Jesus’ Response to an Oppressive, Godless Government
Part 3
The question of paying taxes posed to Jesus:
First, the deceitful plot, 15-16
Second, the incriminating question, 17
Third, the condemning response, 18-21
The biblical teaching every Christian needs to understand and embrace:
Principle #1: Every Christian must submit to everything the government requires of him or her, even if what is required is oppressive, unjust (either objectively or in the eyes of the believer), or against one’s own personal standards and beliefs, as long as what the government requires is not contrary to what God requires in His word
Why Christians are to submit to all types of government:
#1: To recognize our place under the authority of God, 1
Daniel 4:32; Isaiah 41:2-4; 46:9-11
#2: To avoid resisting the authority of God, 2a, 3
Deuteronomy 21:18-21; Exodus 21:20-21; 26-27; 1 Peter 2:18-21, 22-23; 1 Peter 4:15-1
Principle #2: It is much more pleasing to God that we as Christians maintain His ordained authority structure by submitting to government, no matter how flawed it is, than to rebel against that structure even if it violates His moral standards
#3: To escape the punishment of God, 2b, 4
Genesis 9:5-6
Principle #3: From God’s standpoint, regardless of how bad any government is, any government is better than no government at all |
