September 20

1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. 5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. 6 For, for this cause pay ye tribute also; for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom: tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended to this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love it the fulfilling of the law. 11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and in drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envy. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

The keynote of this chapter is: To every one his due! The Christian's (470)

royal motto: 1. In reference to his relation to the civil authority (vers. 1-6); 2. In his intercourse with every man (vers. 7-14).

In ver. 14 we have the grand summary. "All Christian duty is included in putting on the Lord Jesus; in being like Him, having that similarity of temper and conduct which results from being intimately united to Him by the Holy Spirit."—Hodge.

"Put on the armor of light"—the evidence of our loyalty to Christ.

"Look into Christ's wardrobe, and you will find no torn or ragged apparel; Christ had the robe of righteousness, the garment of innocency, the spotless coat of temperance and chastity, and with these he went about doing good. Out of this wardrobe we must make up our wedding garment. We must be conformable to Christ."—Farindon.

The call of Christianity is a call to awake from spiritual sleep (verses 11-14). The reason given is, it is almost morning. Yield yourselves with glad consent to this greatest motive—the end is near—near His coming, near our final home.

Closet Promise.—For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.—Phil. ii. 13.

Fall warm, fall fast, thou mellow rain! Thou rain of God, make fat the land; That roots which parch in burning sand May bud to flower and fruit again.

Failure?—while tide floods rise and boil Round cape and isle, in port and cove, Resistless, stared from above; What though one tiny wave reced? —Charles Kingsley.