Bible Questions Answered:
“...so we have a real problem in our country about taxes, what do you think the Bible might say?”
Gregory/ Seattle, Washington
Bible Answer:
Yes the Bible does address the subject of taxes.
Matthew 17:24-27 KJV
24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
26 Peter saith unto Him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for Me and thee.
Besides Roman tax, among the Jews, it was a known that when a man turned 20 years old, he of necessity had to pay a temple tax of half a shekel. (In today's currency, 1 shekel approximately equals $ .25.)
Exodus 30:11-16 NLT
11 Then the Lord said to Moses,
12 “Whenever you take a census of the people of Israel, each man who is counted must pay a ransom for himself to the Lord. Then no plague will strike the people as you count them.
13 Each person who is counted must give a small piece of silver as a sacred offering to the Lord. (This payment is half a shekel, based on the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.)
14 All who have reached their twentieth birthday must give this sacred offering to the Lord.
15 When this offering is given to the Lord to purify your lives, making you right with him, the rich must not give more than the specified amount, and the poor must not give less. (KJV "The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less...")
16 Receive this ransom money from the Israelites, and use it for the care of the Tabernacle. It will bring the Israelites to the Lord’s attention, and it will purify your lives.”
The temple had its general service expenses, plus the cost of sacrificial animals, the red heifers, scapegoats, shew-bread, incense, etc.
This Jewish tax was a "flat poll-tax," the rich and the poor, paid the same. It was said of the tax, "the rich paid no more, and the poor paid no less.*"
(Biblical Subjects - London 1879)
Though Jesus or Peter were not under obligation to pay, yet as not to offend anyone Jesus told Peter to go fishing and the fish he caught would have their tax money, one stater (one shekel), enough tax money for them both.
In these verses, again we see that our God, both knows the minds of men, Omniscience-all knowledge, and is Omnipotent-all powerful as well!
Genesis 18:14 KJV
Is any thing too hard for the Lord?
Matthew 22:15-22 KJV
15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk.
16 And they sent out unto Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites?
19 Shew Me the tribute money. And they brought unto Him a penny.
20 And He saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21 They say unto Him, Caesar's. Then saith He unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left Him, and went their way.
Romans 13:1-7 NLT
1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.
5 So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.
6 Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.
7 Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.
Salvation Prayer
