"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's"

This is Wednesday in Easter week. In the United States, as I mentioned yesterday, it is also Tax Day. I’m not sure if any of you have ever thought about taxes being ungodly, but just what would Gad say about paying a tax?

We can go to Scripture and find an easy answer. “The Pharisees asked Jesus a question (Matthew 22:17-21), ‘Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.’ They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, ‘Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?’ ‘Caesar's,’ they replied. Then he said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.’”

Blessed Paul the Apostle was in full agreement when he taught (Romans 13:6-7), "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."

So, as much as we all hate paying taxes of any kind, here are reminders that it is the Cristian thing to do. In fact, Saint Paul also said (Romans 13:2), "Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves."