At the beginning of ROTJ, Luke sent C3PO and R2D2 to Jabba the Hutt's palace. After they gain access and are brought before Jabba, R2D2 plays Luke's message.
"Greetings, Exalted One. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and friend to Captain Solo. I seek an audience with Your Greatness to bargain for Solo's life."
While C3PO is dismayed by the entire message, Luke's plan to seek an audience with Jabba needed to be planned carefully.
Jabba was a gangster and was very powerful. Jabba controlled Tatooine and most of the Outer Rim. Luke addresses him with respect and honor. Not just because it made sense but because that was the type of person Luke was.
By acknowledging and showing deference to Jabba's authority, he hoped to "work out an arrangement which will be mutually beneficial and enable us to avoid any unpleasant confrontation."
In 1 Peter 2:17, believers are told to "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor."
Leading up to this verse, Peter said (v. 13-14), "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by Him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good."
There was a reason for this. Peter wanted believers to live lives that brought honor and praise to God. Peter continues his instructions on how believers should submit to authority in verses 18-25. Please read them.
These words about submitting to "every human institution" are challenging. Are they to be applied to democratic republics or just during the reign of an emperor or king?
Learning to show honor and respect to those in authority, when good and just or unjust, is a challenge we need to work on.
