Does the Bible talk about paying taxes?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible discusses paying taxes in both the Old and New Testaments. God calls us to pay the taxes the government imposes. Jesus affirmed the obligation to pay taxes, stating, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God’s" (Matthew 22:17–21). Paul reinforced this teaching by instructing believers to pay taxes to governing authorities, recognizing them as ministers of God, even when those authorities are imperfect (Romans 13:6–7). Though we are ultimately citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), we are called to live as honorable citizens in our earthly locales as ambassadors of Christ (1 Peter 3:13–17; John 17:15–18). While frustrations about tax usage may arise, the Bible calls us to fulfill our earthly responsibilities. Doing so reflects God's character through our integrity and faithfulness in all areas of life.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Israelites were commanded to pay a half shekel as a temple tax (Exodus 30:13–16). This tax was a fixed amount paid annually by every male over the age of twenty.
• The Israelites were also instructed to give tithes—ten percent of their produce and livestock (Leviticus 27:30). These tithes supported the Levitical priesthood, the poor, and religious festivals.
• In Jeremiah 29:7, the exiled Israelites were instructed to seek the welfare of the city and to pray for it. By extension, this would include complying with local governance, and thus taxes.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Tax collectors were hated in Bible times (Matthew 11:19; 21:31–32; Luke 3:12–13). Often this is because they were viewed as traitors to Israel and/or because they took more than required. Even if we live in a nation where taxes are collected fairly, most people dislike having to pay them. Many also wonder if those taxes are used appropriately. It is challenging to give our hard-earned money to the government and watch how those finances are used, especially when we see government expenditures that appear frivolous or ineffective. Even more difficult is when our taxes are used to fund things that are clearly anti-biblical or morally reprehensible. Still, we are called to pay taxes to legitimate government entities who have authority over us.
• In an effort to trap Jesus into saying or doing something unlawful, the Pharisees asked him: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" They must have thought that on the one hand, Jesus could surely not condone paying taxes to a government like Rome, which was wicked in many ways. At the same time, could He condone breaking a law? But Jesus saw through their motives and gave them a brilliant answer: "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Matthew 22:17–21). Not only did He deftly avoid being trapped by their false dichotomy, Jesus taught a valuable lesson. Money is earthly, temporary, and not valuable in comparison to the kingdom of God.
• Paul also taught about paying taxes: "For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed" (Romans 13:6–7). The Roman government was wicked, and during Paul's life, it was ruled by Nero, who was one of the worst emperors Rome ever saw. But the whole system depended on taxes, and it supported the Jews as well as the Romans. The people owed taxes to their government, just as we do. We are to be obedient to the government as long as it does not cause us to sin (Romans 13:1–7).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Paying taxes can be a challenging topic, especially when we see our hard-earned money going to a government that may not always align with our values. However, the Bible emphasizes our responsibility to pay taxes as part of our commitment to God and society. In Romans 13:6–7, Paul instructs us to pay what we owe to governing authorities, recognizing them as ministers of God, even if the government is imperfect. This calls us to approach our tax obligations with a spirit of submission, understanding that doing so honors God’s order in and control over our lives. While we may seek legal ways to minimize our tax burden, we must not let our frustrations justify evading our responsibilities. Instead, we should remember that our ultimate allegiance is to God and that by fulfilling our duties as citizens, we reflect His character in the world, demonstrating integrity and faithfulness.

UNDERSTAND

• Governments are instituted by God, and we are called to give them what is due them, including taxes.
• Paying our taxes fulfills our civil responsibilities and reflects God’s character to the world.
• Although tax money may be used for ungodly things, governments will give an account for how they used it, while we will give an account to how we followed God’s command to pay our taxes.

REFLECT

• How do we reconcile our frustrations about tax usage with the biblical mandate to pay our taxes as a reflection of our commitment to God?
• How can our approach to fulfilling our tax responsibilities demonstrate integrity and faithfulness to God?
• How does understanding that governing authorities are viewed as "ministers of God" influence our perspective on paying taxes, especially when those authorities may not align with our values?

ENGAGE

• Sometimes moral arguments about better uses for our money, or not wanting to contribute to immoral practices, are used by conscientious people as a reason not to pay taxes. But this is not biblical. Instead of avoiding paying taxes, in what ways can we actively seek to influence how our tax money is used for the betterment of our communities?
• What specific examples can we find in the Bible where paying taxes contributed to the welfare of society or the church?
• How do the teachings of Jesus and Paul regarding taxes inform our views on civic responsibilities in today's context?