Your taxes are due today! Like it or not. But it is biblical.
Let’s break down what Jesus said in Matthew 22 after the Pharisees tried to entangle Him in his words.
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After a flattering introduction the pharisees ask Jesus a problematic question. Can you believe it? They got a group together both, Pharisees and Herodians, and worked together to plot against Jesus. Their hatred of him was evident because they were willing to put aside their own differences for the sake of uniting against the Lord. Their plotting led them to approach Jesus with flattery as they hoped He would be insecure enough or foolish enough to be impressed with their shallow praise.
The group asked, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Jesus’ dilemma with this question was simple. If He said that taxes should be paid, He could be accused of denying the sovereignty of God over Israel (making Himself unpopular with the Jewish people). If He said that taxes should not be paid, He made Himself an enemy of Rome.
Jesus’ answer was simple. “Whose image and inscriptive is this?” This wise answer shows that He was in complete control. “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. Jesus affirmed that the government makes legitimate requests of us.
His answer is two fold:
We are responsible to give what is due to civil and national governments.
But more than anything we are to be responsible to God in all things.
Render therefore… and give your taxes to the government and give yourself to God!