Bible Verses About Taxes

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Direct passage for the temple-tax piece of money.

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Core command to render what is due

Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

Luke's tribute question.

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

Parallel question in Matthew

They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

Core gospel wording behind the doctrine

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

Direct gospel wording of the command to render to Caesar.

And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.

Parallel coin image detail in Mark.

And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

Parallel gospel wording

And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

Question form behind the tribute teaching

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

Direct temple-tax question in Matthew.

Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.

Coin image detail from the gospel account.

Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

Matthew's tribute coin wording.

He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

Jesus' question about the kings of the earth

For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Explains the duty in Romans 13

And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.

Temple exemption law; not about Christian taxes.

And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.

Temple offerings, not taxes.

And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

Tithes to Levites, not taxes.

And Moses gave the tribute, which was the LORD'S heave offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:

Offerings and tithes, not taxes.

Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest.

Levitical tithes, not taxes.