19 Jun 2015
Matthew 17:27
Matthew 17:27: “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.”
I think it’s impossible to look at the Bible and say “See, the Bible says that Christians don’t have to pay taxes.” If there is anyone who could have made the claim that he did not have to pay taxes I think that person would be Jesus. After all, He is God Himself, King of Kings and Lord of Lords! But yet here we see Him offering tribute money to Rome.
I think Jesus sets a pretty clear example. He could have argued that He was greater than Rome, or that the tax did not apply to God, or any number of things, but He chose not to. Instead He paid it – and had Peter do the same. If Jesus had to pay taxes then we do as well. After all, we are certainly not greater than Jesus!