The Undying Law - part V

As we move through these few verses in Matthew 5, the providence of God has unfolded in such a way that we will be speaking on Christ fulfilling the Civic Law today, being Palm Sunday. Later on we will see exactly why this matters. Before we get there, however, something must be said when we talk about the idea of God having a say in the civic realm.

There is a certain population, here in 2026 America, whose blood grows warm when a Christian has something to say about politics. No matter if the Christian is speaking about a Government here at home, or across oceans; as soon as they voice an opinion, these people spit-shine their vaccination cards and voting record as they scold us. They demand that the civic laws of a Nation must be “neutral” and never make an exclusionary claim of Christianity.

And if someone claims that all religions are equal; and that a loving God will never send anyone to Hell; then they have no ground to stand upon to criticize anything. An illustration will help me state this plainly; I'm not going to listen to a blind person’s opinion about a painting, regardless of how passionately they feel.

So, when someone does begin to raise their voice about politics being discussed in a Church, from the pulpit no less!...if they are blind; yes be patient and compassionate, of course. Be humble and meek, seeking their greatest good, yes! Freely give them the Gospel of Salvation that you yourself received when you were dead in your sins and trespasses, of course. But their feelings about The Civic Law are nothing but dead eyes looking at the sun.

To add some grace; perhaps this person who opposes it, isn't necessarily blind, but is unaware of the water that the leviathan in Washington has been swimming in since 1865. Well meaning they may be; but the size and ferocity of that beast; coupled with a lack of teaching from Churches whose doors ought be closed; they see no other way for civic laws to function apart from pure neutrality.

Now, when Jesus said that He fulfilled The Law; it includes the Civic (or ‘judicial’) Law; and the focus of our Sermon will be answering 4 different questions: What is it? What does it govern? Why does it matter? And how did He fulfill it? 

Read → Matthew 5:17-20; 21:1 - 11 and Opening Prayer

What is The Civic Law?

Broadly speaking; The Civic Law is the body of legislation that God gave to The Israelites from the very onset of their formation as a State, for how a nation needs to operate. From the time of the exodus, and onward into Israel’s statehood, we read about laws that covered everything from architecture (Deut. 22:8); and zoning (Deut. 19:14); to military service (Num. 1:3, 26:2; Deut. 20:5-8; ); and economics (Ex. 22:25). We also see laws about theft and restitution (Ex. 22:1-4); social welfare (Deut. 15:1-11; 24:17-22); and how judges ought to proceed over court cases (Deut. 17:8-13). 

The very first Civic law we see in Scripture, however, is given far before Israel was a country, and it is coupled with something that will help us see how wide ranging it actually is.

After the flood, when The Ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat (Gen. 8:4), God established The Noahic Covenant, promising to never flood the World with water (Gen. 9:4), ever again; and told us that as long as the Earth is here, we will continue to have seasons and crops (Gen.8:21 & 22). And briefly; it is no coincidence the majority of people who warn about catastrophic global warming, are those who also deny a global flood, while shoplifting the symbol of His grace.

Now, with all of mankind except Noah and his family crushed and killed and taken away by the waters of judgement; God gives humanity the very first Civic law, as He repeats The Dominion Mandate He gave in the Garden (Gen 1:28).

Genesis 9:6 & 7 → “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed;

For in the image of God He made man. [7] And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it.”

With this, God is telling humanity how they should interact with people just like Cain. He displayed the sanctity for human life that we must have when he brought punishment to bear against him; but now…how that punishment comes about is different. 

Now, from Noah onward, humans have the jurisdictional authority from God to punish evil by their own hands. It is our responsibility, given to us by God Himself, to investigate; prosecute; and enact justice against those who do evil. Furthermore, when God delegated this responsibility to us, He coupled it, side-by-side with a command to fill the Earth.

And when God braids His commands together,

it still means both of them, yes, and

it also means more.

How can we be fruitful and multiply and bring forth abundantly in the earth? By carrying out justice against those who act in wicked ways against other people.  How can humanity spread across every sea, populating and civilizing every territory we come across? How can cities be built, families flourish, and societies in every corner of the globe grow and push back the curse? By carrying out the civic duties that He commanded us to. 

