ARE THE RIGHTEOUS NOT TO BE RULED BY THE WICKED?
by Susan Guitierrez
3/20/2026
For the rod of the wicked will not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
Psalm 125:3
In this verse, the Hebrew word that “rod” is translated from, is defined as ‘truncheon, scepter, or mark of authority’. The Hebrew word that “rest” is translated from means ‘to remain on or settle down upon’. With the understanding of the meaning of these two words, I suggest that this verse is saying that the righteous will not remain under the rule of the wicked otherwise, the righteous may be led to do iniquity.
Let’s look at a few other verses which have some similarities:
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of the sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psalm 1:1-5
The LORD is righteous: He hath cut usunder the cords of the wicked.
Psalm 129:4
A righteous man falling down before the wicked Is as a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring.
Proverbs 25:26
The first two of those three verses, reinforce the idea of the wicked not ruling over the righteous. The third of those verses is not necessarily about the wicked ruling the righteous. The phrase “falling down” is translated from a Hebrew word which, in this case, means totter, shake, slip, remove, deviate from right course, dwindle, diminish, or grow weak. While the wicked in this verse do not necessarily rule over the righteous man, this verse could include that scenario. The significant thing in this verse is that a continued corruption is indicated for a righteous man who deviates from his right course in the presence of the wicked (though we can assume that man can still repent and return to righteousness).
How can we reconcile these ideas with the ideas of Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-16? I encourage you to read both passages before you read on, so they are fresh in your mind. But here, I will write out a few sentences from them:
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors…
1 Peter 2:13
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: …For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. …for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore, ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’s sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing….
Romans 13:1,3-6
Doesn’t it seem like the last two passages disagree with the first three verses? Can we find some verses which help us to reconcile them all so that we could see that they could all express the accurate will of God?
The next several Bible passages show us that God uses gentile nations and gentile rulers to rule over God’s people as a consequence of disobedience. Here are two verses that come after a lengthy explanation of many good things God has done for the descendants of Abraham, with whom he made a covenant with:
Neverthless they were disobedient and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations. Therefore, thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviors, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.
Nehemiah 9:27
God even refers to some of these gentile rulers as his servants! (Think of the wording in Romans 13.)
…The king of Babylon, My servant…
Jeremiah 24:9
And these nations shall serve the king of Bablyon seventy years
Jeremiah 24:11
They (God’s people) shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
2 Chronicles 12:2,5-8
God allows and even sometimes arranges for his disobedient people to become subject to the rule of other nations. Under those circumstances they become very humble and repentant and then eventually he sends a deliverer to lead them out of captivity. It is my opinion that Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-16 are for the period of time in which God is allowing his people to be in captivity, so they will humble themselves, repent and get ready for the time that their deliverer delivers them out of captivity. In fact, when Paul and Peter wrote those words, Israel was actually under the rule of a gentile nation. Even now, we see the people of Israel, while they are independent, ruled by Israeli rulers, they are under a very secular government, and secular rulers. Also, all the gentiles who have come to believe in the God of the Bible, also are being ruled by secular national governments. You might even say that it seems that all of the believers of Christ are currently being ruled by gentile, or at least secular rulers.
In the pattern that we see in the Old Testament, the rule of the gentile rulers over God’s people would come to an end each time when his people truly repent and humble themselves. Then, at some point, sometimes many years after they repented, God would send a deliverer to lead his people out of the captivity of the gentile nations. So, who might be the deliverer who will lead God’s people out of the rule of the gentile nations in these latter days?
