Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

When Jesus said, "Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and render what belongs to God to God," did he mean that we may ignore overreaching worldly taxation laws?

Matt: 22:21 ESV: "Then saith he unto them, 'Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.'"

Jesus statement in Matthew 22:21 instructs believers to fulfil their earthly obligations to authorities, such as paying taxes, while placing their ultimate loyalty and devotion, which belong to God alone, above all else.

Caesar's "things" were therefore the payments due for services rendered by the secular government, for which the government levied taxes or tribute. Despite its imperialistic nature, the Roman State provided numerous services to its subject peoples, including the construction of highways and a mail service, as well as the maintenance of civil order and protection against criminal elements. People paid for these services through taxes. This is underscored by Jesus' reference to Caesar's coin, called "the head tax coin."​—Mt 22:19. "Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a denarius."

This principle enabled the early Christians (and Christians since then) to maintain a proper balance in their relations with the two authorities, that of the civil governments and that of God.

How do we follow Jesus' direction? We submit to the authority of the government under which we live by obeying its laws, respecting its officials, and paying the taxes it levies. 

GOD'S WORD tells us to be obedient to human governments in Rom. 13:7: "Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."

In his book The Rise of Christianity, historian E. W. Barnes wrote: "Whenever, for centuries to come, a Christian was in doubt as to his duty towards the State, he turned to Christ's authoritative teaching. He would pay taxes: the dues levied might be heavy—they became intolerable before the collapse of the Western Empire—but the Christian would endure them. He would likewise accept all other State obligations, provided he was not called upon to render unto Caesar the things that belonged to God."

Iin his commentary on Romans chapter 13, Professor F. F. Bruce writes:""It is plain from the immediate context, as from the general context of the apostolic writings, that the state can rightly command obedience only within the limits of the purposes for which it has been divinely instituted—in particular, the state not only may but must be resisted when it demands the allegiance due to God alone.""

A footnote to Romans 13:1 in the Oxford NIV [New International Version] Scofield Study Bible observes: "This does not mean that he is to obey regulations that are immoral or anti-Christian. In such cases, it is his duty to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29; cp. Dan. 3:16-18; 6:10ff)."

Conclusion

We are to fulfil our obligations to our government. And that means 3 things: We are to pay them, we are to obey them, and we are to pray for them.

People have dual obligations: to fulfil their civic duties, such as paying taxes, while prioritising their higher spiritual duty to God.

22 hours ago • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Timothy Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U. S. Army

I would say that we (as Christians) may not completely ignore or unilaterally disregard such laws (regardless of our opinion of them), since they were enacted through the functioning of government, which (as noted by Paul in Romans 13:1-7) is ultimately instituted by God.

At the same time, we in the United States have the right to protest taxes that we consider to be excessive or unjust, and to contest them through the legal system, in order to be relieved of the burden of paying them.

20 hours ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report