Should we pay Taxes? Luke 20:20-26 When our Lord Jesus Christ was still a young boy living in Galilee, the Romans took direct control of Judea and Samaria by appointing a Roman proconsul in place of Archelaus. Archelaus was a violent man who began his rule by killing 3,000 influential people across Judea, Samaria, and Idumea. After nine years of brutal rule, he was exiled. Direct Roman rule meant the people living there were considered Romans, whether they liked it or not, and had to pay a poll tax. Most Jews living in those parts of Israel greatly resented this.
Uprisings and insurrections occurred at different times as a result of this political subjugation. A man named Judas led one rebellion that was crushed. Perhaps a different insurrection took place, which was the reason Barabbas was in prison in Jerusalem at this point in the narrative. It was this issue that the Jewish leaders used when they sent deceptive spies to seek to trap Jesus into saying something that would silence His teaching and lead to His arrest.
When a child of God is flattered and asked questions that seem innocent but are irrelevant to the current time and place or to previous topics, it is wise to take the necessary time to carefully consider the answer to give. Ask why such a question is being asked so you can discern whether there is an honest desire to understand how to suggest an appropriate action.
There are consequences to consider when the government, law, social justice, and actions become controversial. When topics like the Gospel, sin, salvation, eternal life, and the future destiny of everyone are discussed, and a question is asked out of context and seemingly “out of the blue,” there is usually a trap or a catch that can lead to an argument and a negative outcome.
With divine insight, the Lord Jesus turned the attempt to trap Him into a powerful lesson that we all need to learn. Looking beyond the words of those who asked the question, “Should we pay taxes or not?” to everyone who heard it, He exposed their duplicity and asked them: “Why do you tempt Me?” If He answered, “Yes,” the crowd would have been disappointed in Him and would not accept Him as Messiah and King. If He answered, “No,” the Roman authorities would have been informed of His response and would have had reason to arrest Him.
The question he asked, “Why do you test Me?” let the questioners and everyone else who saw the confrontation know that the Lord Jesus saw right through the entire deception. By having them produce a penny, it became clear to those watching that they used Roman money. Using Roman money, they were taking advantage of what the government provided for their use and were thus obligated to pay taxes to the authorities they served. The money they used belonged to Caesar, so they owed Him what he allowed them to use.
It is right for us to be impartial and fair to everyone, regardless of who they are. It is wrong for us to show favoritism to those who flatter us for any reason. Furthermore, we benefit from the government in many ways and are obligated to pay taxes as long as it does not conflict with our duty to God. We receive great blessings from God, and similarly, we owe Him our allegiance and loyalty for what we receive from Him. We should consider what belongs to God that we possess and whether we are using what He has given us in a way that aligns with His will and benefits His kingdom.
We belong to God ourselves because not only have we been made in His image, but we have also been redeemed by His grace. Christians are “Christ’s ones,” who have been washed from our sins by the price of His own precious blood. We are not our own now. Because we have been bought with the price of Jesus’ blood, we are to glorify Him in our bodies and spirits, which are His. Our first loyalty is to Him, who is the Sovereign of the universe, and we are to give Him what is His by right. We are also to give to those who have national sovereignty what is theirs by right.