celebration of our salvation.
And then Peter steps directly from our salvation to submission. Salvation and submission are connected like links in a chain. Let that soak in for a second. Being a Christian involves a certain kind of conduct, and the first kind of conduct Peter identifies is humble, respectful, honorable, submission to authority.
And it is even more than submission; it is submission to authorities that make it difficult. It is reminiscent of Solomon’s observation of when man has power over man to his hurt (8:9). As we get an overview of these paragraphs I want you to observe Three Hard Places to Submit.
Three Hard Places to Submit
1. Ungodly Government 2:13-17
The command is clear and comprehensive in in verses 13-14.
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
The emperor or “king” (NAS) and the governors are the authorities in this paragraph. They are government officials; those with political position, power, and authority. These are the guys who make the law and enforce the law, in particular the emperor decides what goes and the governors are sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. We know that governmental authority is the primary point since the emperor is mentioned in the last verse of the paragraph as well, Honor the emperor.
This paragraph begins with the imperative Be subject or “Submit yourselves” to every human institution. The word institution refers to the systems and structures of authority. It is primarily concerned with government but obviously has application in more situations.
Okay, we figured we were supposed to obey government authorities. But the real rub comes when we think about the emperor and governors Peter has in mind. These were the Romans; ruthless, heartless, pagan, ungodly, immoral, and corrupt. The first century Roman government surely is in the top five all-time most Christ-hating and Christian persecuting regimes.
Peter’s point is that we are to follow authority not only when authority is good, but even when they’re bad. It isn’t just when the government is sympathetic to the church, it’s when they make it hard for the church. It isn’t just when they make laws to protect Christians, it’s when they make laws to kill Christians. From top to bottom, Christians submit even when the government authorities are ungodly.
2. Unjust Masters 2:18-25
The authority in this paragraph is found in the workplace. The particular context i 1 Peter concerns slaves and masters but the most immediate sphere of application for us is between employees to employers.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.
There is more than just a topical connection between this paragraph and the one preceding; there is a grammatical connection. It is impossible to notice in the English translations and I guess I understand why they do it because it might be hard to follow. Of course, the way they translate it is not the way Peter–moved by the Holy Spirit–wrote it.
A woodenly literal translation of verse 18 would be something like, “Servants being submissive” or “servants submitting.” The verb is not an imperative it is a participle–a secondary verb–and that is an intentional way to attach submission to masters with the imperative–the primary verb–in verse 13, Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution. This is just one of the specific places for submission to authority.
And again, notice what kind of boss or master Peter expects us to submit to, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. The last phrase in verse 18 is the kind of clause that would make even the most capable lawyer blush for his inability to find the small print that gets us out of submission. The word unjust is the Greek word σκολιοῖς. When describing physical objects like a road, it meant the road was bent or crooked, not straight. When describing persons it meant that the person was morally bent or twisted, crooked, and dishonest. These masters were crooked, corrupt, dishonest, and unfair. They didn’t do what was right or treat those under them properly. Maybe it was an issue of pay, working conditions, unreal expectations, false accusations, whatever. And yet we are exhorted by Peter to be subject with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle but also the unjust.
Then look at Peter’s explanation in verses 19-20.
19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
The issue at hand is enduring sorrows while suffering unjustly under authority. And amazingly Peter has the audacity to say twice that this is a gracious thing, this is favor from God, there is reward when you do good and submit and suffer!
There is zero credit in taking punishment that you deserve, and for that matter, there is minimal credit in doing what is right when the authority treats you right. If you are beaten (the NASB translates it “harshly treated,” but the word is connected more to the idea of being struck with a fist) and endure it but you deserved it, that doesn’t prove anything. But, wow, if you are mindful of God and do good and still get beaten, this is grace!
Maybe you’re like, “No one in their right mind would do that. And there is no way God could endorse that.” And I’ll agree that it doesn’t fit our modern day mindset of lawsuit unhappy employees and workers unions and strikes and such. But there was someone who lived like that and He is our perfect example.
