15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
21 “Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22)
Neither unbelief nor difference in religion makes void the just and legal authority of officeholders nor frees the people—church authorities included—from their due obedience to them. (Westminster Confession of faith 25)
Thoughts: We are by nature rebels. We rebel against God, many rebel against their own parents, and a tendency to rebel against authorities is natural as well. This tendency to rebel should be put in check. It is not put in check by simply making more laws- such laws become too numerous or burdensome to enforce. our rebelliousness is not put in check by a larger police force and more surveillance. The people need inner motivation to listen to the government. So in Jesus' day people debated paying taxes. In other times people would say that they should not pay taxes if the government was not Christian. The Roman government eventually killed Jesus, but he said to pay them taxes anyway. Christians support the government not because they are deserving, but because God tells us to listen. So the maker of money and roads are due their taxes.
Prayer: Help me to be a good citizen for your glory, O Lord.
. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:4-7)
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