Russell Rose on Hebrews 13:17. In Titus 3:1 and Romans 13:1 we are told to be good citizens. However, that doesn't mean we have to tolerate tyranny. God has given us the ability to govern. In the US, for example, men, guided by God and Biblical principles, put that ability to work and developed the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. As long as the people in charge of government implement its precepts properly, we ought to form a part of it, support the government and work to improve it.
However, when governments, and that also applies to churches and other organizations, depart from those principles, it is up to us to point it out, speak up and rectify it. See Nehemiah 9:27 and Esther 4:14. Christ worked within the established Roman and religious rules in Israel. However, He also pointed out the contradictions that existed within the religious order of the Jews. Christ wasn't a revolutionary, because He came with a Mission. His Mission was not Social Reform. His Mission was the total defeat and annihilation of death, corruption, evil, pain, suffering and idolatry (exalting other things in place of God).
If the leaders demand we disobey a command of the Lord we are to disobey them. Example the Hebrew midwives at the time of Moses commanded the male children be killed and they disobeyed him as recorded in
Exodus Chapter 1:15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women [are] not as the Egyptian women; for they [are] lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.
Yet in Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Rome was evil and Yet Jesus said to pay their taxes as an example to us:
Matthew 22:17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute (Taxes) unto Caesar, or not?
19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20 ... Whose image is this?..
Matthew 22:21 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.
However, when governments, and that also applies to churches and other organizations, depart from those principles, it is up to us to point it out, speak up and rectify it. See Nehemiah 9:27 and Esther 4:14. Christ worked within the established Roman and religious rules in Israel. However, He also pointed out the contradictions that existed within the religious order of the Jews. Christ wasn't a revolutionary, because He came with a Mission. His Mission was not Social Reform. His Mission was the total defeat and annihilation of death, corruption, evil, pain, suffering and idolatry (exalting other things in place of God).
Exodus Chapter 1:15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women [are] not as the Egyptian women; for they [are] lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.
Yet in Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Rome was evil and Yet Jesus said to pay their taxes as an example to us:
Matthew 22:17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute (Taxes) unto Caesar, or not?
19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20 ... Whose image is this?..
Matthew 22:21 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.
They are also called: ministering spirits.
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