In the next verse, we see that the apostles and early disciples of Christ understood that Christ was to deliver them out of gentile captivity:
When they, therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Acts 1:6
He did not deny that he was to be the deliverer, but he did say it was not for them to know when. I think Jesus’ answer is an indication that Jesus is going to again restore the kingdom to Israel. Interestingly, Israel has been restored as a nation, but they do still have a secular government and Jesus still has yet to deliver Israel from their sins and be grafted back into God’s family. to be included with the gentiles who have made him Lord. The next verse is a prophesy given through Isaiah. Before and after this next verse are verses that are clearly talking about the messiah, who we call Jesus. I encourage you to read all of Isaiah 9 so you can see the context of this next verse which I believe is prophesying that Christ will deliver his people from their oppressors, as he did in the day of Midean, which he did by sending Gideon to deliver Israel from the Midianites with just 300 soldiers. Maybe this example is used here because of how extraordinary this particular deliverance was. God used just three hundred soldiers to defeat a much bigger army, obviously with divine help. I will note that this next verse, in English, is prophesying about the future, but, written in the past tense, maybe because it is so surely going to happen that it is written as though it has happened. (It is as good as done) This is my guess.
For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midean.
Isaiah 9:4
Look at how John the Baptist’s father, Zacharias prophesied, saying:
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
Luke 1:68-75
Yes, the great messiah will deliver his people from their enemies, like so many other deliverers have done, as is recorded in the Bible. However, it seems that this deliverer is different. He will also deliver his people from their own sins as an angel told Joseph, who married Mary the mother of Jesus:
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21
Now, back to the idea of God requiring obedience to gentile rulers for certain periods of time: In all the stories in the Old Testament where God brought his people into captivity to gentile nations, they were to basically obey the governments that had rule over them until God sent a deliverer to lead them out of captivity. Yet even in their captivity, we read stories of valiant people who were obedient to God, rather than men, when the laws were in conflict with God’s laws. (In the book of Daniel, for example, and many other stories throughout the Old and New testaments) However, there was also a point when the deliverer had been sent to them, that they were no longer supposed to obey the gentile rulers who ruled over them. At some point, they had to follow and obey the deliverer that God had sent, right? So. I believe, we should be looking at Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-16 as temporary commandments.
Also, even when Peter and the other apostles were living under Roman rule and their rulers were requiring them to not obey Christ’s commandment to teach his gospel, they said this:
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:29
Now, what about the people who believe God wants them to continue to submit to the gentile nation that rules over them? What if they think it will be a very just government if they just vote in the right people? The Lord is recorded to have explained that there is a very big difference between the way the kingdoms of this world operate and the way his kingdom operates. From his words, I would conclude that the kingdoms of the nations have an inherent flaw of oppression.
But 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. But it shall not be so among you: But whosoever shall be great among you, let him be your minister, and whosoever shall be chief among you, let him be your servant. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:25-28
Look at this passage which shows us a prophesy of what will become of the kingdoms of this world:
And the seventh angel sounded: and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
Revelations 11:15
How are we to get to the point where all the kingdoms of the world become the kingdoms of our Lord? Well, of course I do not know all of the steps, but I can put some verses in front of you that may help us know where to start:
Assemble yourselves and come draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations; they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image and pray unto a god that cannot save.
Isaiah 45:20
Who are these people who have ‘escaped the nations’ and how did they escape the nations? And was this God’s will for them to do so? Two verses after the previous verse is this verse:
Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else.
Isaiah 45:22
It sure sounds like God is beckoning those who truly want to obey him, to come out of the nations. Look at this next one:
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.
Psalm 94:20-21
Our very first verse indicates that the authority of the wicked shall not remain on the righteous. Why? According to Psalm 125:3, lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. This last verse seems to be saying that God’s people should not have fellowship with the throne of iniquity. Remember how Jesus indicated that the rulers of the kingdoms of this world exercise dominion over the people? When you look at your local, state and federal governments as well as all the other countries, don’t you see quite a bit of corruption and oppression at every level?
Here is another Bible passage which does not specify coming out of the nations or the rule of men’s governments, but it seems to really fit well with the previous two passages:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infadel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God: as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17
And one more passage which has similarities to the last few verses:
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean that bear the vessels of the LORD. For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you: and the God of Israael will be your rerward.