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
Jesus submitted while suffering unjustly without sin. He threw no fits and uttered no threats. Instead He trusted His Father and knew that His Father was paying attention and would make it right at the right time.
We hate it when unreasonable and unjust people get their way. Even most Christians justify their anger and critical, disrespectful spirit by the wrongs done to them. There seem to be a lot of people who, if you point out to them that they seem bitter and defiant and slanderous of their authority, they will immediately tell you that you don’t understand how bad they’ve been treated or how they were let down or how they were hurt. Less and less do you hear something like, “Yes, I was unjustly hurt, let down, mistreated. And yes, they deserve to be exposed and brought to justice, but no, I will not be bitter or retaliate. I will return good for evil and bless rather than curse.” But that is our example; we must follow Jesus by submitting to unjust masters.
3. Unbelieving Husbands 3:1-6
We’ve taken a quick look at government authority and workplace authority, now we come to the institution of marriage and authority in the home. I would suppose that some of you can’t believe there is a comparison between the emperor, the master, and the husband, but that is Peter’s connection. Not only does 3:1 begin with Likewise, “in a similar way,” but the verb in 3:1 is another participle, “wives being submissive” or “wives submitting” to your own husbands. Inspired grammar joins these three cases of submission. And though the wife is not a slave, she does need to submit.
1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct.
Also similar between this and the first two cases is that this submission is in a hard place. Like ungodly government and unjust masters, here we see unbelieving husbands. Not all the husbands would have been non-Christians, but perhaps a good portion of these first-generation Christians got saved after getting married. Peter’s exhortation still applies, so that even if some (of the husbands) do not obey the word. If you track down those who don’t obey Scripture you find that description never identifies disobedient believers, they are always non-believers. Besides that, we are never said to win Christians to obedience, but we do win non-Christians to Christ. So wives are to submit to their husbands, even when their husband is a doubter or a cynic or a scoffer about Christ.
And Peter provides an example of this unbelievably difficult submission with Sarah and her submission to Abraham. I know Mrs. Bone mentioned this in her message a few Wednesdays ago, and even though Abraham was a believer in God he definitely wasn’t acting like it when they went to Egypt and he told Sarah to represent herself as his sister before Pharaoh.
5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
She didn’t necessarily have to lie outright, but Abraham did. And even though her life was on the line (hence the discussion of fear in verse 6) due to her husband’s stupid, wrong, no-faith decision, she still submitted. She submitted, calling him Lord and holy women since also submit to their husbands as daughters of Sarah.
Are you kidding me? I’m sure we could come up with some more difficult cases of submission but these are three pretty hard places to submit. And for us these paragraphs make an argument from greater to lesser: if submission is required in situations with ungodly, unjust, unbelieving authority, then even more so, shouldn’t we submit to godly, righteous, believing authorities (like our parents)? For that matter, even ethical, honest, unbelievers? If we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, shouldn’t it be easier to honor our loved ones and obey those who protect us?
So how is this possible? How in the world can we follow our authorities like this? How can we honor those who treat us dishonorably? How can we be respectful and not resentful when authorities treat us unfairly? How can we submit, while suffering, without sinning? As we move through the paragraphs again, notice some of the essential principles that drive submission.
Five Indispensable Pursuits for Submission
You will not submit in hard places without:
1. Looking to Eternity
If you love this world you will not follow Jesus. If you think this life is all there is, you better fight to be treated right because this is as good it gets. But this is not our home; we’re just passing through. Christians are sojourners and exiles (v.11). Therefore we must be looking to eternity and entrusting (ourselves) to Him who judges justly (v.23). Even though He might not right the wrongs tomorrow, we’ve got to trust that He will take care of it in His timing. Peter makes the similar point in chapter 4.
1 Peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
If your perspective is stuck on earth your suffering is miserable. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. But if your perspective is eternal you can rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.
John Bunyan, who endured 12 years in prison for preaching the gospel said the only way you can endure is by living upon God that is invisible.
