Free people who submit

Observe. Peter tells his readers to submit themselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority, naming the emperor and the governors he sends. The purpose is that by doing good they may silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Then a striking line: live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. The section ends with four short commands. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honour the emperor.

Interpret. The emperor when Peter wrote was almost certainly Nero, under whom Peter himself would later die. So this is not advice from someone with a comfortable government. Peter distinguishes carefully. God is feared. The emperor is honoured. Believers are loved. Everyone is respected. Four verbs, four different weights. Submission to authority is placed inside a larger obedience to God, which is why it is for the Lord's sake and why it never becomes worship.

Apply. Christians in the United States argue a great deal about authority and freedom. Peter's word cuts across most positions. We are free, genuinely. And freedom is not a cover. Good conduct under authority we did not choose is one of the ways the gospel is made credible to people who are looking for a reason to dismiss it.

Which of the four commands in verse 17 do you find easiest, and which do you quietly skip? Where might you be using freedom as a cover for something Peter would call evil? What would doing good look like this week toward an authority you do not admire?