18 Bible Verses about Government

To the Angel of the Church in Laodicaea write:-- "These are the words of the Unchanging One, 'the Witness faithful and true, the Beginning of the Creation of God':-- I know your life; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! But now, because you are lukewarm, neither hot not cold, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. read more.
You say 'I am rich and have grown rich, and I want for nothing,' and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked! Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold which has been refined by fire, that you may grow rich; and white robes, that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness be hidden; and ointment to anoint your eyes, that you may see. 'All whom I love I rebuke and discipline.' Therefore be in earnest and repent. I am standing at the door and knocking! If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in, and will feast with him, and he shall feast with me. To him who conquers--to him I will give the right to sit beside me on my throne, as I, when I conquered, took my seat beside my Father on his throne.

and that is why I submit to anything for the sake of God's People, that they also may obtain the Salvation which comes from union with Christ Jesus, and imperishable glory. How true this saying is-- 'If we have shared his death, we shall also share his life. If we continue to endure, we shall also share his throne. If we should ever disown him, he, too, will disown us.

True, the Son of Man is passing, by the way ordained for him, yet alas for that man by whom he is being betrayed!" Then they began questioning one another which of them it could be that was going to do this. And a dispute arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. read more.
Jesus, however, said: "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their oppressors are styled 'Benefactors.' But with you it must not be so. No, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who leads like him who serves. Which is the greater--the master at the table or his servant? Is not it the master at the table? Yet I myself am among you as one who serves. You are the men who have stood by me in my trials; And, just as my Father has assigned me a Kingdom, I assign you places, So that you may eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom, and be seated upon twelve thrones as judges of the twelve tribes of Israel.

To the Angel of the Church in Thyatira write:-- "These are the words of the Son of God, 'whose eyes are like flaming fire, and whose feet are like brass':-- I know your life, your love, faith, service, and endurance; and I know that your life of late has been better than it was at first. Yet I have this against you--You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who declares that she is a Prophetess, and misleads my servants by her teaching, till they commit licentious acts and eat idol-offerings. read more.
I gave her time to repent, but she is determined not to turn from her licentiousness. Therefore I am laying her upon a bed of sickness, and bringing great suffering upon those who are unfaithful with her, unless they repent and turn from a life like hers. I will also put her children to death; and all the Churches shall learn that I am he who 'looks into the hearts and souls of men'; and I will give to each one of you what his life deserves. But I say to the rest of you at Thyatira--all who do not accept such teaching, whose who did not learn 'the secrets of Satan,' as men call them--I am not laying on you any further burden; only hold fast to what you have received, until I come. To him who conquers and is careful to live my life to the end--to him I will give authority over the nations, and 'he shall rule them with an iron rod, as when earthen vessels are broken in pieces' (as I myself have received from my Father) and I will give him the Morning Star.

"You," they retorted, "were born totally depraved; and are you trying to teach us?" So they expelled him.

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo much suffering, and that he must be rejected by the Councillors, and the Chief Priests, and the Teachers of the Law, and be put to death, and rise again after three days.

At daybreak all the Chief Priests and the Councillors of the Nation consulted together against Jesus, to bring about his death. They put him in chains and led him away, and gave him up to the Roman Governor, Pilate.

After Jesus had come into the Temple Courts, the Chief Priests and the Councillors of the Nation came up to him as he was teaching, and said: " What authority have you to do these things? Who gave you this authority?"

As soon as it was daylight, the Chief Priests, after holding a consultation with the Councillors and Teachers of the Law--that is to say, the whole High Council--put Jesus in chains, and took him away, and gave him up to Pilate.

Then the Chief Priests and the Councillors of the Nation met in the house of the High Priest, who was called Caiaphas, And plotted together to arrest Jesus by stealth and put him to death; But they said: "Not during the Festival, for fear of causing a riot."

If a man is hungry, let him eat at home, so that your meetings may not bring a judgment upon you. The other details I will settle when I come.

The Apostles and the Officers of the Church held a meeting to consider this question.

We have, therefore, decided, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to lay no further burden upon you beyond these necessary conditions--

If a man does not know how to rule his own household, how can he take charge of the Church of God?

