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Don’t tax the taxman
The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach –
Acts 1:1
“…Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours." –
Matt 17:27
“…Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.” –
Matt 22:21
Though this essay is all about Taxes and our need to pay them, I would like to take this opportunity to
highlight one of the
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exemplary aspects of Jesus’ ministry, which is related to the subject, I am dwelling
upon, this time around. I have made a note of this in my Preamble, too.
Aren’t we living in an age when there is so much of emphasis on walking the talk that is to say we ought to practice
what we preach? While that is good, what is commendable is the remarkably different style of Jesus’ ministry as the
first of the above-captioned scripture portion
(Acts 1:1) bears out in ample measure. Look at the sequencing of the
words in the Said Biblical verse…Do precedes Teach and not vice versa, which is to say that Jesus was talking his walk
and not the other way around. In other words, he was preaching only what he practiced, no wonder there was so much of
authority and conviction in his sermons that, it left the crowd dazed
(Matt 7:28 and 29).
Even, when it came to taxes, we see the same pattern emerging in Jesus’ ministry. He paid them duly
(Matt 17:27) and
then taught the people to do the same
(Matt 22:21). Also kindly note that his teaching came at a time, when there was
resentment all around in the Jewish community to pay taxes to the foreign Roman government for it not only pinched their
purse but pointed painfully to their subjection to a ‘heathen’ (in snobbish Jewish parlance) government. With a possibility
of public backlash looming large (that is exactly what the jealous Jewish leaders who brought up this dicey issue before
him wanted – Matt 22:15-17), Jesus’ put across his words wisely stating in no uncertain terms, that we ought not to
shortchange the Government in the same way, we ought not to shortchange our Creator, in any realm.
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Let’s also look at the Biblical teaching on the same subject, elsewhere in the Bible. For instance
Romans 13:6-7 states…
“Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in
what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them,
and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.”
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These words were penned by apostle Paul, at a time Roman government's (headed by half-insane Emperor Nero)
disposition at all things Christian was anything but friendly.
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If Jesus and his apostles' exhorted people to pay their taxes duly to even Governments’ perceived as
‘antagonistic’ to God’s people, then how much more binding it is on us to pay our taxes more promptly
to Governments’ which are headed by wise, gentle leaders who have peoples' interest paramount in their
hearts.
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So the Biblical mandate on taxes is very clear. WE OUGHT TO PAY OUR TAXES, PROMPTLY. Anything
short of this would displease Him.
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Suresh Manoharan |
The list of essays to follow
- Employer satisfaction nay... delight
- Capital Punishment
- Environmental issues
- Social drinking?
- What about "Capitation fees"?
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