Isaiah 52:11-12
The previous passage adds the element that God’s people will not have to go out in haste or by flight. It sounds like God is going to make a way to depart out of whatever they are departing out of. Now look at this verse:
And he cried mightily with a strong voice saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her , my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Revelations 18:2-4
Notice that God is calling his people out of Babylon so that they would not be partakers of her sins. This is a very similar idea to the righteous not remaining under the rule of the wicked, lest they put their hands unto iniquity. And the following verses are toward the end of the same chapter of the previous passage:
…for thy merchants were the great men of the earth: for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Revelations 18:23-24
Notice that ALL nations are prophesied to be deceived. Now look at this next verse:
The LORD has made known His salvation, His righteousness he has revealed in the sight of the nations.
Psalm 98:2 (NKJV)
This verse describes His righteousness being revealed in the sight of the nations. I think that could indicate that His righteousness will somehow be outside of the nations, but close enough to see.
Next, I would like to share the concepts I have found which I believe have the potential of removing and protecting the righteous from the lawful rule of the wicked.
THE CONCEPTS
1. THE RIGHTEOUS ARE HIDDEN
I find, in God’s word, the idea that there is a way for the righteous to be hidden from the wicked. Here, I quote verses showing this concept:
Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High, shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in him will I trust.
Psalm 91:1-2
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.
Proverbs 28:28
When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
Proverbs 28:12
Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Psalm 31:20
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:1-3
As you look at all the other concepts that I list, please consider whether each concept could function as legal principles that have the potential to “hide” the righteous from the rule of the wicked?
2A. JESUS THE CHRIST IS KING
I assume anyone reading this would be familiar with the idea that Christ is our king. Here us a verse from the Old Testament and a passage from the New Testament indicating this:
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout O daughter of Jerusalem; thy king cometh unto thee: he is just and having salvation: lowly and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Zechariah 9:9
All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying. Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, And brought the ass and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
Matthew 21:4-7
For God is the king of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
Psalm 47:7
These shall make war with the Lamb and the lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful.
Revelations 17:14
The previous verse says the lamb is King of kings. Next, we see Jesus identified as the lamb of God:
The next day, John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
John 1:29
A basic definition of king is ‘The usual title of a male sovereign ruler of an independent state’. There is no higher authority than a king in an independent state, except the authority of God, that is. In the case of Christ Jesus, he is God…God the Son, and the only higher authority is God the Father, who has delegated all authority in heaven and earth to his Son. His Son even has authority over the rulers of this earth. See Ephesians 1:19-21 and Colossians 2:10, if you need references for this last idea.
At this point, I will mention that in the Old Testament we learn that before Israel had kings, God was their king and they just had judges to rule according to the commandments that God had revealed through Moses. Whether that was God the Father, His Son, or all of the Godhead acting as the King of Israel is a topic for another time. Suffice it to say, in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, God wanted and still wants to be the only king of his people.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves and came to Samuel at Ramah. And said to him, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the LORD and the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.
1 Samuel 8:4-9
And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh: And said unto the children of Israel, “Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you. And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us…
1 Samuel 10:17-19
This concept of Christ being King is one which carries the potential, of removing the lawful authority of the wicked over the righteous, if that were Christ’s will. Going hand in hand with the concept of king are the concepts of citizens, temporary residents and ambassadors, so we will talk of them next.
2B. CITIZENS OF HEAVEN /OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD/ OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20
Typically, when an individual is a citizen of a certain kingdom, his king has the supreme authority over him. Other kings are excluded from exercising authority over another king’s citizens. We live in a time where people just accept that we can have dual citizenship, like Paul did. He declared that he was a citizen of the Roman government, as well as a citizen of heaven. There are times when God’s people have had dual citizenship, but it looks to me like those were times when God had given over his rebellious people to Gentile nations to rule for a time. Those times always came to an end when he, time and time again, sent saviors to deliver them from the rule of the Gentiles nations.
