What are the scriptures that speak about government? Do we obey whatever the civil authorities say? Christians often have a mistaken idea that because of Romans 13, we’re obligated to follow whatever the government tells us to do. But that is not the case. The Bible is full of instances where people resist the orders of their civil and religious authorities. Such resistance was not condemned by God but was often praised. Following are some of the many Scriptures, categorized by topic, that can help you see what God actually teaches about this topic.
Christians’ moral obligation before God and people
- Exodus 23:1–3, “You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. 2 “You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice; 3 nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute.”
- Proverbs 31:9, “Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.”
- Isaiah 1:17, “Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.”
- Psalm 82:3–4, “Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”
- Proverbs 28:6, “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is crooked though he be rich.”
- Proverbs 28:28, “When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.”
God, serve God over the state
- Exodus 20:3, “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
- Matthew 22:21, “They said to Him, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then He said to them, ‘Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.'”
- Luke 16:13, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
- Acts 5:29, “But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”
God is the True Ruler
- Proverbs 8:15–17, “By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly. 17 “I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me.”
- Daniel 4:17, “This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men.”
- Colossians 1:16, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
- 1 Timothy 6:15, “which He will bring about at the proper time – He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,”
- James 4:12, “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?”
God is the standard of righteousness
- Deuteronomy 10:18, “He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing.”
- Deuteronomy 32:4, “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.”
- Psalm 33:5, “He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.”
- Lev. 11:44, “For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth.”
God wants people to stand in the gap and protect the oppressed or He will judge the nation
- Ezekiel 22:27–31, “Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to get dishonest gain. 28 “Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken. 29 “The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice. 30 “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 “Thus I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their way I have brought upon their heads,” declares the Lord GOD.”
God, honor Him with your wealth
- Proverbs 3:9–10, “Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.”
Nations, judgment on for killing the innocent
- Jeremiah 26:10–16, “Only know for certain that if you [priests] put me [Jeremiah] to death [for prophesying against Judah], you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city and on its inhabitants; for truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing. 16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, “No death sentence for this man! For he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.”
Nation, shall not do evil
- Exodus 23:2, “You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice;”
Nation, sins of
- Abandoning the Lord
- 2 Chronicles 24:18, “They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols; so wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt.”
- Isaiah 1:4, “Alas, sinful nation, People weighed down with iniquity, Offspring of evildoers, Sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the LORD. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They have turned away from Him.”
- Isaiah 1:28, “But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together, And those who forsake the LORD will come to an end.”
- Isaiah 5:24, “Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble and dry grass collapses into the flame, so their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust. For they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.”
- Nehemiah 9:28, “But as soon as they had rest, they did evil again before You; Therefore You abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they ruled over them. When they cried again to You, You heard from heaven, And many times You rescued them according to Your compassion,”
- Abortion
- Exodus 23:7, “Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent or the righteous, for I will not acquit the guilty.”
- Deuteronomy 19:10, “So innocent blood will not be shed in the midst of your land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance, and bloodguiltiness be on you.”
- Psalm 82:3–4, “Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute. “4 Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”
- Proverbs 6:16-17, “There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.”
- Joel 3:19, “Egypt will become a waste, and Edom will become a desolate wilderness, because of the violence done to the sons of Judah, in whose land they have shed innocent blood.”
- Homosexuality
- Leviticus 20:13, “If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.”
- Mark 10:6, “But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.”
- Romans 1:26–27, ” For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”
- 2 Peter 2:6–9, “and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; 7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men 8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment.
- 1 Timothy 1:8-10, “But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,” (1 Timothy 1:8–10).
- Jude 7, “just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”
- Sensual immorality
- Matthew 15:19, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.”
- Hebrews 13:4, “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”
Rulers, ought to be righteous and godly
- Exodus 23:6, “You shall not pervert the justice due to your needy brother in his dispute.”
- Exodus 23:8, “You shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.”
- 2 Chronicles 19:1–7, “Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 2 Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD and so bring wrath on yourself from the LORD? 3 “But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.” 4 So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. 5 He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. 6 He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD who is with you when you render judgment. 7 “Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”
- Exodus 18:21, “Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.”
- Deuteronomy 1:13, “Choose wise and discerning and experienced men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.’”
- Deuteronomy 16:18, “You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.”
- Acts 6:3, “Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.”
Rulers, ought to fear God
- Exodus 23:2, “You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice;”
- 2 Samuel 23:3–4, “The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘He who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God, 4 Is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds, When the tender grass springs out of the earth, through sunshine after rain.
Rulership, submit to
- Romans 13:1–4, “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.”
Rulers, when is it okay to disobey?
- Midwives did not kill male children as the King of Egypt ordered
- Exodus 1:15–21, “Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other was named Puah; 16 and he said, ‘When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, ‘Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?’ 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, ‘Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife can get to them.’ 20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and became very mighty. 21 Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them.”
- People of Israel resisted Saul’s order to kill Jonathan for violating a decree not to eat till the enemies were defeated
- 1 Samuel 14:24, 43–46, “Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.” 43 “Then Saul said to Jonathan, ‘Tell me what you have done.’ So Jonathan told him and said, ‘I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!” 44 Saul said, ‘May God do this to me and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 But the people said to Saul, ‘Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die. “46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.”
- The servants of King Saul would not kill the priests per Saul’s order
- 1 Samuel 22:17, “And the king said to the guards who were attending him, ‘Turn around and put the priests of the LORD to death, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal it to me.’ But the servants of the king were not willing to put forth their hands to attack the priests of the LORD.”
- The officials disobeyed the priests’ order to kill Jeremiah
- Jeremiah 26:10–16, “When the officials of Judah heard these things [destroy the cities of Judah, vv. 1-6], they came up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD and sat in the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD’S house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, “A death sentence for this man! For he has prophesied against this city as you have heard in your hearing.” 12 “Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13 “Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you. 14 “But as for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight. 15 “Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city and on its inhabitants; for truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing. 16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, ‘No death sentence for this man! For he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.'”
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego disobeyed Nebuchadnezzar’s order to worship false gods
- Daniel 3:14–18, “Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 “Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?”
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter [not worshipping Nebechadnezzar’s false gods, v 14]. 17 “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.””
- Daniel 3:14–18, “Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 “Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?”
- Daniel, a governor under Darius, disobeyed the command to only worship King Darius for a 30 day period.
- Daniel 6:7, 10, “All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den.”…”10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.”
- The three Magi disobeyed Herod’s order to tell him where Jesus was born
- Matthew 2:7–12, “Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, ‘Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.’ 9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.”
- Christians disobeyed the Kings order to seize Paul
- 2 Corinthians 11:32–33, “In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33 and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.”
- Moses’ parents hid him from the edict of the Egyptian King to kill the Jewish children
- Hebrews 11:23, “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.”
Ungodly, they will be destroyed
- Ungodly, their ways will be destroyed
- Hosea 8:4, “They have set up kings, but not by Me; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off.”
State of Government Links and info
- State-approved abortion
- State-approved homosexuality
- State-approved Same-Sex Marriage
