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Taxes to Rome
✦ The Gospel narratives present a positive light towards paying taxes to Rome and is a common theme between John the Baptist and Jesus. ✦ John the Baptist baptized tax collectors (Luke 3:12) and publicly proclaimed it was righteous to "collect the appointed amount." ✦ Tax collectors were noted as followers of John the Baptist (Matthew 21:32, Luke 7:29). ✦ Tax collectors were noted as followers of Jesus (Luke 15:1). ✦ Jesus was a "friend of tax collectors" (Matthew 11:19, Luke 7:34) and dined with many (or a large company of) tax collectors (Matthew 9:10, Mark 2:15, Luke 5:29). ✦ One of Jesus' disciples was a tax collector (Matthew 9:9-10) and Jesus stayed overnight with Jericho's chief tax collector, Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-7). ✦ Jesus instructed Peter to pay the half-shekel tax and not give offense to the collector (Matthew 17:24-27). ✦ Jesus publicly proclaimed "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's" (Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:25). ✦ A Jesus parable highlighted the righteousness and piety of a tax collector relative to a Pharisee (Luke 18:10-13). ✦ The Jewish people detested paying taxes to Rome – many considering the profession sinful. ✦ Jesus’ teachings and actions were well in line with Roman goals to change this attitude. |
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