No matter the society; be they advanced or otherwise; flourishing in scientific advancement after advancement; or layering mud upon their grass huts; if their laws are those that God hates, they are storing up judgement for themselves. To give an example I wish were obvious; murder needs to be illegal, and murders need to be prosecuted. I mean…can you imagine if it weren't? 

Can you imagine a nation; any civilization, really, that gives preferential treatment to one class of her citizens, allowing them free-reign to murder as they please? Of course this society in question, if they wanted to get away with it, wouldn't call it murder, right? In fact, they would make sure that anyone who did would be slandered in public and become a social pariah. So, they would dress it up with nice sounding, empathetic, emotional language, and sanitize it. And once they did, they would be able to carry out their wickedness right under our noses, and no one would think twice. They would even be able to set up shop anywhere; but, for some reason, they would always choose poor black neighborhoods. I wonder why.

That society, I imagine, would be teetering on the brink of chaos, boiling just beneath the edge of total ruin. Their politicians would be sweeping immorality beneath Persian rugs on the other side of the planet, while her own children wouldn't be able to read the words on their High School Diplomas. Families would be broken, or pieced together with whoever’s anatomy matches their own.

What does it govern?

With God delegating civic authority to humanity in Genesis 9:6 & 7, we then move into the time of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s 12 sons. Remember, when Abram was first called out of his homeland (Gen. 12:1) and God promised to make a Nation from him, they had yet to become a nation. The Law had yet to be given to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 19-24); which means that the intricacies of political legislation were still around 400yrs in their future. 

This does not mean, however, that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob presided over a system of anarchy. They were neither tyrants, leading the people beneath them according to their own will; nor were they puppets to the people who gave the most financial contributions. We can make this claim because every experience they went through, shows us the shadows of the justice that The Civic Law would more thoroughly explain 400yrs later.

For example:

They knew murderers ought be punished (Gen. 9:6 & 7); that a city (Sodom) given over to sexual immorality will be judged by the Judge of the World (Gen. 18 - 19); and that the boundaries of marriage are sacred (Gen. 20)...all before The Law was given.

When Jacob was accused of stealing Laban’s household idols in Gen. 19; it tells us that humans are born with an understanding of private property. When he was deceptive in caring for Laban’s flocks in Gen. 29-31; it tells us that we were created with a sensitivity to both lying and fair labor practices. We could continue like this with numerous other examples, but the truth behind it all is that we were created with an innate sense of civic justice; which The Civic Law then explains, organizes, and directs.

Now, when we fast forward to The Israelites leaving Egypt, and they are en-route to becoming a County; we see God giving them the bulk of The Civic Law, instructing them for how the leaders should lead. He teaches them that both murder and kidnapping are a capital offense (Ex. 21:12, 16); that it’s illegal for a judge to show partiality or take a bribe (Deut. 16:19); and that false witnesses are to be punished with the penalty they intended for others (Deut. 19:16-19). 

Going further, He says they need to have cities where if you accidentally kill someone, you won't be tried for murder (Num. 35:11 & 12); that charging someone who is economically impoverished with high interest rates is illegal (Ex. 22:25; Levi. 25:35-37; Deut. 23:19 & 20); and instead of long term incarceration, criminals were either deported (Deut.17:7; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21; et. al.), put to death (see above), or placed into indentured servitude until the debt was paid off (Ex. 22). Further still, we see laws about how their country should interact with other nations. An offer of peace must be extended before going to war (Deut. 20:10&11), and total destruction of your opponent during that war is forbidden (Deut. 20:19&20); immigrants are accountable to the same laws as citizens (Levi. 24:22); and they are to be a non-extradition country, refusing to return political dissidents who fled for safety (Deut. 23:15 & 16).

To summarize it all;  Just like The Ceremonial Law governed everything involving the worship life of The Israelites, The Civic Law governed everything involving their laws, policies, and ordinances; each one an aspect of the justice of God in a given context. But now, before we move forward; a question I’m sure that all of you are thinking… 

Does The Civic Law apply to every nation, ever?

The answer is…yes and no.