Seeking vindication is normal on earth, but it is not noble in heaven. When we seek to be vindicated we want to be proven right (and others wrong). The problem is, being proven right proves less about how much you value Jesus and more about how much you value you. And that puts you in the same category as every other non-believer who doesn’t know any better. If we’re going to submit in hard places we must look past the immediate difficulty and look to eternity.
2. Being Mindful of God
It is of no value to endure unfair authority for your own sake. Besides, you will only endure little if your motivation is small, that is, if you are the reason. This is not some stoic, self-motivated tenacity that just grins and bears it. This is a trusting awareness, a consciousness of God’s presence and trust in His care. Those who are God-centered are those who are grace-getters. So be subject for the Lord’s sake (v.13), living as servants of God (v.16). This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God one endures while suffering unjustly (v.19). Submit with the kind of character which in God’s sight is very precious (3:4).
Christ is the ultimate example of this. Though He didn’t sin when suffering unjustly, there was something that He did do. Perhaps this is the core of Peter’s point. Christ continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly. There is simply no need to watch out for yourself when the just Judge is watching out for you. There is no reason to worry about your rights and what you deserve when the Guardian of your soul is on watch.
And your submission is a good deed that corroborates your claim that God is better than being treated fairly. Everyone likes being treated fairly. You prove nothing when authorities treat you fairly. But you prove different priorities and demonstrate Christlikeness when authorities treat you unfairly and you submit. If you want to submit in hard places you must be mindful of God.
3. Remembering Our Calling
We were predestined to be like Christ, and He was perfected in suffering (Hebrews 5:8). We should expect the same for ourselves. In fact, this is the will of God (v.15). To this you have been called (v.21). If you want to be like Christ, expect to suffer like Him. The Father is going to see to it.
That means it is our calling, our purpose, to be misunderstood, criticized, ignored, and hurt for doing what is right. Our purpose is to love the ones who cause us to suffer because that is God’s purpose for every one of His children. The same God who caused us to be born again, who has reserved an inheritance for us, who is preserving us, who is making us into His precious possession, wants us to learn submission and suffering.
We fight and argue against authority, unfair or fair, because we have lost sight of the path that Jesus walked. We’ve traded His map for an easier, more popular route. Too bad both paths don’t lead to the same destination. But resisting unjust authority is equal to resisting God’s sanctifying, Christ-forming work in you. To submit in hard places you must remember your calling.
4. Wanting More of God’s Grace
God does not promise grace to those who can wriggle out from under unfair authority. This is grace (v.19), this is grace (v.21).
To submit in hard places you’ve got to hunger for more of God’s grace.
5. Desiring to Win Unbelievers
We are to live in such a way that unbelievers would see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation (v.12). Unbelieving husbands may be won without a word as they see respectful and pure conduct (3:1-2). Submission IS influence. Submission is persuasive.
It is not compromise to submit to unjust authority, it is Christlike.
God’s glory is at stake (v.12). You will not submit in hard places unless you are earnest for evangelism and have a passion for His worship.
Conclusion
Who, or what, are you hoping to “win” by arguing your way out of submission?
Even more than that, do you realize that not submitting is a work of Satan? Think of Jesus’ response to Peter when he rebuked Him for His plan to submit to the authorities to the point of death. Even though we may give Peter the benefit of the doubt that he was on the side of righteousness, Jesus responded by calling Peter, Satan. Unless Jesus submits, we have no salvation.
In Ecclesiastes we learn to follow and influence authority by fearing God. In 1 Peter we learn to follow and influence authority by following Jesus. He is more than just our example of submitting while suffering unjustly without sinning, He is our enabler.
If you want to do the will of God, if you want to fulfill your calling, if you want to be Christlike, if you want to experience more of God’s favor, if you want to do what is considered noble in heaven, if you want to win unbelievers to Christ and cause God’s name to be glorified in the day of visitation: respect and follow your authorities.
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
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