During this tax day, I thought I should challenge you to put some thoughts about taxes.
24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
26 “From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” – Matthew 17:24-27
Although Temple tax is different than the tax that we pay our government, would the Christians be also exempt from tax? I heard from a leader of a ministry that Christians are tax-exempt because they are children of the King of kings. All authorities in heaven and on earth and all creation is under God. This means that the government is under God. Therefore, Christians are tax-exempt. Right?
Here’s what Apostle Paul said about the government tax. 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 13:6-7
In Romans 13:1-5, Paul expressed that God established the government but not the sins and abuses of those in power. Verses 6 and 7 specifically point our attention to paying taxes to government. Notice the word pay as a debt. By paying taxes, we give our support to the power, however, we also receive the blessings of the authority. So by paying taxes, we share the power and the blessings of our government.
Now that I probably confuse you, it is still the deadline to file our taxes.
God bless,
Merlin