Do the leaders of every nation need to enforce laws about railings being built on the edges of their roofs (Deut. 22:8)? No. But do they need to ensure that their architecture does not pose a danger to human life? Yes.

Does the government of every nation need to make sure there are cities of refuge (Num. 35:11 & 12) for someone who accidentally kills someone else? No. Do they need to discern between murder and manslaughter? Yes.

For an obvious one; does the federal government of every single nation on Earth need to make laws about the weight of a shekel (Lev. 19:9 & 10)? No. But do they need to ensure the stability of their currency? Yes.

All of the Old Testament civic laws were showing us what the perfect justice of God looks like in the context of a given nation. Yes, that application will more than likely vary from one government to the next, of course. But the justice of God doesn't. Which means then, brothers and sisters, that if any political entity or office; be it a Village Board Member, Mayor, or County Supervisor; no matter if the office in question is a Senator, Judge, Congressman, King, Parliament, Supreme Court, or Tyrant; if they think that civic law and order can be according to any standard but God’s…that nation is in for a rude awakening. 

Why does it matter?

So…why should people in 2026 America care about a 4,000yr old civic law code? Because it explains that the governing principle for any political entity; from a Tribe to an Empire; must be the unchanging justice of the King of the World.

Now, when you claim that the political system of every single nation needs to be built on the standard of God’s law, is precisely when the blood of your average American starts to get a little hotter. However, brothers and sisters, the only reason it happens, is because we as a culture have been so immersed in Christendom for the past two centuries, that we have taken it for granted.

Should society as a whole revert back to generational blood-feuds as a form of civic justice? Like the Vikings? How about the Shari-Law honor-killings that are part and parcel of the mohammedens that are even now invading Europe? Perhaps those who decry Christian laws would feel more comfortable under the dynastic rule of ancient China, who punished entire families for the crimes of one member? Or maybe, we could have a society like 7th Century Athens under Draco (where the term “draconian” comes from) and enact the death penalty for every…single…malefraction.

All of us here this morning, along with a large number of non-Christians who would ever hear such an argument; would be forced to admit the absurdity of such an idea. Well then, what are we to do? Everyone will agree that our leaders should make murder illegal, right? But what is a people to do; what is America to do; when it comes to other laws?

Should homosexual marriage be illegal? What about polygamy? Or child-brides?

What should a town’s laws look like for their sewage treatment facilities?

Should the police be arresting the serial killers at Planned Parenthood?

What about the death penalty for murderers?

What kind of laws should be on the books for immigration?

Can someone put up a fence on their own property without a permit?

Are age limits on adult content good enough, or should it be fully criminalized?

What about burning garbage?

Should there be blasphemy laws?

Can anyone, of any religion, hold political office? Or should there be laws against it?

When questions like these begin to be asked, and answered; unless the political authorities of a population govern according to the justice of God; regardless of time, geography, or ethnicity; that population will be nothing but a society of wax, dripping down the candle of history.

It may have been strong at one point, and held in a place of honor as the centerpiece of the table, even giving light to the whole house, yes! Other nations may have even looked at it in awe about the blessing between her borders! But once the warm and welcoming embrace of sin begins to wrap about their leaders, the wax will move, sway, and slide into oblivion.

There will be unrest in her towns as strangers cross streets to avoid those in need (Lk. 10:25-37). There will be greed in her “churches” as “pastors” prostitute out the faith for profit (2 Cor. 2:17). The powerful will oppress the poor, all the while making long prayers to tell people how ‘holy’ they really are (Lk. 20:47). And families will fall to lust and liquor as their children go on to do the very same thing.

When a nation is run according to the justice of man, the population will be set loose to live out the “freedom” their sinful hearts desire, doing nothing but descending from one level of degeneracy to another.

During the time of the judges, with no king to enforce justice and restrain the evil across his territory; it directly led to…the opposite. Injustice was given free reign, evil was set loose unhindered; and Abimelech rose to tyranny, killing 70 of his brothers to do so (Jd. 9:5). Fictional gods were idolized (Jd. 2:11) with the approval of the priests (Jd. 17:5); as the entire nation knew there would be no physical consequences for their crimes, and carried out whatever was right in their own eyes. (Judges 17:6, 18:1; 19:1; & 21:25). It wasn't until 12 pieces of a prostitute, sent through the mail to every corner of the kingdom (Jd. 19:29) that the people finally snapped out of it, and asked for a leader.

