Living in the Image of God M03S07
Christ interactions regarding the temple tax convey a message of submission to lawful authority as an aspect of human relationship with God. He chose to pay the tax despite potential grounds for objection. Submission to authority is God’s mandate conveyed through Prophet Samuel’s interactions with the people of Israel, when God delegated to government the responsibility to reign over the people and authority to execute the responsibility. Paul summarized the relationship in his letter to Romans—Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
This bible study begins a three-part series on understanding human interactions with lawful authority. We discuss Christ interactions regarding the temple tax to understand the basis for submission to lawful authority and assessing potential grounds for objection. We see that he chose to pay the tax despite recognizing potential grounds for objection. We begin the series with a discussion of the basis for submission to lawful authority.
We see that submission to lawful authority is rooted in God’s mandate conveyed through interactions between Prophet Samuel and the people of Israel, when God approved a government based on kingship for Israel. He delegated to government the responsibility to reign over the people and authority to execute the responsibility: “Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights” [1 Samuel 8:9].
As we discuss in a previous bible study under Authority of Government—Israel Asks for King, the responsibility and authority that God delegated to government based on the interactions include the authority to collect taxes and other revenue, raise military and security forces, own landed property, and represent the nation among other nations.
To understand the basis for submission to authority, we discuss Christ interactions regarding the temple tax and the interactions between Samuel and the people of Israel regarding their demand for a government led by king. The second session in the series will discuss respect for due process in any event of raising objections against lawful authority. The third session will discuss submission to authority despite grounds for objection: to emphasize the principle of choosing battles to avoid in order to direct effort to more fruitful objectives.
Christ Interactions Regarding Temple Tax
The interactions occurred in Capernaum. After Jesus and his disciples arrived there, the tax collectors asked Peter whether Jesus pays the temple tax [Matthew 17:24]: “…the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, ‘Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?’” Peter said yes and went inside, maybe intending to discuss the matter with Jesus. However, Jesus raised the subject first [Matthew 17:25]: “‘What do you think, Simon?’ he asked. ‘From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?’”
Peter responded that the tax collectors collect from others but not from their children. Jesus remarked that the implication is the children are exempt from taxes. Then, he instructed Peter to go and pay the tax using a miraculous funding source [Matthew 17:27]: “‘But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.’”
Through the interaction, Jesus provides a message of submission to lawful authority, even when there could be reasonable grounds for an objection against the authority. He chose to pay the tax despite recognizing reasonable grounds for an objection. By paying the tax, he provides a message that every person should submit to lawful authority. Also, by discussing the apparent unfairness in implementing the tax, he raises awareness regarding potential grounds for objection but conveys an overall message of submission to authority despite grounds for objection.
We will discuss the message in three bible study sessions. In the first session (i.e., this study), we focus on understanding the basis for submission to lawful authority. We will see that both the responsibility and authority to govern follow from God’s mandate. That is, submission to lawful authority is an aspect of human relationship with God.
The second and third sessions discuss factors to consider regarding potential objections to lawful authority. One factor is that a person has to submit to due process in raising an objection. We discuss this in the second session. The other factor, which we discuss in the third session, is that an objection may at times be better not raised even if justified. To explain, we will discuss in the third session the principle of choosing battles to avoid in order to focus effort better.
Authority of Government
The responsibility to govern a people and the authority to execute the responsibility are both mandated by God. We can understand the mandate based on interactions between Prophet Samuel and the people of Israel when God approved for Israel a system of government led by a king. He delegated to the government the responsibility to reign over the people and the authority to execute the responsibility. Further, he enjoined the people to recognize and submit to the authority of government: “Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights” [1 Samuel 8:9].
At the time, Samuel was both spiritual leader and judge over Israel: he guided them through interactions with God and in all matters requiring a leader. However, the people of Israel became increasingly dissatisfied with their form of leadership as time approached for a leadership transition. They asked Samuel to appoint a king for them, with the expectation that their dissatisfaction with the current form of leadership will be resolved through the appointment of a king: “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have” [1 Samuel 8:5]. The request displeased Samuel. However, God told him to honor the request, establish a formal relationship between the king and the people, and explain the relationship to the people.
As we discuss previously under Authority of Government—Israel Asks for King, the interactions established a government led by king, delegated to the government the function and authority of reigning over the people, and defined the responsibilities of a people to their government and authority of the government to compel performance of the responsibilities. The government responsibilities include administration of justice equally to all, representing the nation among other nations, and leading the nation in its battles. The authority of government over the people includes the authority to collect taxes and other revenue, raise military and security forces, own landed property, and represent the nation in international relationships.
Therefore, government authority comes from God and belongs to the people. The government holds the authority on behalf of the people for the purpose of performing its responsibilities. Because God is the source of government authority, respect and obedience to government are part of God’s mandate. Thus, submission to lawful authority is an aspect of human relationship with God.
Basis for Submission to Authority
Submission to lawful authority derives from the people-versus-government relationships based on interactions between Prophet Samuel and the people of Israel [1 Samuel 10:25]: “Samuel explained to the people the rights and duties of kingship. He wrote them down on a scroll and deposited it before the Lord…”
Also, the relationship is an aspect of the individual responsibility for peace that Christ described at the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” [Matthew 5:9].
Further, Apostle Paul describes the relationship in his letter to Romans [Romans 13:1]: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” He continues [Romans 13:6–7]: “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”
Summary of What We Learned
Christ interactions regarding the temple tax convey a message of submission to lawful authority as an aspect of human relationship with God. He chose to pay the tax despite potential grounds for objection.
Submission to authority is God’s mandate conveyed through Prophet Samuel’s interactions with the people of Israel, when God delegated to government the responsibility to reign over the people and authority to execute the responsibility.
Paul summarized the relationship in his letter to Romans—Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.