Laws of the Land

1Pe 2:13 ¶ Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Here, we are commanded to obey every ordinance of mankind. The only instance we would be exempt from obeying these laws would be in the case that our obedience to them would cause us to disobey a direct command from the Lord. For instance, if it ever becomes illegal to preach the Gospel, we will continue to preach it, Lord willing. If it becomes illegal for us to peaceably assemble, we will still assemble, Lord willing. We are told that one of the reasons we are to obey the laws of man is so that we may "put to silence the ignorance of foolish men", and I believe this speaks of those who would look to find fault with us, to discredit our testimony. The reason we obey is not to seek the approval of the unbelieving, as we know that ultimately, the only thing that matters is what the Lord thinks, as He alone is the righteous judge of our actions, and the rewarder of them. We may receive temporary benefits from other people for our well-doing, but in reality these are from the hand of the Lord. In Psalm 75, verse 7, the Word says:


Ps 75:6 ¶ For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

And then in Acts chapter 10, verses 34-42:

Ac 10:34 ¶ Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Just as rewards from the hand of man ultimately come from God, our obedience to the laws of man are ultimately obedience to Him. In Romans chapter 13, we read:

Ro 13:1 ¶ 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. Wilt 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 doeth evil.
5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

From this passage, it is made clear that if we resist the laws of man, other than ones that would cause us to disobey the Lord, we are really resisting Him. And, while it is not for the approval of man that we obey, the Lord commands us to do so, I believe, in part so that they will have no valid reason to discredit our work for the Lord. If one is living in constant disregard for the law, it is easy, and proper, to question whether they are truly abiding in the thrice holy God, as they are bringing reproach upon His name. In the Old Testament, we read of Daniel's success in an earthly kingdom, and of those who despised him for it. In the book of Daniel, chapter 6, verse 4, we read:

Da 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

This, of course, did not mean that Daniel was perfectly obedient in every way, as that is impossible for a fallen man. But, when these men examined Daniel's life, they could find nothing that he was presently guilty of to bring before the king. Had it not been for this, it is highly unlikely that the king would have later made a decree that all should tremble and fear before God, in verses 25 and 26:

Da 6:25 ¶ Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

This attitude of accommodation to men for the Lord's sake is spoken of by Paul in 1 Corinthians 9, verses 19-23:

1Co 9:19 ¶ For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Paul states here that the reason he did these things was for the Gospel's sake, so that his ministry for the Lord would not be hindered by these differences... and this gives us another reason to obey the Lord's command to subject ourselves to the laws of man. Paul makes it clear that he did not make any accommadations that would cause him to disobey the Lord, but he made every effort he could to be able to relate to the people he was ministering to. That should be the spirit of our obedience to the laws of man... we should strive to obey them as much as possible without disobeying God. In Matthew 17, verses 24-27, we read:

Mt 17:24 ¶ And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.