Taxes

Taxes are payments required by a government. Israel and Rome levied taxes, and believers are told to pay what is owed to rulers.

Render unto Caesar

• Matthew 22:17-21
  ¹⁷Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cesar, or not?So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” ¹⁸But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, “You hypocrites, why are you testing Me? ¹⁹Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.Show Me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. ²⁰And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?“Whose image is this,” He asked, “and whose inscription?” ²¹They say unto him, Cesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cesar the things which are Cesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.“Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
  Show context · Read Matthew 22 →
• Mark 12:14-17
  ¹⁴And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar, or not?“Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?” ¹⁵Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.” ¹⁶And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cesar’s.So they brought it, and He asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. ¹⁷And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cesar the things that are Cesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.Then Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” And they marveled at Him.
  Show context · Read Mark 12 →
• Luke 20:22-25
  ²²Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Cesar, or no?Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” ²³But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them, ²⁴Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Cesar’s.“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they answered. ²⁵And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Cesar the things which be Cesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
  Show context · Read Luke 20 →

Paying taxes to rulers

• Romans 13:6-7
  ⁶For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. ⁷Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
  Show context · Read Romans 13 →
• 1 Peter 2:13-14
  ¹³Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, ¹⁴Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.
  Show context · Read 1 Peter 2 →

Jesus and the temple tax

• Matthew 17:24-27
  ²⁴And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?” ²⁵He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?“Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?” ²⁶Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus declared. ²⁷Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”
  Show context · Read Matthew 17 →
• Exodus 30:13-15
  ¹³This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord.Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD. ¹⁴Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord.Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD. ¹⁵The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.In making the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives, the rich shall not give more than a half shekel, nor shall the poor give less.
  Show context · Read Exodus 30 →

Tax collectors

• Luke 19:2-8
  ²And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy. ³And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature. ⁴And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, since Jesus was about to pass that way. ⁵And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.” ⁶And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.So Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed Him joyfully. ⁷And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.And all who saw this began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinful man!” ⁸And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.”
  Show context · Read Luke 19 →
• Luke 3:12-13
  ¹²Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” ¹³And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.“Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.
  Show context · Read Luke 3 →
• Matthew 9:9-11
  ⁹And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him. ¹⁰And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. ¹¹And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
  Show context · Read Matthew 9 →
• Luke 18:10-14
  ¹⁰Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ ¹³And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
  Show context · Read Luke 18 →

Heavy taxation

• 1 Kings 12:4
  Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you should lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”
  Show context · Read 1 Kings 12 →
• 1 Samuel 8:15-17
  ¹⁵And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants. ¹⁶And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.And he will take your menservants and maidservants and your best cattle and donkeys and put them to his own use. ¹⁷He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
  Show context · Read 1 Samuel 8 →

See also

• Government
• Money
• Justice
• Oppression

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.