Thursday Thought -- June 5, 2014

Good Morning Friends,

“Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, ‘My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.’ At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!’ Those who were standing near Paul said, ‘You dare to insult God’s high priest?’ Paul replied, ‘Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: “Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.”’” (Acts 23:1-5)

Sometimes those in authority don’t deserve our respect. The high priest didn’t in Paul’s time. This was about 30 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. I doubt that the high priest involved in His death was still alive. Most likely it was another high priest, but he was cut from the same cloth as the one who presided over the trial of Jesus. Here was the man more responsible than anyone else for teaching the law of God to his people, yet he himself did not act in accordance with the law.

I can think of other more contemporary situations in which a leader did not live up to what he was sworn to uphold. In fact, you could easily say that about several recent U.S. Presidents. Sworn to uphold the law, but they ignored it in their own lives!

Yet, when Paul understood that the man who ordered him to be slapped was the high priest, he immediately repented for treating him with disrespect. The high priest’s failure to fulfill his responsibilities did not give Paul the right to disregard his own responsibilities toward him.

Paul told the Romans, “Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:7)

Peter agreed with Paul and wrote, “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” (1 Peter 2:17)

Respect those in authority, even when their attitudes and actions don’t deserve it.

His, by Grace,

Steve