So unless we want America to go the way of the judges; if she hasn't already; what are we to do? Should we wait for something so heinous and dark to transpire between our borders to wake us up? Furthermore, what could that possibly be for a nation like the one we all live in?

The largest municipality, and the largest unified voting bloc in all of America, NY City, is, right now-today, being governed by a pedophile worshipping saracen. Imagine telling a New Yorker on Sept. 12th 2001 that within a generation their leader would be celebrating Ramadan half a mile away. 

We are a nation that cheers when a bad mother murders her own child, and were the applause not enough; The Supreme Court protects them as a special class of citizen as they use our taxes to paint our amber waves of grain with the blood of over a billion abortions. We flood our streets with legalized sodomy; and because of the pretend pulpits populated by perverts; we think that dawn’s early light will bring clouds of grace, not sulfur, to rain down on the majestic purple mountains.

And all of this, brothers and sisters, is happening right before the eyes of every conservative who thinks he’s a Christian without ever darkening the doors of a Church. They vote with us, sure, but they are not like us. Maybe it's because the last man who stood up for Christ in the political world was killed in front of his family, and all of their bravado is nothing but star-spangled cowardice.

What will it take, my fellow Americans, to see the thunderclouds of an angry God gathering over the land between the shining seas?

If you want to kill a nation;

convince them there is no standard of law beyond them,

then give them legal freedom to live however they want.

So, what do we do?

Do we hold our leaders accountable to The Constitution? Sure. Do we do what we can to have that be the “law of the land”, and anyone that won’t agree to it…can’t be an American? Sure. Or maybe we can fight and strive and study and work and speak about what it actually means to be an “American”? Well, can all of you here this morning answer that?

What does it mean to be an American?

Simply being born here?

Filling out the right paper?

Answering the right questions?

Maybe it’s deeper. Perhaps “being an American” is the mindset of being tolerant of other people’s beliefs, and working together for a common goal, even if you disagree with them. Is that it? We have lost our national identity, children of Clyde-Savannah; we have no idea what it means to be an American because we have no idea what it means to be a citizen. 

To be a citizen, of any country…no matter the system of government, is to willingly live according to their laws (even if begrudgingly!); not constantly trying to reshape them according to our own desires. Can you be a good citizen under a Monarchy? What did Daniel do? Can you be a good citizen under a tyrant? What did Paul do? Can you be a good citizen of a corrupt leader? What did Joseph do?

Can the American people, as a whole, look at a ruler and their laws; see a government and how they govern; without trying to amend it according to their own will? Of course not. We are a nation “of the people” afterall; and the idea of an authority who will not take our votes into consideration, and can not be overthrown for doing so, is an alien sound to American ears. We have forgotten the God of our founding, and have used the freedoms He gave us to run as far away from Him as possible.

So what do we do?

Do we vote with tears in our eyes, making sure we really mean it when we fill in that little box, gripping the pencil extra hard while we do it?

Do we elect leaders who use Christian lingo, assuming that the thoughts and intents of their heart are matching the words coming out of their mouth?

Do we enforce Christian laws at the edge of the sword?

Do we assume that once “the right person” is in office, everything is going to magically get better, and the only thing it will cost us is the gas money it takes to get to the voting booth?

And that right there…brings us to today; Palm Sunday.

How did Christ fulfill The Civic Law?

Without veering off into a history lesson; remember that at this point in time, Israel had been under foreign rule (the Romans) for close to a century, and before that, it was The Babylonians or The Assyrians. They were a people whose national identity had been swallowed up and destroyed by their own sin. But all along, the promise of The Messiah who would set the people of God free and save them never left their collective memory. 

We read about in Daniel 7:13 & 14 when he describes his vision for us → “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. [14] Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”

Read that again sons and daughters! It says “All peoples, nations, and languages” are going to serve The One who approaches the Ancient of Days, because He will be given dominion and glory and a kingdom…and the Kingdom that is given to Him will never be destroyed.