2C. TEMPORARY RESIDENTS
We are sojourners, aliens, pilgrims, strangers, and temporary residents in the earth (depending on the translation and verse of the Bible. The Old and New Testaments both make it clear that God’s people are not permanent residents of the nations of this earth. It seems God wants his people to stay mindful that their permanent home is with God and this mortal existence is temporary. (See Hebrews11:8-16)
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
Psalm 39:12
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.
1 Peter 2:1
I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me
Psalm 119:19
2D. AMBASSADORS
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:20
True believers in Christ Jesus, who have and continue to depart from sin, who are also sharing the gospel with others, should already (I believe) consider themselves ambassadors for Christ. However, I think this concept has the potential for keeping the righteous outside of the authority of the rulers of the nations, while sojourning within the geographical boundaries of nations of this world. Do you know that many, many countries in this world host ambassadors from other nations, and they allow them diplomatic immunity, being ruled by the nation which sent them.
In the United States of America, only the president has the authority to accept ambassadors from other countries. I think that it is possible that President Trump may become willing to accept ambassadors from the Kingdom of God and grant them diplomatic immunity: if he were presented with legal and Biblical principles to validate the idea; and if he could see the financial benefits and the other benefits this would bring to the USA; and if he were given a good understanding of what would prevent ambassadors from abusing their status in the USA.
2D. JESUS THE CHRIST IS MASTER/LORD
Ye call me master and Lord and ye say well; for so I am.
John 13:13
No man can serve two masters for he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6:24
The word ‘Lord’ in John 13:13 is translated from the same Greek word as ‘masters’ in Matthew 6:24 and the lexicon that I use indicates the Greek word in these verses means the same thing. The word means ‘lord or master’ and is derived from a Greek word which means ‘supreme authority’. A supreme authority can if he chooses, exclude whoever he wishes from having lawful authority over those he has authority over, though in some cases the one who is subject might give another lord or master authority over him. The latter is possible with Jesus as lord and master. However, in Matthew 6:24 he indicates that when we subject ourselves to two masters, we ultimately love and hold to one more than the other. Christ is teaching his followers to not have two masters. Why does the last line say ‘You cannot serve God and mammon)? He is indicating that people can serve money as if it is a master. Have you noticed that corrupt politicians often will make financial incentives to get the people to do what they want the people to do. I think it may be that mammon is the predominant alternative “master” that people tend to serve, even more than the men in authority over them.
Think of this: Which is the more supreme master for a drug addict, the drug of choice or the money to buy the drug? And what is the supreme master for the power-hungry person? The power or the money that helps him get and keep his power? In fact, it seems that no matter what master any person is serving, money is also a master…except for the person whose supreme master really is the Lord, Jesus Christ. In that case, that sincere follower of Jesus is not allowing money to be his master. Even though he does need some money or some kind of resources to trade with, he does not disobey the Lord to get the things that he needs. He has made the Lord his only master and he knows that the Lord will provide.
Therefore, take no thought saying, What shall we eat? Or What shall we drink? Or Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek). For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:31-33
I know a man who got laid off from his plumbing job in the 2008 turbulent economic times. He used up his savings and was desperate for a job so he could provide for his wife and their two sons. He got hired by another plumbing company. He was hired by the wife of the owner of the business who was out of town at the time. He was called to an elderly woman’s home who had a shower that was leaking water on the floor. He identified that the shower just needed new sealant and fixed the problem. When his new boss got back to town he got very mad at this new employer for fixing this lady’s shower. He told his new employee that he had it all arranged with her to sell her a new shower and she was going to put it on a credit card (because she did not have the money).
