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.