Bible Commandment to Pay your Taxes is a short summary of verses that support our duty and commandment to pay your taxes.
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Romans 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Romans 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Romans 13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Romans 13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
While we are under the obligation to obey the government over us, God is not foolish nor ignorant of the fact that in many governments (probably all of them) that there are thieves, wicked rulers, and people who take advantage of the common man in each of these governments. None-the-less God obligates us to not rebel against our government.
We need to qualify this as outright rebellion. While that is not allowable for believers, God also allows us and commends us to participate in that government through legal and legitimate means to influence things for the good of God. For example, running for public office, promoting a Bible issue like prolife instead of abortion etc.
Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
The believer is to be a person who supports government and is involved in government. He seeks “good government” instead of evil doing through governmental force.
1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1 Peter 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1 Peter 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1 Peter 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
The purpose of all government is here revealed. Governments are for the punishment of evildoers and praise to those who do well. There can be none of this if the government is amoral, or the government does not recognize God and God’s morality that is pressed upon mankind. Moreover, while there can be different governments around the world, each having a different concept of God and morality, this does not work well within a single government, i.e. Christianity and the muslim morality of shari law do not combine very well. They are basically dynamically opposed one to the other because the understanding of God and God’s morality is different.
Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
Luke 20:19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
Luke 20:20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
Luke 20:21 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
Luke 20:22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
Luke 20:23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
Luke 20:24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s.
Luke 20:25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
Luke 20:26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
While the will of governments and governors is to be obeyed, there are ways that God can overturn even difficult oppression from them on good people.
Luke 3:11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
Luke 3:12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
Luke 3:13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Luke 3:15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
A publican is simply a tax collector. Jesus limited what a tax collecting part of government could legitimately do as far as taking wealth from a citizen. There are limits, and these limits would be imposed by God first of all, and then also by the government itself.
Mark 12:14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
Mark 12:15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
Mark 12:16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.
Mark 12:17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.
Jesus clearly taught that we are to pay taxes, but we are not to worship government. Worship belongs to God, and our wealth should go to our concerns and responsibilities.
Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Matthew 11:20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
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