This new employee could not keep working for such an unethical employer. He quit immediately, not knowing how he would make ends meet. He found himself in serious financial difficulty and was not sure what to do. Then a friend suggested that he start his own plumbing business. The friend helped him to do the necessary paperwork and then he started his business, only by word of mouth. It was extremely hard for the first couple of years, always struggling to have enough money to buy parts, etc. He prayed a lot to God through those tough years. Somehow, he kept managing, though he and his family had to be very, very frugal. There just was no extra. He told his kids to not even ask for presents during those years. They simply did not have the money for extras.
He never advertised. His customers just naturally told others about him, because they found him to be very honest and he did excellent work. Just through word of mouth, his business grew. He was always busy with plenty of work to do, after those first years. He gives the credit to God. I feel this is a good example of seeking first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
How many of us will look the other way when we see corruption in our workplace because we are afraid to lose jobs or jeopardize the careers we have worked so hard to build? But, if we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness (choosing to obey God and do right, even at the risk of great loss), then God will provide for us what he already knows we need. It may not be easy or comfortable, but we can trust that the way to have our needs met is to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
This next verse is similar to the last sentence of the last verse.
Now may the God of peace… equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever! Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21 (NLT)
Here we see in the Old Testament this idea of the LORD being our master.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden look to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
Psalm 123:2
2E. SERVANTS/ SLAVES
The concepts of master and lord go hand in hand with the concepts of servants and slaves. Christ’s followers are called servants and sometimes even slaves. In some of the epistles in the New Testament, some of the authors identify themselves as slaves of Christ (At least slave is the English word chosen by the translators in those instances. Both words appear to portray the meanings of the Greek words used.
It is a hard thing for Christ’s followers to accept the servant or slave status. We all want to do what we want to do. We want to be in control of our lives. It is challenging to discipline oneself to follow Christ’s lead rather than their own. And we especially have an aversion to the word slave. The word slave, in our culture typically is thought of as a forced status, not a voluntary one. Yet in the case of Christ’s followers, the status of servant or slave is voluntarily chosen.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
Romans 6:16
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24
3 and 4. Last will and testament and Testamentary trust
The Last Will and Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is found in what we now call the New Testament. I find it interesting that the title of my copy is “The New Testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. The Greek word for testament used here means a disposition, i.e. specifically a contract (especially a devisory will); covenant. A last will and testament is written to provide for the distribution of one’s property and assets after one’s death. It is a very prevalent understanding that there are many gifts and blessings that are given to those who truly believe in Jesus Christ and his death has made those gifts and blessings available. However, in our day, it is not commonly understood that the last will and testament of Jesus Christ is a legal document which has the potential to protect Christ’s true believers.
Sometimes more complex arrangements need to be made that a last will and testament is not designed to manage. In such cases, a testamentary trust can be created inside of the last will and testament. A last will and testament and a testamentary trust both have some essential elements that are widely recognized and accepted. I will attempt to show you that the New Testament contains the essential elements for these legal documents. Also, I will attempt to show you how these to documents have the potential of removing the righteous from any lawful authority the wicked may have over them.
I should also mention that for nearly each element there can be multiples. For example there can be multiple executors. I am not attempting to present every element of these documents or every Bible verse that is relevant. I am simply attempting to show you that those two legal documents are found within the pages of the New Testament. We will also see that within the pages of the Old Testament there are verses that teach relevant truths and shed some light on elements that are in the New Testament. There is much work yet to be done, developing a thorough explanation of these documents. I hope God will move other people, more capable than I, to further identify the elements and applicable Bible verses that are part of these documents.
3. Essential Elements of a Last Will and Testament and Bible Verses that Fulfill Each Element
3a. Goes into effect after death
A last will and testament goes into effect after the death of the testator. This is an essential principle, recognized in the laws of man. It is also found in the Bible:
For where a testament is there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon, neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
Hebrews 9:16-18
3b. Names the Testator
It is essential for a last will and testament to have a testator. This is the one whose death causes the last will and testament to go into effect. The following verses precede Hebrews 9:16-18 in the New Testament.
