Sermon on 1 Peter 2:11-20, for the 4th Sunday of Easter (1 Yr lectionary), "Honor Those in Authority"
· Special focus of our reading on the 4 th (& also 8 th ) commandment(s). Subject to every human institution—emperor, governors…honor everyone…honor the emperor. · Honor your father and your mother . What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them. · You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way. · Our reading takes the intersection of these two commandments to describe our Christian conduct with the outside world of soci...