A Christian by definition is one who lives a Christ-like life. Jesus Christ is his or her example in all that there is to do and not to do. I must also add that Jesus Christ is the highest authority in the life of Christian. This means that what Jesus Christ teaches takes precedence beyond what Paul, Peter, Timothy or any Bible character says. Thus it is not surprising that Paul once said, ‘imitate me as I imitate Christ’ (1 Corinthians 11:1). This is to say that if for any reason you are confused with what Paul teaches, you can move on to check what Jesus taught on that subject.
In this post (sermon) we will consider how Jesus Christ responded to laws of where He lived concerning tax payments. We will then answer questions relating to tax and license payment requirements that affect citizens of any particular country including Christians.
Jesus is faced with the question of paying tax at least twice in the Gospel of Matthew. One incident is recorded in Matthew 17:24-27 and the other in Matthew 22:17-22.
Instances where Jesus was called to pay tax
The temple tax
Matthew 17:24 -27:
24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” 25 “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” 26 “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
In this instance, we learn that Jesus was a faithful tax payer. In those days there was Temple Tax that people of Jesus calibre had to pay. A question was raised about Jesus’ position on this obligation and Peter affirmed that Jesus did pay tax. However, we also learn that Jesus knew that He was not a son of an earthly king, and therefore He was expected to pay the tax. Lastly, from this first instance we learn that failure to pay taxes is an offense. Christians should by all means avoid to cause any form of offense.
Paying to Caesar what is due to him
Matthew 22:17-22:
17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not?”18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
In this portion we learn about Jesus fully supporting the notion of paying tax to the authority of the time and at this time it was Caesar.
A very important point to note is that the tax Jesus paid in these two instances is not related to His income but for just being a citizen. However, we can deduce from Jesus’ behavior that even if He was earning some sort of income, whether as an employee or as a business owner, He would pay tax. I strongly believe that out of many reasons He would pay, one would be to avoid offending the tax collectors.
Application
It is unfortunate that paying licenses and taxes is not a pleasant thing to do yet it must be done. A Christian is expected to comply and pay due tax and license fees on time or face penalties like all other citizens. Jesus Christ who is our example did not try to escape taxes or be creative about it to minimise its costs.
Out of the many statutory payments that citizens of my country are expected to pay there are two that I want to focus on; television license fees and side hustle taxes.
Television license fees
In my country, Eswatini, the annual television license fee is affordable to the point that it is easy to forget it when you budget. Many can afford to pay without even feeling the pinch. The sad reality is that Christians that do not pay their annual television licenses view reminders, often more than twice a day, right on the television they are watching.
Income tax from side hustles
I believe that all governments are interested in their dues from every tax payer, it does not matter the amount that must be paid. Christians are hustlers too yet some do not account for their income with the tax collector. I know many that sell baked food, sell homemade clothes, retail as hawkers, produce farm products and many more yet many of them do not declare and pay tax.
I believe that the reason some governments do not go out chasing for individuals who evade taxes is because it can be expensive to do so.
We Christians know that we shall be judged on how we lived their lives while in the flesh. We also know that we are not perfect; we are sinners who are saved by grace. However, once we know what is expected of us and do nothing about it we nullify God’s grace over our lives. This is clear in the book of Hebrews 10:26, ‘If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,…’
I would therefore not dismiss the likelihood that many Christians miss Heaven because they did not pay their television licenses while on earth or that of any other type of licenses and ignored doing side hustle financial accounts so that they can pay tax collector dues. Creative accounting is another culprit which is a topic for another day.
I therefore want to remind Christians that nothing unclean shall enter into Heaven as recorded in Revelation 21:27. If you are a Christian and want to make it to Heaven, do the right thing.
Who has a right to exhort Christians?
An immediate assumption would be that the one who does things right has the right to exhort others. That assumption is not correct. Christians are called to help each other to live a Christ-like life. We are all on the narrow way that leads to Heaven and therefore should be advising, coaching and guiding each other. Jesus warns that many will want to go through this narrow gate but few will manage.
A Christian who does not want to listen and do right has himself or herself to blame when they are faced with rejection on the judgment day. Judgment day is what Christians believe in as guided by the Holy Bible.
Corrective action
Before I go into more details on how to correct this as a Christian, I want to point out two things:
- This is not a message of condemnation but of exhortation to fellow brethren.
- God Himself stands ready to help you pay your dues. You have to ask Him for assistance in paying your debts.
Moving on to the required action, once you realize your mistake, you have to consult the respective authority on how you are to make things right. You will be advised on the due penalties and all that you have to observe, which you must pay or make arrangements on how to settle your accounts.
May God help us as we take the steps to the right direction.
Be blessed.
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