And not only was this Ruler promised by Daniel, but throughout all of Scripture. Every event; every war, invasion, or famine; the building or collapse of every nation, before this Ruler, was pointing to the time when He would take His throne.

We also read about Him in  Zechariah 9:9...which shows us the difference between Him and all other earthly rulers → “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Did you hear that? The people of God, under the iron yolk of malicious tyrannical empires for centuries, were waiting for God to fulfill His promise and send them…a Constitutional Republic? A Parliamentary Legislature? Were they looking forward, for generation after generation, to a democratically elected representative who would go to the halls of power and petition other representatives? No, they were looking forward to a King! A Monarch who ruled with justice, who can never be bought off; never impose an unjust law; and whose judgments are right and true no matter the length to which the circumstances are extenuated.

Matthew 21:1-9 → “Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, [2] saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. [3] And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” [4] All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: [5] “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” [6] So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. [7] They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. [8] And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. [9] Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:

“Hosanna to the Son of David!

‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Hosanna in the highest!”

Then, after that Kingly procession, days away from His death, we read this in Mark 14:61 & 62 → “Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” [62] Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 

Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords; dead yet risen; appeared to hundreds over the span of 40 days; then riding atop the thunder clouds of eternity approached The Ancient of Days and was given a Kingdom that can never be destroyed.

Brothers and sisters, when He rode the donkey into Jerusalem, He was a conquering King, entering a city that was rightfully His to claim; but the manner in which He conquered is so far removed from our human understanding, that nothing but a heart that has been made new by Him can understand it.

You see brothers and sisters, where the first century Israelites failed, is exactly where the modern day, pigeon-chested, limp wristed, Christian-in-name-only “conservatives” fail. They assumed their King would, right then and there, kill to establish His kingdom. That the bodies of their enemies would pile high and fill the Earth. But displaying that His ways are so far removed from our own, the one true King of the cosmos, who even now sits at the right hand of the Father, did the exact opposite.

He died.

He allowed them to kill Him.

He willingly offered up His life, because no one could ever take it from Him.

He, the rightful King of the Universe, was spat on, bruised, beaten, tortured, and stripped naked for the entire city to see as He hung alone on the Cross. Our ruler was bruised for our crimes. Our leader was whipped because of our law-breaking. Our King was killed in our place.

We serve a King who died for us, children of God, who was forsaken by men, and by God, as He drank dry the right wrath of His Father for all of His people. And when you repent of your sins and believe in Him, your heart will be made new, yes. Your sins will be forgiven by a King who can forgive them, yes. You will, then and only then, be given the glowing righteousness of the only perfect person to have ever lived! 

And as you kneel in prayer before this King, crying tears of repentance, He will take out His mighty and shining sword, place it upon your shoulder, and tell you to rise as someone new. A knight of His court, and you will be given a duty from on high. My friends! With a voice of many rushing waters, the King of the Universe says to you:

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,

baptizing them in the name of the

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

(Matt. 28:18-20)

Go to the nations children of God! 

Baptize them and teach them what God has to say, knowing you will succeed because The Civic Law was already fulfilled when all authority…in heaven and on earth…was given to Him!

Tell everyone in your life; friend or enemy; ruler, relative, or stranger; about who Jesus Christ is, who we are, and what He alone did about the differences! Warn them of Hell! Of blood and fire! Of the wrath to come should they refuse His reign while living here in His kingdom! It is nothing but The Gospel going forth that can change a heart of stone into a heart of flesh, and the only way America will be saved from the billowing flames of a God who accounts all nations as nothing but a drop in the bucket or dust on the scales (Is. 40:15) is, because of how our government is structured, the people submitting to the total lordship of Jesus Christ.

And the only way this can come about, is not from the top down. No matter how “christian” any new laws smells; will it be a deterrent for evil in our streets? Maybe. Will it soften hearts to the point they repent of their sins, and begin to hate evil and want to do good? No.

Do you want to save America?

Then you yourself repent of your sins and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Do you want to save America?

Then you yourself go to Church, every…single…week.

Read your Bible, every…single…day.

Repent when you sin.

Forgive when you are sinned against.

Value others better than yourself.