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctify unto the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God. And for this cause, he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:11-15
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Ephesians 1:7
3c. Names the Executor
A last will and testament must name the executor, who will handle the distribution of the property and assets.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Ephesians 1:3
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Ephesians 1:17
3d. Names the Beneficiaries and/or States the Requirements to Qualify as Beneficiaries
In the last will and testament, there must be one or more beneficiaries, who are named or at least clearly identifiable by the qualifying requirements listed in the documents. These are just a few that should start to be evident, even at the beginning when someone begins to sincerely follow Jesus.
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 13:34-34
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 15:10-11
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:15
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
John 12:46
3e. Identifies The property and/or Assets that are to be Distributed
The property and/or assets that the executor is to distribute must be named specifically in the last will and testament. Here are some examples:
That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also that after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:12-14
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Galations 5:22-23
3f. Revokes all previous last will and testaments
If there are previous last will and testaments, then there must be a statement revoking all previous last will and testaments.
For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath made him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Hebrews 7:18-22
In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
Hebrews 8:13
And he took bread and gave thanks, and brake it and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood which was shed for you.
Luke 22:19-20
3g. It Must Have the Signature of the Testator
We do not have Jesus’ signature like we commonly use this word. He did not sign his name with his own physical hand to any document that we have today, including his last will and testament. However, look at the second definition of ‘signature’ in the Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary: The name (or special mark) of a person written with his or her own hand as an authentication of some document or writing. The third definition is: The act of impressing or stamping. With these two definitions in mind, look at this next verse. Would you think people who are new creatures in Christ, changed in some way with belief in Christ could qualify for the testator’s (Christ’s) signature?
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God: not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
2 Corinthians 3:3
The marvelous idea here is that really for a believer to be able to qualify as beneficiary of Christ’s last will and testament, at least in this mortal existance, that believer needs to bear the signature of Christ in his or her being. The signature of the testator is not in the document of his last will and testament, but it is found in each of his true beneficiaries! Isn’t that an interesting twist?
3h. It Must Have the Signatures of at Least Two Witnesses Who Are Not Listed As Beneficiaries
So within the New Testament we see that there are many who testified of Christ, and we know that his apostles even went to their deaths, testifying of Christ. Even the betrayer testified Christ was an innocent man before he took his own life! However, an interesting element of a last will and testament is that the witnesses who sign the document are required to not be beneficiaries themselves! All of those people who testified were beneficiaries of Christ’s last will and testament! However, we do have record that God the Father and the Holy Spirit bare record of Christ! They are not listed as beneficiaries of Christ’s last will and testament. If a signature can be a mark or a stamp, could we consider that God the Father and the Holy Spirit have provided the necessary signatures of witnesses that are typically required?!
And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized of John in Jordon. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.
Mark 1:9-11
And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw and bare record that this is the Son of God.
John 1:32-34
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying , this is my beloved Son,: hear him.
Luke 9:35
3i. The Testator Must Sign the Last Will and Testament of His Own Free Will
And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Matthew 26:39
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
John 5:20
3j. The Testator Must Be of Sound Mind
There were some who thought Jesus was not of a sound mind:
And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
Mark 3:21
There are many indications that Jesus was of sound mind, but I think the very best indication was that he prophesied of being killed and rising the third day. Some good references for this are Matthew 17:22-23, Mark 8:31, Luke 18:33. There is an enormous amount of testimony and evidence that he was crucified and that he did rise from the dead. The crucifixion of Jesus is recorded in Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; and John19. Here are some Bible passages showing that Jesus was resurrected: John 20; Luke 24:6-7; Mark 16:5-7; Acts 4:33. That he rose from the dead was not a parlor trick; it was a miraculous act of God and a huge indicator that he was of sound mind.
