疯客直播

Getting your player ready...

By Dean Kelly

This past Monday was 鈥淭ax Day鈥� in America. I don鈥檛 know anyone who loves Tax Day. I鈥檓 not sure the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) workers even like it. But a dislike for paying taxes is by no means a new one.

Tax collectors in the time of Jesus were despised. Often they cheated the taxpayers by collecting more than the actual tax and keeping it. So, when the first century Jewish people spoke of wicked people they would say, 鈥淭ax Collectors (publicans) and sinners.鈥� They condemned Jesus for eating with these 鈥渁wful鈥� people.聽

With that background the Bible writers record an attempt to trap Jesus made by the Pharisees and Herodians. They asked if the people should pay taxes. They figured that if Jesus said, 鈥測es,鈥� that the people would turn against Him. If he said, 鈥渘o,鈥� then they could report Him as in rebellion to the Roman government. They felt that surely they had Him this time. Note this exchange:

The disciples asked, 鈥溾�楽hall we pay, or shall we not pay?鈥� But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, 鈥榃hy do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.鈥� So, they brought it. And, He said to them, 鈥榃hose image and inscription is this?鈥� They said to Him, 鈥淐aesar鈥檚.鈥� And Jesus answered and said to them,聽 鈥淩ender to Caesar the things that are Caesar鈥檚, and to God the things that are God鈥檚.鈥� And they marveled at Him鈥� (Mark 12:15-17).

Now we are compelled to pay taxes to the government or face consequences. We are invited to render to God what is His. The gift of Jesus on the cross can only be effective in our lives if we render to God our faithful obedience to His marvelous gospel. Pay your taxes like you should. But, above all, give yourself to God.

Dean Kelly is minister at Highland Home Church of Christ.