Magistrates
38 passages listed in Nave’s Topical Bible and Torrey’s New Topical Textbook. Verse text: Berean Standard Bible; links open in your translation.
30 sections
- Good: Daniel
- Good: Gideon
- Good: Job
- Good: Joseph
- Good: Nehemiah
- Good: Samuel
- Purpose of Their Appointment
- should be Diligent in Ruling
- should be Faithful to the Sovereign
- should be Impartial
- should Defend the Poor
- should Enforce the Laws
- should Hate Covetousness
- should Judge for God, not for Man
- should Judge Righteously
- should Judge Wisely
- should Know the Law of God
- should not Take Bribes
- should Rule in the Fear of God
- should Seek Wisdom from God
- should Subjection to Their Authority Enjoined
- Their office to be Respected
- To be Prayed For
- To be Wisely Selected and Appointed
- Wicked: Felix
- Wicked: Gallio
- Wicked: Magistrates in Philippi
- Wicked: Pilate
- Wicked: Sons of Samuel
- Wicked-Illustrated
Good: Daniel
- Daniel 6:3 Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.
Good: Gideon
- Judges 8:35 They did not show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for Israel.
Good: Job
- Job 29:16 I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.
Good: Joseph
- Genesis 41:46 Now Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout the land of Egypt.
Good: Nehemiah
- Nehemiah 3:15 The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofed it, and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Shelah near the king’s …
Good: Samuel
- 1 Samuel 12:3–4 Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will …
- Ezra 10:1–9 While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites — men, women, and children — gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well. …
Purpose of Their Appointment
- Romans 13:4 For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.
- 1 Peter 2:14 or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
should be Diligent in Ruling
- Romans 12:8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
should be Faithful to the Sovereign
- Daniel 6:4 Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.
should be Impartial
- Exodus 23:6 You shall not deny justice to the poor in their lawsuits.
- Deuteronomy 1:17 Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be intimidated by anyone, for judgment belongs to God. And bring to me any case too difficult for you, and I will hear it.”
should Defend the Poor
should Enforce the Laws
- Ezra 7:26 If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.
should Hate Covetousness
- Exodus 18:21 Furthermore, select capable men from among the people — God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
should Judge for God, not for Man
- 2 Chronicles 19:6 Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment.
should Judge Righteously
- Deuteronomy 1:16 At that time I charged your judges: “Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge fairly between a man and his brother or a foreign resident.
- Deuteronomy 16:18 You are to appoint judges and officials for your tribes in every town that the LORD your God is giving you. They are to judge the people with righteous judgment.
- Deuteronomy 25:1 If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.
should Judge Wisely
- 1 Kings 3:16–28 At that time two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. …
should Know the Law of God
- Ezra 7:25 And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates — all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to …
should not Take Bribes
- Exodus 23:8 Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.
- Deuteronomy 16:19 Do not deny justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous.
should Rule in the Fear of God
- 2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
- 2 Chronicles 19:7 And now, may the fear of the LORD be upon you. Be careful what you do, for with the LORD our God there is no injustice or partiality or bribery.”
should Seek Wisdom from God
- 1 Kings 3:9 Therefore give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?”
should Subjection to Their Authority Enjoined
- Matthew 23:2–3 “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. …
- Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
- 1 Peter 2:13–14 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, …
Their office to be Respected
- Acts 23:5 “Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.’”
To be Prayed For
- 1 Timothy 2:1–2 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— …
To be Wisely Selected and Appointed
- Exodus 18:21 Furthermore, select capable men from among the people — God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- Ezra 7:25 And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God, which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates — all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to …
Wicked: Felix
- Acts 24:26 At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.
Wicked: Gallio
- Acts 18:16–17 And he drove them away from the judgment seat. …
Wicked: Magistrates in Philippi
- Acts 16:22–23 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered that they be stripped and beaten with rods. …
Wicked: Pilate
- Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”
- Matthew 27:26 So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.
Wicked: Sons of Samuel
- 1 Samuel 8:3 But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.
Wicked-Illustrated
- Proverbs 28:15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
Related topics
Magistrates are Ministers of GodMagistrates are Appointed by GodMagistrates are not a Terror to the Good, but to the EvilArbitrationWisdom of SolomonJustice
Topics: Nave’s Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey’s New Topical Textbook (1897), public domain, via the Berean Bible topical index.