While the Bible only mentions taxes directly in a few places, it has a lot to say about money in general – how we should approach it, think about it, and use it. The Bible repeatedly reminds us to keep money in its rightful place. For instance, 1 Timothy 6:10 warns that the love of money leads to all kinds of evil, and Matthew 6:21 says that whatever we treasure most captures our heart. Looking at our financial world through a lens of biblical stewardship helps us keep it all in check, and provides some helpful scaffolding to shape the conversation about taxes.
Biblical stewardship essentially says everything we have ultimately belongs to God, and we are the caretakers. With this in mind, there are four key principles that repeatedly pop up whenever the Bible mentions taxes:
- Demonstrating obedience to the governing authorities
- Choosing integrity
- Seeking wisdom
- Living from a higher allegiance to God
Four passages, four important messages
There are four passages of scripture that most definitively provide guidance on how a Christian should approach taxation.
1. Matthew 22:15–22
Throughout His life, Jesus was often challenged by the religious leaders. They were always looking for a way to trap Him on a technicality to prove He was a heretic. This story records a Pharisee’s question about taxes.
“Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap Him by what he said. So they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’
Perceiving their malicious intent, Jesus said, ‘Why are you testing me, hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ They brought him a denarius. ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’ He asked them. ‘Caesar’s,’ they said to him. Then He said to them, ‘Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.”
Jesus’ famous response to the Pharisees’ trick question — “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s” — sets the tone for a balanced Christian approach that includes:
- Practice civic responsibility: Embracing the notion that tax paying is simply part of living in a society and recognizing the legitimate role of government.
- Keep your spiritual priority: While taxes go to earthly rulers, our ultimate loyalty belongs to God. The coin bore Caesar’s image, but people bear God’s image — so we owe Him our lives and worship.
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Exercise wisdom: Jesus masterfully avoided a political trap and taught that being a faithful believer doesn’t mean rejecting civil duties.
2. Romans 13:1–7
As believers, we pledge our deepest allegiance to God and His kingdom, but that doesn’t mean we don’t also follow the rules of earthly kingdoms. In this passage, Paul tells us how to strike that delicate balance:
“Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval.
For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.”
Paul expands on this, urging believers to:
- Respect government as God’s servant: Authority is seen as part of God’s order. Resisting it (including tax evasion) is opposing God’s arrangement.
- Pay taxes with a clear conscience: Not just out of fear of punishment, but because it’s the right thing to do before God.
- Practice civic obedience. Recognize that governments maintain justice and order.
3. Matthew 17:24–27
This passage details a remarkable miracle Jesus performed to illustrate His point. In response to a tax collector challenging Jesus’ integrity, He instructed Peter to catch a fish in the lake, open its mouth, and find a coin to pay a temple tax!
“When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax approached Peter and said, ‘Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?’ ‘Yes,’ he said. When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers?’ ‘From strangers,’ he said. ‘Then the sons are free,’ Jesus told him. ‘But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to them for me and you.’”
In this story Jesus demonstrated how we can:
- Practice civic responsibility. He acknowledged the obligation, even though technically, as the Son of God, He was exempt from the temple tax.
- Choose integrity. While He shouldn’t have had to pay, Jesus did it anyway to avoid offense, teaching humility and peacemaking.
- Trust God’s provision. His miracle of the coin in the fish’s mouth illustrates God’s provision for obligations and Jesus’ willingness to meet civic expectations without compromising His divine identity.
4. Luke 3:12–14
This final passage turns the topic of taxes on its head – addressing the tax collector directly rather than the tax payer. God wants us to know that living with integrity and morality applies to everyone – even, and at most times especially, to those in leadership. Here are John the Baptist’s instructions to tax collectors:
“Even tax collectors came to be baptized. ‘Teacher,’ they asked, ‘what should we do?’ ‘Don’t collect any more than you are required to,’ he told them. Then some soldiers asked him, ‘And what should we do?’ He replied, ‘Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.’”
John the Baptist spoke directly to this group known for corruption. He didn’t ask them to quit their jobs as tax collectors but to:
- Act justly. No extortion, no greed.
- Demonstrate integrity. This supports the idea that Christians should fulfill their roles in society ethically, whether they are taxpayers or tax collectors.
Pay from a place of gratitude
Woven throughout each of the passages above, you can easily see that in God’s economy, paying your taxes is part of:
- Submitting to His ordained authority
- Fulfilling your earthly responsibility
- Keeping your ultimate devotion to God
- Accepting that taxes are connected to provision
As with everything, when it comes to paying taxes, God is mostly concerned about our heart, including our posture toward money. Paying (or collecting) taxes provides an opportunity to act with wisdom and humility, even when systems are flawed or burdensome.
When we have a Kingdom mindset, we can fulfill our civic obligations from a place of integrity with a clean conscience, not just because we want to avoid punishment. It allows us to demonstrate our commitment to living justly and generously, knowing that God sees how we deal with money and how we treat others. And finally, the effort of paying taxes reminds us that God provided those resources in the first place, which should fill our hearts with gratitude.
If you have questions about how this approach can translate directly to your taxes, our team is here to dive into the practicalities with you. We can help you find creative and strategic ways to fulfill your obligations while avoiding overpayment – and structure your finances in a way that honors God and provides for your family. Take a look at our services, and contact us to book an appointment.
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