As Judea was a Roman province, it was subject to Roman law. Jews were largely second-class citizens, below full-fledged Roman citizens who exercised certain privileges. Jesus' teaching to "go the extra mile" is based on how a Roman soldier could legally force a Jew to carry his gear for him for one mile; Jesus was saying to not only go the one mile you are forced to, but willingly and cheerfully go an extra mile.

There was also taxation: "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's". Jews had to pay taxes to the Romans like anyone else, and Jesus recognized the (earthly) authority the Romans held.

And of course there was the Roman justice system. While the Jews normally dealt with their own internal issues, serious offenses, such as accusations of sedition or rebellion against Roman authority, were dealt with harshly and swiftly, especially in Judea where there had been multiple past rebellions.