Live like the King of the universe, who even now sits at the right hand of The Father with swirling galaxies like rings upon His finger; whose Scepter can never fail; whose crown can never fall; whose kingdom and power and glory knows no end…lives inside of you.

To close out our Sermon, I would like to read the words of the prophet Habakkuk, that speak on exactly what we have been talking about this morning. Habakkuk 2:12-14 → “Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city by iniquity! [13] Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts that the peoples labor to feed the fire, and nations weary themselves in vain? [14] For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”

Those who establish their land by evil, do it in vain,

because the Gospel can’t be stopped.

Rev. Jacob Marchitell

March 29th 2026

Supplemental Material:

At the founding of America, the only entity that could violate the 1st Amendment was the Federal Government: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” This means that a State could have an established Church. For example:

• The 1776 Maryland Constitution prevented non-Christians from holding office.

• The 1784 New Hampshire Constitution went further and only allowed Protestants to hold office; and also used the taxes of the people to fund protestant Churches.

• The 1778 South Carolina Constitution only recognized Churches that affirmed Protestant doctrines, and gave legal preference to protestant groups/ministries.

Article 1 - Section 8 of The Constitution said Congress (The Federal Government) can make laws “necessary and proper” to carry out its powers; and was meant to give flexibility in executing the limited powers already listed; not to create new powers. ie. Congress needs the ability to ensure that the power they do have can be carried out.

• But in “McCulloch V. Maryland” (1819), that clause was interpreted far more broadly. The Court ruled that “necessary” does not mean absolutely necessary, but rather anything that is useful, appropriate, or plainly adapted to carrying out an enumerated power; thereby greatly expanding what Congress may justify under its authority.

• And the power of The Fed grew stronger.

Also in Article 1 - Section 8 of The Constitution, it says that Congress (The Federal Government) has the power to regulate commerce between the individual States. It was written to prevent trade wars and tariffs between states; while placing the primary governing authority of the state in the state, not The Fed. However:

• In “Gibbons v. Ogden” in 1824, the SCOTUS ruled that The Federal government can regulate interstate commercial activity; which expanded the reach of Federal Power.

• In “Wickard v. Filburn” in 1942, the SCOTUS ruled that A farmer growing wheat for his own use must be regulated federally because his actions affected the national market.

• And the power of The Fed grew stronger.

The specific date I mentioned at the beginning of the Sermon (1865) was the year that the 13th Amendment was ratified. It's only 43 words long:

Section 1: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”  Section 2: “Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”

Two truths we need to understand about the 13th Amendment:

1. Slavery was not abolished; it is still fully legal to be enslaved if you are “duly convicted”.

2. From the founding of America; it was the States telling the Federal Government to “behave, or else”. But now, with the 13th and the SCOTUS Cases I mentioned earlier it's the other way around. 

The 14th Amendment (1868) says that no state shall: “deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law” or deny “equal protection of the laws”...and gives The Fed the authority to enforce this against the states. It was originally written to protect freed slaves and ensure basic civil rights; but its long term effect contributed to the The Fed consuming and incorporating the states under their authority.

• At the founding, The Bill of Rights only applied to the Federal Government, which is why individual states could have religious tests for office or tax their citizens for a Church. The Fed could not interfere.

• This is why, when something is legal at the state level, but illegal at the federal level, The Fed can still “step in”. 

There are numerous other SCOTUS Cases that have been used to divert power away from the States like an IV in the arm of The Fed; some took it away, of course (US v. Lopez -1995; US v. Morrison - 2000; Nat. Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius - 2012) but the majority of governmental legislation has been feeding Leviathan. This is why the Federal Government has grown big enough to encompass everything else. Speaking in human terms…is there any area, here in 2026 America, that doesn't find its source of authority in the Federal Government? A few examples:

• They control the education of every child. Private Schools and Homeschools need to ensure their curriculum is “substantially equivalent” to the standards of the federally controlled Department of Education.

• The Federal Government is now the authority over what a marriage is; and thereby…what  constitutes a family. (Obergefell v. Hodges - 2015)

• If these weren't a blatant enough display of Federal overreach, the hubris of our Government has grown to the point that they are the ones who decide what qualifies as human life.