Albert Barnes Commentary Romans 13:7

"Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor." — Romans 13:7 (ASV)

Render therefore, etc. This injunction is often repeated in the Bible. See Barnes on Matthew 22:21.

See also Matthew 17:25-27; 1 Peter 2:13–17; Proverbs 24:21. It is one of the most lovely and obvious duties of religion. Christianity is not designed to disrupt the proper order of society, but rather to establish and confirm that order. It does not rudely assail existing institutions; instead, it comes to put them on a proper footing, to diffuse a mild and pure influence over all, and to secure such an influence in all the relations of life as will best tend to promote the happiness of people and the welfare of the community.

Is due. It is due to whomever it properly belongs by the law of the land, and according to the ordinance of God. It is represented here as a matter of debt, as something that is due to the ruler; a fair compensation to him for the service he renders us by devoting his time and talents to advance our interests and the welfare of the community. As taxes are a debt, a matter of strict and just obligation, they should be paid as conscientiously and as cheerfully as any other just debts, however contracted.

Custom (Greek: telos). The word translated as tribute means, as has been remarked, the tax that is paid by a tributary prince or dependent people; also, the tax imposed on land or real estate. The word here translated as custom properly means the revenue that is collected on merchandise, whether imported or exported.

Fear. See Romans 13:4. We should stand in awe of those who wear the sword and who are appointed to execute the laws of the land. As the execution of their office tends to inspire fear, we should render to them the reverence that is appropriate to the execution of their office. It means a careful concern to avoid doing anything to offend them.

Honour. The difference between this and fear is that this rather denotes reverence, veneration, respect for their names, offices, rank, etc. The former is the fear that arises from the dread of punishment. Religion gives to individuals all their just titles, recognizes their rank and office, and seeks to promote due subordination in a community. It was no part of the work of our Saviour, or of his apostles, to quarrel with the mere titles of people, or to withhold from them the customary tribute of respect and homage. (Acts 26:25; Luke 1:3; 1 Peter 2:17).

This verse sums up the duty that is owed to magistrates. It consists in rendering them proper honour, contributing cheerfully and conscientiously to the necessary expenses of the government, and yielding obedience to the laws. These are made a part of the duty that we owe to God and should be considered as enjoined by our religion.

On the subject discussed in these seven verses, the following principles seem to be settled by the authority of the Bible and are now understood:

1. Government is essential; its necessity is recognized by God, and it is arranged by His Providence. God has never been the patron of anarchy and disorder.

2. Civil rulers are dependent on God. He has entire control over them and can set them up or put them down when he pleases.

3. The authority of God is superior to that of civil rulers. They have no right to make enactments that interfere with his authority.

4. It is not the business of civil rulers to regulate or control religion. That is a distinct department with which they have no concern, except to protect it.

5. The rights of all people are to be preserved. People are to be allowed to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience and to be protected in those rights, provided they do not violate the peace and order of the community.

6. Civil rulers have no right to persecute Christians or to attempt to secure conformity to their views by force. The conscience can not be compelled; and in the affairs of religion, individuals must be free.

In view of this subject, we may remark:

1. The doctrines respecting the rights of civil rulers, and the line that is to be drawn between their powers and the rights of conscience, have been slow to be understood. The struggle has been long, and a thousand persecutions have shown the anxiety of the magistrate to rule the conscience and to control religion. In pagan countries, it has been conceded that the civil ruler had a right to control the religion of the people: church and state there have been one. The same thing was attempted under Christianity. The magistrate still claimed this right and attempted to enforce it. Christianity resisted the claim and asserted the independent and original rights of conscience. A conflict ensued, of course, and the magistrate resorted to persecutions to subdue by force the claims of the new religion and the rights of conscience. Hence the ten fiery and bloody persecutions of the primitive church. The blood of the early Christians flowed like water; thousands and tens of thousands went to the stake, until Christianity triumphed, and the right of religion to a free exercise was acknowledged throughout the empire.

2. It is a matter of devout thanksgiving that the subject is now settled, and the principle is now understood. In our own land, there exists a happy and bright illustration of the true principle on this great subject. The rights of conscience are regarded, and the laws are peacefully obeyed. The civil ruler understands his province, and Christians yield cheerful and cordial obedience to the laws. The church and state move on in their own spheres, united only in the purpose to make people happy and good, and divided only as they relate to different departments, the one contemplating the rights of civil society, the other, the interests of eternity. Here, every person worships God according to their own views of duty; and, at the same time, the most cordial and peaceful obedience to the laws of the land is rendered here. Thanks should be rendered unceasingly to the God of our fathers for the wondrous train of events by which this contest has been conducted to its conclusion, and for the clear and full understanding that we now have of the different departments pertaining to the church and the state.

all their dues (Matthew 22:21)