4. Essential Elements of a Testamentary Trust and Bible Verses Which Fulfill Each Element
The testamentary trust document is not the trust itself. It records the details of the trust and how it is to be managed. Colossians 1:12-13, which is at the end of 4a, makes it obvious that the testamentary trust is Christ’s kingdom. The kingdom of Heaven, the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and the kingdom of His (God’s) dear Son, all seem to be names used for this trust.
4a. Names the Grantor
A testamentary trust must have what is called a grantor (also can be called a settlor). The grantor is the person who owns the property in the trust, gives legal authority to the trustee, and also transfers property into the trust. In the typical common testamentary trust, the grantor is also the person who died leaving the last will and testament that the testamentary trust is created within. In this case, it seems to me that God the Father is the Grantor of the testamentary trust, when I consider the different verses that I have found.
For the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof
1 Corinthians 10:26
For the earth is the LORD’S and the fulness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein.
Psalm 24:1
The Following verse gives us a clue that the LORD, spoken of in Psalm 24:1 is probably God the Father. We see in the next verse that the LORD in all caps seems to be higher in authority than the one in lower case letters. I assume that means “the LORD” is God the Father and “the Lord” is the Son of God.
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies, thy footstool.
Psalm 110:1
(and repeated in Matthew 22:44 with similar wording, but without the difference of all capital letters for the LORD)
In the next couple of verses, we see God the Father gave Jesus legal authority over everything on earth and in heaven.
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and earth.
Matthew 28:18
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
John 17:2
From the previous verses we can understand that Jesus has been given authority over all the people of the earth (and everything else in the earth and in heaven). I am asserting that people are owned by God and are protected in this trust which is being managed by Christ Jesus. This next verse explains that God the father transfers people into the kingdom of his dear Son.
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
Colossians 1:12-13
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
John 17:6
4b. Names the Trustee
A trustee of a testamentary trust manages, and distributes assets according to the will’s specific terms. The trustee is to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries in everything he does as trustee. In this particular case, the trustee of the testamentary trust is the same person as the testator of the last will and testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is probably the only last will and testament and testamentary trust which is structured in this way. After all, Jesus is only able to serve as trustee of this trust because his Father raised him from the dead!
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and earth.
Matthew 28:18
As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
John 17:2
I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
John 17:6
4c. Lists the Property and Assets that are in the Trust
We know from some of the verses I have already shared that everything is owned by God the Father, including all the people of the earth , and the earth and everything on it. We also have seen that the Father has put Christ in authority over everything in heaven and earth. However, not all of the people are in Christ’s testamentary trust. You can see this in this next verse, which I have already shared.
Giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
Colossians 1:12-13
We do see in our day that the property and assets which are held in properly formed legal trusts, are protected from the claims of creditors and even governments. Also, It seems to me a reasonable assumption that if a person is protected by the testamentary trust of which Jesus is the trustee, then also the property over which that person has been given by God as a stewardship, would also be protected by the trust. Look at this proclamaation, which Artaxerxes, King of Persia made:
Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the king and his sons? Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
Ezra 7:23-24
You may say that that is interesting, but this was a proclamation made in a different land, many centuries ago and plus it is recorded in the old testament, not the new testament, which is the one in effect now. Well, as I look at this earthly king’s words, he seems to be basing his commandment upon some truth that was revealed to him. He had come to understand that he and his son’s would experience God’s wrath if they required God’s people to do anything contrary to what their God commanded. Then he makes it unlawful to charge God’s servants any toll, tribute, or custom. Now see some New Testament verses which show how God’s people in the New Testament are to be responsible for those rolls:
Priests: speaking of those who are washed from their sins in the blood of Christ…Christ has made them kings and priests unto God—Revelations:1:6; and 5:10; and 20:6.
Singers: speaking to those who have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him (Colossians 3:10), we are to sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord—Colossians 3:17; Ephesians 5:19; Hebrews 2:12.