Do not reprimand an older man, but plead with him as if he were your father. Treat the young men as brothers,

"Whoever loves me," Jesus answered, " will lay my Message to heart; and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. He who does not love me will not lay my Message to heart; and the Message to which you are listening is not my own, but that of the Father who sent me. I have told you all this while still with you, read more.
But the Helper--the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my Name--he will teach you all things, and will recall to your minds all that I have said to you. Peace be with you! My own peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, or dismayed. You heard me say that I was going away and would return to you. Had you loved me, you would have been glad that I was going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And this I have told you now before it happens, that, when it does happen, you may still believe in me. I shall not talk with you much more, for the Spirit that is ruling the world is coming. He has nothing in common with me;

And, even if the Good News that we bring is veiled, it is veiled only in the case of those who are on the path to Ruin-- Men whose minds have been blinded by the God of this Age, unbelievers as they are, so that the light from the Good News of the glory of the Christ, who is the very incarnation of God, should not shine for them.

Yet I am only telling you the truth; it is for your good that I should go away. For otherwise the Helper will never come to you, but, if I leave you, I will send him to you. And he, when he comes, will bring conviction to the world as to Sin, and as to Righteousness, and as to Judgment; As to Sin, for men do not believe in me; read more.
As to Righteousness, for I am going to the Father, and you will see me no longer; As to Judgment, for the Spirit that is ruling this world has been condemned.

Yet there is a philosophy that we teach to those whose faith is matured, but it is not the philosophy of to-day, nor that of the leaders of to-day-men whose downfall is at hand. No, it is a divine philosophy that we teach, one concerned with the hidden purpose of God-that long-hidden philosophy which God, before time began, destined for our glory. This philosophy is not known to any of the leaders of to-day; for, had they known it, they would not have crucified our glorified Lord.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was Governor of Judea, Herod Ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip Ruler of the territory comprising Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias Ruler of Abilene,

Five days afterwards the High Priest Ananias came down with some of the Councillors and a barrister named Tertullus. They laid an information with the Governor against Paul;

They put him in chains and led him away, and gave him up to the Roman Governor, Pilate.

If a man is causing divisions among you, after warning him once or twice, have nothing more to say to him.

Hymenaeus and Alexander are instances--the men whom I delivered over to Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.

Now, I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of the Christ--I who, "in your presence, am humble in my bearing towards you, but, when absent, am bold in my language to you"--

To deliver such a man as this over to Satan, that what is sensual in him may be destroyed, so that his spirit may be saved at the Day of the Lord.

I have said it, and I say it again before I come, just as if I were with you on my second visit, though for the moment absent, I say to those who have been long sinning, as well as to all others--that if I come again, I shall spare no one.

Then I saw a great white throne, and him who was seated on it. 'The earth and the heavens fled from his presence; no place was left for them.'

I, however, say to you that you must not swear at all, either by Heaven, since that is God's throne,

Then the seventh angel blew; and loud voices were heard in Heaven saying-- 'The Kingdom of the World has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.' At this the twenty-four Councillors, who were seated on their thrones before God, prostrated themselves on their faces and worshiped Him, saying-- 'We thank thee, O Lord, our God, the Almighty, who art and who wast, that thou hast assumed thy great power and reigned.

If you remit any one's sins, they have been remitted; and, if you retain them, they have been retained."

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be held in Heaven to be forbidden, and whatever you allow on earth will be held in Heaven to be allowed."

I tell you, all that you forbid on earth will be held in Heaven to be forbidden, and all that you allow on earth will be held in Heaven to be allowed.

As they traveled from town to town, they gave the Brethren the decisions which had been reached by the Apostles and Officers of the Church at Jerusalem, for them to observe.

Obey your Leaders, and submit to their control, for they are watching over your souls, as men who will have to render an account, so that they may do it with joy, and not in sorrow. That would not be to your advantage.

Remind your hearers to respect and obey the Powers that be, to be ready for every kind of good work, to speak ill of no one, to avoid quarreling,

Let every one obey the supreme Authorities. For no Authority exists except by the will of God, and the existing Authorities have been appointed by God. Therefore he who sets himself against the authorities is resisting God's appointment, and those who resist will bring a judgment upon themselves. A good action has nothing to fear from Rulers; a bad action has. Do you want to have no reason to fear the Authorities? Then do what is good, and you will win their praise. read more.
For they are God's servants appointed for your good. But, if you do what is wrong, you may well be afraid; for the sword they carry is not without meaning! They are God's servants to inflict his punishments on those who do wrong. You are bound, therefore, to obey, not only through fear of God's punishments, but also as a matter of conscience. This, too, is the reason for your paying taxes; for the officials are God's officers, devoting themselves to this special work. In all cases pay what is due from you--tribute where tribute is due, taxes where taxes are due, respect where respect is due, and honor where honor is due.

