22 Bible Verses about Human Authority, Nature Of

Be every one of you subject to the ruling powers. for every ruler holds of God: the rulers in being are constituted by God.

Jesus answered, you could not have any power over me, except you deriv'd it from above: therefore they who delivered me into your hands are the most culpable.

for I am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command: I bid this man, go, and he's gone: another, come, and he's here: and to my servant, do this, and it is done.

for though I am subject to authority, I have soldiers under me: I bid one go, and he goes: I bid another come, and he comes: I bid my servant do this, and he does it."

his lord said to him, well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful in a small trust, I will give thee a much larger trust: go in and partake of your master's joy.

he answer'd, honest servant, that's well: since your industry has made so much of so little, I give you the government of ten cities.

when a man travels into foreign parts, he leaves his goods in charge to his servants, he appoints to every one his task, and orders the porter to be vigilant,

they watch'd then, and suborn'd spies, who under pretence of their tender consciences, might ensnare him in his discourse, and so betray him to the civil power and jurisdiction of the governor.

and finding that he belong'd to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was then likewise at Jerusalem.

then said Pilate to him, won't you give me an answer? don't you know that it is in my power to crucify you, or to release you?

and is impower'd by the chief priests, to imprison all that make profession of thy name.

and glorify God in the times of distress. be subject therefore, for the Lord's sake to every human establishment: whether it be to the king,

then said Pilate to him, won't you give me an answer? don't you know that it is in my power to crucify you, or to release you? Jesus answered, you could not have any power over me, except you deriv'd it from above: therefore they who delivered me into your hands are the most culpable.

but Jesus calling them to him, said, ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise arbitrary dominion over them, and they that are great exercise their authority. but it must not be so among you: on the contrary, whoever would rise among you, let him be your minister. and whoever would be chief among you, let him be your servant.read more.
as the son of man came not to be ministred unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for all.

So that Jesus called them to him, and said, you know that the rulers of the Gentiles domineer over them, and their great ones treat them in an imperious manner; but it shall not be so among young you: on the contrary, whoever would be great among you, he must be your servant; and whoever would be the chief, he must be the slave of all the rest.read more.
for the son of man himself is not come to receive the services of men, but to do them service, and to lay down his life a ransom for many.

rose from supper, laid aside his garment, and took a towel to wrap about him. after that, he poured water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. then coming to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, Lord, what! would you wash my feet?read more.
Jesus answered him, you don't at present comprehend what I am about: but hereafter you shall. Peter said to him, you shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered, if I do not cleanse thee, you cannot partake with me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, he that comes out from bathing has occasion only to wash his feet, the rest of his body being clean: so you are clean, but not every one of you. for he knew who would betray him; therefore, said he, you are not every one of you clean. after he had washed their feet, he took his garment, and setting down again, he said to them, do you comprehend what I have been doing? you call me master, and lord: and you are in the right; for so I am. if I then, tho' lord and master, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. for I have given you example, that you might behave to one another, as I have to you.

for though I should more than ever magnify my authority, which the Lord hath given us for your improvement, and not for your ruin, I should have no reason to be ashamed;

these things therefore I write to you being absent, that when I come I may not use severity, according to the power which the Lord hath given me for edification, and not for destruction.

have we not a right to meat and drink? have not we the liberty to take a christian woman with us in our travels, as well as the rest of the apostles, as the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas did? or I and Barnabas, are we only excluded the privilege of not working?read more.
who ever serves in war at his own charges? who plants a vineyard, and does not eat of the fruit? or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock? is this only the voice of reason? does not the law express the same too? for it is written in the law of Moses, "thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn." are oxen the objects of divine care? or is it said, no doubt, for our sakes? for our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he who plows should plow in hope; and that he who thresheth should expect the advantage. if for your benefit we have sown spirituals, is it so extraordinary if we should reap some benefit from your temporals? if others partake of your substance, have not I a better title? nevertheless, I have not made use of this privilege; but bear with any thing rather than obstruct the gospel of Christ. don't you know, that they who prepare the sacrifices, do eat of the sacrifice in the temple? and they who wait at the altar, have their portion from the altar? even so has the Lord ordained, that they who preach the gospel, should live by the gospel. but I have not made use of these advantages. neither have I writ this to obtain such maintenance: for I had rather die for want, than be deprived of such matter of glorying. for in barely preaching the gospel, I have nothing to glory in: because I am under an obligation to do it; yea, wo is unto me if I preach not the gospel. now if I do this willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, it is a dispensation of trust which must be discharged. whence then is my reward? why, from my preaching the gospel of Christ gratis, without making use of the privilege which the gospel gives me.

When any controversy arises among you, will any one presume to appeal to the Gentiles, and not to Christians? don't you know that these are to judge the world? if the world is to be judg'd by you, are not you qualify'd to decide your petty causes? don't you know that we shall be judges of angels? much more then of the affairs of life?read more.
if then you have the cognizance of such matters, why do ye set those to judge who are despised by the church? I speak it to your shame. what, is there not a man of experience amongst you, capable of being arbitrator between his brethren? but when a contest arises, you must refer the decision to infidels? beside, you are absolutely in the wrong in going to law with one another at all: why don't you rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer loss?

meat does not recommend us to God: if we eat, we are not the better men; if we don't eat, we are not the worse. but take care that this liberty of yours does not prove a scandal to the weak. for if any man see you who have a just notion of idols, sitting at table in their temple, will not the person who is wrong in his notions be incouraged to eat what is offered to idols, tho' contrary to his own opinion?read more.
so that your notions may endanger the life of thy weak brother, for whom Christ died. but when you thus offend against the brethren, by wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. wherefore if my eating makes my brother offend, I will never eat flesh rather than make my brother offend.

are all things lawful for me? yet all things are not expedient: are all things lawful for me? yet all things do not edify. Let no man consult barely his own interest: but every man that of others.