Porters: The Hebrew word this is translated from means ‘doorkeepers’. Isn’t Jesus the door of the sheep?—John 10:7,9; And Christ stands at the door and knocks and makes a promise to those who open the door to him–Revelations 3:20. Are those that open the door to Christ, doorkeepers? Christ asks us to abide in him in John 15:4 -5 and he says if we abide in him and he in us, we will bring forth much fruit. Could we say that people that are abiding in Christ are being the doorkeepers?
Nethinims: This word means temple workers. In 1 Corinthians 3:17, Paul declares that that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you. Couldn’t we say that all those who are abiding in Christ are the equivalent of the Nethinims of the old covenant?
Ministers: We see in 2 Corinthians 3 6 that God has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit… and in 2 Corinthians 5:18 we see that God has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.
So with each one of these kinds of God’s servants being found also in the new testament of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, it seems very viable to me that the verse in Ezra which forbids anyone from imposing toll, taxes, or custom upon God’s servants could and should apply also in this new testament. Also not imposing toll, taxes, or custom on God’s specified servants would be consistent with the rest of the information that I have been presenting, except for the periods of time where God places his people under the rule of another nation because of their disobedience to God’s commandments. We should see that this concept of not imposing toll, taxes, or custom on specified servants of God, would indicate that not only are people under the protection of the testamentary trust of our Lord and Savior, but also the stewardships of property and resources, including money that those people are in possession of.
4d. Names or Gives the Qualifications For the Beneficiaries of the Trust
In this trust, it seems that those listed as property and assets are also listed as beneficiaries. In times past, people have been considered property and have been included as property listed in their master’s trusts, but they were probably not listed also as beneficiaries! This seems to be a unique feature of this trust!
To understand the qualifications to be beneficiaries, we are to look to the whole of scripture to help us interpret individual verses. So these verses and others that I have not listed, give us a deeper understanding of the multiple overlapping criteria for qualifying to be a beneficiary of this trust.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:9-10
And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 2:21
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Matthew 24:13
I am the door: by me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and he shall go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:9
Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life.
John 5:24
He that believeth and is baptize shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16
The following verse may help us better understand the previous verse a little better:
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
Matthew 3:11
This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Ephesians 3:6
4e. Provides For the Care and Maintenance of the Property and Assets Until They Are Distributed
The church, also called the body of Christ is the structure God has provided to care for the human beings in the trust. Here are some of the instructions for the care of the spiritual needs of the human beings who are in the trust:
1 Corinthians 12:7-29
1 Corinthians 16:1
2 Corinthians 10:8
1 Timothy 6:17
Hebrews 10:25
Romans 12:6
Ephesians 4:11
Galatians 6:2
John 15:12
Romans 12:15
Acts 15:25
Here are some of the instructions for the care of the physical needs of the human beings in the trust:
1 Corinthians 9:9
1 Timothy 5:18
Matthew 19:21
Luke 11:3
Acts 20:28
Romans 12:20
The non-human property in the trust is the property held in stewardships from God by the humans in the trust. We see the concept of stewardship described in the Old Testament:
And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 28:1
There were men who were given stewardships to take care of all the substance and possession of the king and of his sons. The king and his sons actually owned the property. We also see this concept in a parable spoken by Jesus and recorded in the New Testament in the parable of the talents:
Gor the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Matthew 25:14-15 (it ends in verse 30)
In this parable, the stewards are expected to somehow magnify what they have been given. We can apply this parable in our own lives. God gives us stewardships of skills, talent, children, ministry opportunities, and physical resources and wealth. He desires that we will use the stewardship He has given us, to serve the Lord. It seems that when a person is serving the Lord with whatever God has given him, God increases and blesses his faithful servant.
4f. The Purpose of the Trust Is Given
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10
…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
These previous verses are worded more as the purpose of the trustee of this trust. The purpose of the trust is illuminated very well in 1 Corinthians 15:22-28 which is in the next section below.
4h. The Conditions Under Which The Trust Will Be Terminated Specified
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued under him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
1 Corinthians 15:22-28