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Tribute

Tribute refers to taxes or payments owed to governing authorities, which Scripture teaches believers should pay as part of their civic duty and submission to God-ordained government. Jesus affirmed this principle while distinguishing between earthly obligations and ultimate allegiance to God.

Overview

Tribute is a payment or tax rendered to civil authorities as an expression of respect for their God-given authority. The New Testament addresses tribute in the context of Roman rule, while the Old Testament records various tribute payments to kings. Jesus's famous teaching on tribute clarifies that believers have simultaneous obligations to earthly governments and to God.

Key Scriptures

"For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing" (Romans 13:6, ESV).

"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 13:7, ESV).

"Jesus said to them, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's'" (Matthew 22:21, ESV).

Application

Christians should faithfully meet their tax obligations to civil authorities as an act of submission to God's order, while maintaining that ultimate allegiance belongs only to Him.

Scripture References 40

Romans 13:6 Romans 13:7 2 Chronicles 17:11 2 Chronicles 9:14 Matthew 22:15 Matthew 22:16 Matthew 22:17 Matthew 22:18 Matthew 22:19 Matthew 22:20 Matthew 22:21 Matthew 22:22 Mark 12:13 Mark 12:14 Mark 12:15 Mark 12:16 Mark 12:17 Matthew 17:24 Matthew 17:25 Matthew 17:26 Matthew 17:27 Luke 3:12 Luke 3:13 Luke 5:27 Luke 2:1 Joshua 16:10 Judges 1:30 Judges 1:33 Judges 1:35 2 Kings 23:33 2 Kings 23:35 Luke 2:2 Deuteronomy 17:17 Judges 1:30 Judges 1:31 Judges 1:32 Judges 1:33 Matthew 17:24 Matthew 17:25 Matthew 17:26

Full Topical Reference List 99 total — Nave's Topical Bible

All saints exhorted to pay

Romans 13:6 Romans 13:7

By Arabians to Jehoshaphat

2 Chronicles 17:11

By Arabians to Solomon

2 Chronicles 9:14

Christ showed to the Pharisees and Herodians the propriety of paying

Mark 12:13 Mark 12:14 Mark 12:15 Mark 12:16 Mark 12:17 Matthew 22:15 Matthew 22:16 Matthew 22:17 Matthew 22:18 Matthew 22:19 Matthew 22:20 Matthew 22:21 Matthew 22:22

Christ to avoid offence wrought a miracle to pay for himself and Peter

Matthew 17:24 Matthew 17:25 Matthew 17:26 Matthew 17:27

Collected by the Publicans

Luke 3:12 Luke 3:13 Luke 5:27

Decree of Augustus for

Luke 2:1

Exacted from all conquered nations

2 Kings 23:33 2 Kings 23:35 Joshua 16:10 Judges 1:30 Judges 1:33 Judges 1:35

First levied in Judea when Cyrenius was governor

Luke 2:2

Forbidden to levy unnecessary or oppressive

Deuteronomy 17:17

From conquered nations

2 Kings 15:19 2 Kings 23:35 Joshua 16:10 Judges 1:30 Judges 1:31 Judges 1:32 Judges 1:33 Luke 2:1 Luke 2:2 Luke 2:3 Luke 2:4 Luke 2:5 Matthew 17:24 Matthew 17:25 Matthew 17:26 Matthew 17:27 Matthew 22:15 Matthew 22:16 Matthew 22:17 Matthew 22:18 Matthew 22:19 Matthew 22:20 Matthew 22:21 Matthew 22:22

Gold and silver

2 Kings 23:33 2 Kings 23:35

Labour

1 Kings 5:13 1 Kings 5:14 1 Kings 9:15 1 Kings 9:21

Often oppressed the people with

1 Kings 12:4 1 Kings 12:11

Our Lord falsely accused of forbidding to pay

Luke 23:2

Persons enroled for, in the native place of their tribe and family

Luke 2:3 Luke 2:4 Luke 2:5

Priests and Levites exempted from

Ezra 7:24

Produce of land, &c

1 Kings 4:7 1 Samuel 8:15

Set officers over

1 Kings 4:6 1 Kings 4:7 2 Samuel 20:24

Sometimes exacted by kings from their own subjects

1 Samuel 8:10 1 Samuel 8:11 1 Samuel 8:12 1 Samuel 8:13 1 Samuel 8:14 1 Samuel 8:15 1 Samuel 8:16 1 Samuel 8:17

The Jews required to pay half a shekel to God as

Exodus 30:12 Exodus 30:13 Exodus 30:14 Exodus 30:15 Exodus 30:16

Was paid in Roman coin

Matthew 22:19 Matthew 22:20

Was resisted by the Galilaeans under Judas of Galilee

Acts 5:37 Luke 13:1

When oppressive frequently led to rebellion

1 Kings 12:14 1 Kings 12:15 1 Kings 12:16 1 Kings 12:17 1 Kings 12:18 1 Kings 12:19 1 Kings 12:20

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