Three Surprising Things Jesus Said About MoneySample

Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar

It’s fascinating that the Bible contains commentary from Jesus on taxes. Yes, believe it or not, He addressed the issue of paying taxes (to a much more corrupt government than most of us can imagine) on multiple occasions.

“But we don’t want to upset these tax collectors. So do this: Go to the lake and fish. After you catch the first fish, open its mouth. Inside its mouth you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that coin and give it to the tax collectors. That will pay the tax for you and me.” Matt 17:27 ERV

Process this: Jesus Himself paid a temple tax. Not only did Jesus tell Peter to pay the tax, but Jesus miraculously provided the finances for Peter to do so.

Elsewhere in the Gospels, Jesus answers people who directly ask him whether it is lawful to pay taxes to the Roman leader Caesar. Even though Jesus saw they were asking a trick question, He did directly instruct them about taxes:

“But Jesus saw what they were after. ‘You hypocrites!’ he exclaimed. ‘Who are you trying to fool with your trick questions? Here, show me a coin.’ And they handed him a penny.

‘Whose picture is stamped on it?’ [Jesus] asked them. ‘And whose name is this beneath the picture?’

‘Caesar’s,’ they replied.

‘Well, then,’ he said, ‘give it to Caesar if it is his, and give God everything that belongs to God.’”
Matt 22:19-21 TLB

Jesus’s final answer was to give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God.