Verse by Verse

¹³ Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

properly= becomingly, beautifully, attractively — in contrast to the world

as in the day — the coming day when we will be like Jesus Christ.

provision = forethought, premeditated sin.

¹¹ And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

sleep = spiritual lethargy

salvation — from present circumstances and from the coming wrath.

night — period of man’s alienation from God. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:5-7).

Put on armor:

Ephesians 6:11-14 — Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 — But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Ephesians 5:14-17 — Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

 ⁹ For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

¹⁰ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

The 10 Commandments are used by Paul to express a general principle.

Love of God is expressed by love to neighbors.

Love is personified in 1 Corinthians 13.

James 2:9-11 — But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

⁸ Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

This verse is tied to the beginning of verse 7, but over and above.

It’s not referring to money specifically (although we shouldn’t take on obligations we can’t repay). I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise (Romans 1:14).

Paul sets forth Christian duty in two distinct realms. In 12:4 he shows that every member is set in his proper place in the church. So first there is the Christian’s duty in the realm of the church. Then, in the thirteenth chapter, Paul shows the Christian’s duty in the realm of the state. The Christian’s duty in the church and in the state should be enforced and performed in just one way, in love. — McClain, page 219.

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We are redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13), that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us (Romans 8:4).

But why bring the Law in? Does not Galatians 3:13 declare that Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us? Yes, but Romans 8:4 explains that He has done this that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. In Galatians 5:14, again referring to the manward side of the Law, the apostle says: All the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Thus he concludes in Romans 13:10: Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. How true! The Law is a testimony to human depravity (1 Timothy 1:9-10). If all men loved each other what need would there be for laws? It is a blessed reality, then, that as we are saved and disciplined by grace: the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Romans 5:5).

While not under the covenant of the Law then, the believer under grace may nevertheless fulfill all the statutes of the Law regarding mans’ behavior to his neighbor by simply letting the love of God motivate him. — Stam, page 316.

⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.

⁷ Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

tribute — taxes, especially personal and property taxes

ministers (verse 6) — servants discharging functions that are part of God’s plan.

custom — indirect tax on goods (imports and exports)

fear — respect for the position

⁴ For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

⁵ Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.

minister for good — the government is for my welfare

beareth not the sword in vain — the government has the right to capital punishment and lesser judicial sentences.

avenger = one who deals justice. The word is used of God in 1 Thessalonians 4:6 — That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

wrath (verse 5) — external. The conscience is our internal judge.

We should always view earthly relationships and situations in light of our relationship with God.

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

² Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

The injunction to be in subjection to the higher powers, while important in every country, would have a special force in Rome, where the government would rigorously repress any religion which tended to run counter to that of the State, and especially Christianity, for Christians were largely regarded as a Jewish sect, and propaganda considered in any sense to be Jewish would be suspected as being of a revolutionary tendency.

These are the two great reasons for being subject to rulers. Civil authority is derived from God, and is arranged by Divine appointment. The first stresses the absolute supremacy of God, a supremacy which no adverse power can hinder or thwart. The second stresses the fact of God’s power to exercise His authority in setting up and removing rulers. — Vine, page 186.

1 Peter 2:13-14 — Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

Daniel 4:17 — This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

John 19:11 — Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin.

power = freedom and authority to act

judgment — by rulers as authorized by God

This was written during the rule of Nero!, but it’s referring to civil authority in its regular functions, not persecution.

wilt thou, then … Isn’t it reasonable to live so you have no fear of punishment by civil authority?

praise — from civil authority for being good.

Chapter 13 follows the injunctions in Romans 12:19-20 not to take your own vengeance.

Romans 12:1 instructs us to serve God as a spiritual service. Now we see that every soul should be subjected to the State.

We Christians are to be law-abiding citizens; but if governments forbid our preaching the Gospel, we will disobey and preach the Gospel. If governments order us to do evil, we will disobey. — Barnhouse, page 107.

¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

²⁰ Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

avenge not — tied to verse 18.

The wrath of God in Romans (1:18; 2:5, 8; 3:5; 4:15; 5:9; 9:22). It is God’s prerogative, leave it to Him.

Proverbs 20:22 — Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and He shall save thee.

Proverbs 24:29 — Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

Showing kindness to an enemy may lead to his repentance and destroy him as an enemy.

The quote is from Proverbs 25:21-22 — If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.

¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

repay = recompense, render

evil for evil — on no occasion is a believer to retaliate. The stress is on “no man.” There is also stress on “all men.”

Matthew 5:43-48 — Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 — See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

By avoiding retaliation, we avoid justifiable suspicion and criticism.

The message in verse 18 is “see that it isn’t you who breaks the peace.”

honest = honorable, beautiful. Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men (2 Corinthians 8:21).

Don’t just do right period. Do right and think of how it appears to others.

The second phrase [of verse 18] talks about you: “As much as in you lies” — the emphasis on you — “live at peace with all men.” That does not mean peace at the expense of righteousness, but the point is this: you are never to be the one to break the peace. If the other fellow breaks it, even then you are to do all you can to keep the peace. When the peace is broken, don’t look at the other fellow, but look at yourself and see if you have done all you can do.

We are not to use this exhortation for simply giving in to everything that comes. For instance, when it concerns me individually, then it is right for me to give, give, give to the last drop, and never break the peace! But I also have a duty to others in my life, and when, by permitting somebody to run over me, I fail in my duties to others, then that is a different matter. — McClain, page 215.

¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

This is a continuation of the thought in the previous verses — literally “minding the same thing one toward another.”

high things — objects of pride that cause selfishness and promote self-esteem.

condescend = let ones self be carried along with

low estate = humility, in the sense of humbleness

Philippians 2:4 — Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Proverbs 26:12 — Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.