Tell us, then, what you think. Are we right in paying taxes to the Emperor, or not?" Perceiving their malice, Jesus answered: "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin with which the tax is paid." And, when they had brought him a florin, read more.
He asked: "Whose head and title are these?" "The Emperor's," they answered: on which he said to them: "Then pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God."

"The Emperor's," they said; and Jesus replied: "Well then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and to God what belongs to God."

Submit to all human institutions for the Lord's sake, alike to the emperor as the supreme authority, and to governors as the men sent by him to punish evil-doers and to commend those who do right. For God's will is this--that you should silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing what is right. read more.
Act as free men, yet not using your freedom as those do who make it a cloak for wickedness, but as Servants of God. Show honour to every one, Love the Brotherhood, 'revere God, honour the emperor.'

It was then that one of the Twelve, named Judas Iscariot, made his way to the Chief Priests, And said "What are you willing to give me, if I betray Jesus to you?" The Priests 'weighed him out thirty pieces of silver' as payment.

Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that Jesus was condemned, repented of what he had done, and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the Chief Priests and Councillors. "I did wrong in betraying a good man to his death," he said. "What has that to do with us?" they replied. "You must see to that yourself."

About that time an edict was issued by the Emperor Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole Empire.

Submit to all human institutions for the Lord's sake, alike to the emperor as the supreme authority, and to governors as the men sent by him to punish evil-doers and to commend those who do right.

Let every one obey the supreme Authorities. For no Authority exists except by the will of God, and the existing Authorities have been appointed by God. Therefore he who sets himself against the authorities is resisting God's appointment, and those who resist will bring a judgment upon themselves. A good action has nothing to fear from Rulers; a bad action has. Do you want to have no reason to fear the Authorities? Then do what is good, and you will win their praise. read more.
For they are God's servants appointed for your good. But, if you do what is wrong, you may well be afraid; for the sword they carry is not without meaning! They are God's servants to inflict his punishments on those who do wrong. You are bound, therefore, to obey, not only through fear of God's punishments, but also as a matter of conscience. This, too, is the reason for your paying taxes; for the officials are God's officers, devoting themselves to this special work. In all cases pay what is due from you--tribute where tribute is due, taxes where taxes are due, respect where respect is due, and honor where honor is due.

When Pilate saw that his efforts were unavailing, but that, on the contrary, a riot was beginning, he took some water, and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying as he did so: "I am not answerable for this bloodshed; you must see to it yourselves."

This made Pilate anxious to release him; but the Jews shouted: "If you release that man, you are no friend of the Emperor! Any one who makes himself out to be a King is setting himself against the Emperor!" On hearing what they said, Pilate brought Jesus out, and took his seat upon the Bench at a place called 'The Stone Pavement'--in Hebrew 'Gabbatha.' It was the Passover Preparation Day, and about noon. Then he said to the Jews: "Here is your King!" read more.
At that the people shouted: "Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!" "What! shall I crucify your King?" exclaimed Pilate. "We have no King but the Emperor," replied the Chief Priests; Whereupon Pilate gave Jesus up to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus;

After removing him, he raised David to the throne, and bore this testimony to him--'In David, the son of Jesse, I have found a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my purposes.'

"How is it that your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? For they do not wash their hands when they eat food."

Hypocrites! It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you-- 'This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me; But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.'"

One day the Pharisees and some of the Teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus. They had noticed that some of his disciples ate their food with their hands 'defiled,' by which they meant unwashed. (For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors.

Show honour to every one, Love the Brotherhood, 'revere God, honour the emperor.'

He immediately dispatched one of his bodyguard, with orders to bring John's head. The man went and beheaded John in the prison, And, bringing his head on a dish, gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

He was hoping, too, for a bribe from Paul, and so he used to send for him frequently and talk with him.