To Pay or Not to Pay Taxes

 N.T.#635  "To Pay or Not to Pay Taxes"

Sept. 18, 2025 

Luke 20-Part 4 

LET IT GLOW

The scribes and chief priests knew Jesus' parable was about them. As the villains, they hated Him for it. So they plotted a way to get their hands on Him. However, they feared the crowd. They didn't give up, did they? They sent spies who pretended to be righteous to attempt to trip Jesus in His words. If they could trick Jesus into saying something treasonous, they could hand Him over to the Roman governor to be tried. (Which happened later.) the Jews did not have the power of capital punishment. (John 18:31) (verses 20-21)

So they spies:

• Pretended to acknowledge Jesus as a God-fearing teacher telling the truth. (verse 21)
• Asked if it was lawful for them to give tribute to Caesar or not.
• They knew the Law of Moses.

LET IT GROW

If Jesus answered yes, then He was on the side of the Sadducees. If He answered no, then He was an enemy of Rome. (He and His followers paid their taxes.)

What was Jesus' answer? Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and render unto God the things which belong to God. (verse 25)

This is clearly the doctrine of the separation of church and state. 

As citizens of God's kingdom we live under the authority of earthly governments for this time. We honor God when we pay our taxes. However, we don't serve governments when their law conflicts with God's. We tithe so we show our love for God and the church. Our faith trusts God to take care of us. Christians should plan their budget so they are faithful givers to both.

LET IT GO

Be faithful in little and faithful in much.

Honor God in all we do.

Give thanks for the blessings He has given to us.