Submission

Definition: Accepting the unrighteous punishment of authorities; waiting for God to vindicate one; trusting oneself to God’s ultimate authority; doing all that earthly authorities require, except to disobey God; not reviling, dishonoring or rebelling against evil authorities.

Passion:
John 18:19-24; Matthew 26:59-68; Matthew 27:11-14
When Jesus was put on trial before different groups, he responded similarly. Before Annas, the high priest, Jesus responded, but said nothing in his defense. And when he was struck, he did not deny their right to strike him, although he asked for what reason they did so. But before the Sanhedrin and Pilate, he remained silent. He was silent through the false accusations, he was silent when they asked him to defend himself. He only spoke when he was commanded to. These rulers were proven to be evil, because of their approach to him and their desire to kill him, but Jesus still submitted to them. He was waiting for God to vindicate him, not himself, not men.

Jesus’ Teaching:
Matthew 5:38-41
The word “resist” is the opposite of submit (see James 4:7). Jesus is saying that when we are approached by oppressors—those who desire to use what authority they have to do evil to us—allow them to do so. We do not do this out of some perverse passivity, but because we are allowing them to show their evil, while we show our righteous place. In this way, God will vindicate those who are clearly righteous and judge those who oppress the righteous.

Matthew 5:10-12
Jesus says that we are to rejoice when people, even evil authorities, persecute us. In that way, we know that we are righteous like the prophets of old, and that we will receive God’s kingdom.

NT Teaching:
Romans 12:21-13:7
Paul is speaking about submission to authorities that are unrighteous, as well as those who do well. In fact, the context that Paul is speaking of is that of doing good to those who do evil to you. Even though a government or authority is evil, we should offer acknowledgement of their authority, pray for them, and offer them the money they demand.

I Peter 2:18-23
Peter is giving a difficult counsel. He is saying that if we are under unrighteous authority, and they are oppressive or unreasonable, we are to submit to them anyway. We are to submit to their beatings, we are to submit to their demands. Why should we do all this? Because it is the way of Jesus. Jesus himself was reviled and he bore no reproach back. This is the way of God.


Scriptural Examples of the Submission Principle

If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. Isaiah 1:19-20

Scripture assumes that submission is one of the realities of human life. But it also assumes that there are right ways to submit and wrong ways to submit. Those who submit to authorities, even through difficult circumstances, are vindicated by God, the ultimate authority and blessed by him. But those who rebel against proper authority are punished for their rebellion by death.

Those who submitted and were vindicated:
Joseph: He was sold into slavery by his older brothers. He was so obedient, humble and wise that he was given authority over households. He honored his master enough not to have sex with his masters wife when she threw herself at him. But then he was falsely accused and thrown into jail. But God eventually vindicated him and he was risen over all Egypt. (Genesis 39-41)

David: He submitted to Saul and refused to hurt him at all, even though he was given an opportunity to do so and his supporters encouraged him to do so. Rather, he ran in the wilderness for years. God eventually made him king over all Israel, because of his righteous heart. (I Samuel 18-23; II Samuel 1-3)

Daniel: He was a prisoner of the king of Babylon and was given the opportunity to train as an official. He submitted to both the king and to God in trying to obey them both—even though their demands seemed to contradict. He was vindicated by God and was placed in authority under the king. (Daniel 1 and 2)

Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah: They were commanded to worship an idol or else they would die at the hands of their king. They refused to worship, but submitted to the unjust punishment of the king. God did not allow them to be destroyed, but instead the king honored them and God. (Daniel 3)

Jeremiah: Jeremiah taught the people of Jerusalem to submit to the king of Babylon and not to rebel against him and it would do well for them. He himself suffered for this message, being thrown in prison and into a well. He was honored by the king of Babylon and honored by God as one of the greatest of the prophets. (Jeremiah 21, 36-41)

Peter: The Jewish elders beat him and Herod threw him into jail and he submitted to all of it. God vindicated him by giving him deliverance and the Holy Spirit to give him boldness. (Acts 3-4, 12)

Paul: He was before the High Priest and was struck by him. At first he spoke against it, but when he realized that it was a proper authority, he submitted to him. (Acts 23:1-5)

Those who rebelled and were judged:
Ruben: He tried to take his father’s authority by sexually taking advantage of his father’s concubine. He was no longer the leader of the children of Israel. (Genesis 35:22; 49:1-4)

Korah: He felt that Moses was leading the people wrong and demanded to be leader himself. God caused him and his followers to be destroyed. (Numbers 16)
Absalom: He felt that David was unjust in his judgments and so he rebelled against David and established himself as ruler. He was cast down by God and killed shamefully. (II Samuel 13-18)

Jehoiakim, Zedekiah, Jehoiachin: All three of these kings were placed under the authority of the king of Babylon and the Lord told them to submit to him. But all three rebelled against the king and so they were deposed and Jerusalem was destroyed. (II Kings 24-25)

King of Tyre: He considered himself to be a god and raised himself up. God lowered him and destroyed him. (Ezekiel 28)