What Jesus Said About Politics, Government & Earthly Authority (13 Teachings)

Jesus' kingdom is not from this world.

Read the Scripture John 18:36

King James Version

John 18:36

³⁶Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Any authority a ruler has ultimately comes from above.

Read the Scripture John 19:11

King James Version

John 19:11

¹¹Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Do not dominate others as Gentile rulers do.

Read the Scripture Matthew 20:25–28; Mark 10:42–45; Luke 22:25–27

King James Version

Matthew 20:25–28

²⁵But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
²⁶But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
²⁷And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
²⁸Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:42–45

⁴²But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
⁴³But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
⁴⁴And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
⁴⁵For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Luke 22:25–27

²⁵And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
²⁶But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
²⁷For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.

Read the Scripture Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25

King James Version

Matthew 22:21

²¹They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

Mark 12:17

¹⁷And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

Luke 20:25

²⁵And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.

Jesus exposes the tax trap by distinguishing Caesar's claim from God's.

Read the Scripture Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:20–26

King James Version

Matthew 22:15–22

¹⁵Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
¹⁶And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
¹⁷Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
¹⁸But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
¹⁹Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
²⁰And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
²¹They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
²²When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Mark 12:13–17

¹³And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
¹⁴And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not?
¹⁵Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
¹⁶And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cæsar’s.
¹⁷And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

Luke 20:20–26

²⁰And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
²¹And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
²²Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cæsar, or no?
²³But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
²⁴Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cæsar’s.
²⁵And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which be Cæsar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
²⁶And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

Jesus rejects violent defense of his mission with the sword.

Read the Scripture Matthew 26:52; Luke 22:51; John 18:11

King James Version

Matthew 26:52

⁵²Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Luke 22:51

⁵¹And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

John 18:11

¹¹Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Those who take the sword will perish by the sword.

Read the Scripture Matthew 26:52

King James Version

Matthew 26:52

⁵²Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Jesus' kingdom is not from this world, so his servants do not fight to prevent his arrest.

Read the Scripture John 18:36

King James Version

John 18:36

³⁶Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Jesus had Peter pay the temple tax in an unusual way so as not to cause offense.

Read the Scripture Matthew 17:24–27

King James Version

Matthew 17:24–27

²⁴And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
²⁵He 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?
²⁶Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
²⁷Notwithstanding, 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.

Jesus told Peter to put his sword back in its place.

Read the Scripture Matthew 26:52; John 18:11

King James Version

Matthew 26:52

⁵²Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

John 18:11

¹¹Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Jesus refuses political or popular manipulation of his mission.

Read the Scripture John 6:15; 7:6–8; 18:36

King James Version

John 6:15

¹⁵When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

John 7:6–8

⁶Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
⁷The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
⁸Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.

John 18:36

³⁶Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Jesus refuses violent self-defense even when he has power to escape.

Read the Scripture Matthew 26:52–54; John 18:11

King James Version

Matthew 26:52–54

⁵²Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
⁵³Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
⁵⁴But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

John 18:11

¹¹Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Jesus is courageous before rulers and accusers.

Read the Scripture Matthew 26:57–68; John 18:19–38

King James Version

Matthew 26:57–68

⁵⁷And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
⁵⁸But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
⁵⁹Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
⁶⁰But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
⁶¹And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
⁶²And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
⁶³But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
⁶⁴Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
⁶⁵Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
⁶⁶What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
⁶⁷Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
⁶⁸Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?

John 18:19–38

¹⁹The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
²⁰Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.
²¹Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
²²And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
²³Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?
²⁴Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
²⁵And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.
²⁶One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
²⁷Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
²⁸Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
²⁹Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?
³⁰They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.
³¹Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:
³²That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.
³³Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
³⁴Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
³⁵Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
³⁶Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
³⁷Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
³⁸Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

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What Jesus said about Politics, Government & Earthly Authority

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What Jesus said about Politics, Government & Earthly Authority

A Guide for Real Life