Romans 13:6-7 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 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.
I don’t know of anyone who really likes to pay taxes, but it has become part of modern life. Even back in the first century, people had to pay taxes to government authorities. Sometimes, those taxes were quite high and burdensome. When the religious authorities tried to trap Jesus about paying taxes, he told them to pay what belongs to Caesar and pay what belongs to God (Matthew 22:21). He did not dispute or reject the government, even the Romans. He was apolitical and focused on the kingdom of God. We must follow that example. Pay our taxes and focus on the mission Jesus has given us. Paul says that paying taxes helps the authorities “minister” or serve God in the positions God has allowed them to be in. God will hold these officials accountable for the decisions they make God gives these authorities the opportunity to serve for righteousness sake. Sadly, many turn away from the ways of God and will be held accountable for it. Paul is urging the Christian in Rome, the center of the Empire with many officials and people who must be honored, all gathered in that city. By honoring officials and paying taxes, the Christians would be able to live a quiet life, avoid persecution, and share their witness. If they did not pay taxes, they were unnecessarily causing hardship upon themselves. Their persecution would not be for the sake of Christ but out of selfishness.
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