Bible Verses

The Best 50+ Bible Verses About Taxes

Created:
February 9, 2025
|
Updated:
February 17, 2025
|
Author:
Joseph Cox

Taxes have always been a part of life, even in biblical times. This article brings together 50 Bible verses that touch on the subject of taxes.

From Old Testament laws to New Testament teachings, these verses offer a range of perspectives. Some provide guidance, while others offer reflections on the role of taxes in society.

50 Bible Verses About Taxes

10 Bible Verses on Taxes and Obedience

Matthew 22:21
  • "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." — Matthew 22:21
  • "For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor." — Romans 13:6-7
  • "And He said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'" — Luke 20:25
  • "And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.' And they marveled at Him." — Mark 12:17
  • "When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, 'Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?' He said, 'Yes.' And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, 'What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?' Peter said to Him, 'From strangers.' Jesus said to him, 'Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.'" — Matthew 17:24-27
  • "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good." — 1 Peter 2:13-14
  • "This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the Lord." — Exodus 30:13
  • "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two." — Matthew 5:41
  • "It is a joy for the just to do justice, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity." — Proverbs 21:15
  • "Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor's provisions. But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God." — Nehemiah 5:14-15

10 Bible Verses on Fairness in Taxation

Leviticus 19:15
  • "You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor." — Leviticus 19:15
  • "You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous." — Deuteronomy 16:19
  • "Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight." — Proverbs 11:1
  • "Shall I count pure those with the wicked scales, and with the bag of deceitful weights?" — Micah 6:11
  • "Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they have prescribed to rob the needy of justice, and to take what is right from the poor of My people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless." — Isaiah 10:1-2
  • "Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by injustice, who uses his neighbor's service without wages and gives him nothing for his work." — Jeremiah 22:13
  • "Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, 'Teacher, what shall we do?' And he said to them, 'Collect no more than what is appointed for you.'" — Luke 3:12-13
  • "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone." — Matthew 23:23
  • "Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth." — James 5:4
  • "He has not oppressed anyone, but has restored to the debtor his pledge; has robbed no one by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry and covered the naked with clothing." — Ezekiel 18:8

10 Bible Verses on Taxes and Stewardship

1 Corinthians 4:2
  • "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." — 1 Corinthians 4:2
  • "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much." — Luke 16:10
  • "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'" — Matthew 25:14-30
  • "But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
  • "Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations." — Proverbs 27:23-24
  • "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." — Malachi 3:10
  • "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." — 1 Timothy 6:17
  • "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." — Matthew 6:19-21
  • "Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need." — Acts 4:34-35
  • "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." — 1 Peter 4:10

10 Bible Verses on Government and Taxes

Romans 13:1
  • "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." — Romans 13:1
  • "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence." — 1 Timothy 2:1-2
  • "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work." — Titus 3:1
  • "He said, 'Yes.' And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, 'What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?' Peter said to Him, 'From strangers.' Jesus said to him, 'Then the sons are free.'" — Matthew 17:25-26
  • "So Paul said, 'I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.'" — Acts 25:10-11
  • "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan." — Proverbs 29:2
  • "I say, 'Keep the king's commandment for the sake of your oath to God. Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.' Where the word of a king is, there is power; and who may say to him, 'What are you doing?'" — Ecclesiastes 8:2-4
  • "Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." — 1 Peter 2:17
  • "Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" — Matthew 22:17
  • "Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" — Luke 20:22

10 Bible Verses on Attitude Towards Taxes

Romans 12:18
  • "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." — Romans 12:18
  • "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." — Matthew 6:24
  • "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." — Philippians 4:11-12
  • "For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have." — 2 Corinthians 8:12
  • "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." — Colossians 3:23-24
  • "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." — Matthew 5:16
  • "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." — 1 Thessalonians 5:18
  • "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." — Proverbs 15:13
  • "He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity." — Ecclesiastes 5:10
  • "And He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.'" — Luke 12:15

What Does the Bible Say About Taxes

Taxes are a part of life, and the Bible has a lot to say about them. The verses we've looked at offer wisdom and guidance on how to approach taxes with a faithful heart. They remind us that paying taxes is not just a civic duty but also a spiritual one.

One key theme is obedience. Verses like Matthew 22:21 and Romans 13:6-7 emphasize the importance of giving to the government what is due. This isn't just about following laws; it's about respecting the authorities that God has put in place. Obedience in this context is a form of worship and trust in God's plan.

Fairness in taxation is another important theme. Leviticus 19:15 and Deuteronomy 16:19 remind us that justice should be at the heart of any tax system. These verses call for honesty and fairness, urging us to avoid corruption and favoritism. They teach us that a just society benefits everyone.

Stewardship is also highlighted. Verses like 1 Corinthians 4:2 and Luke 16:10 talk about being faithful with what we have. This means managing our resources wisely, including paying taxes. Good stewardship reflects our trust in God's provision and our commitment to using His gifts responsibly.

Lastly, our attitude towards taxes matters. Romans 12:18 and Philippians 4:11-12 encourage us to live peaceably and be content. Paying taxes can be seen as a way to contribute to the common good. A positive attitude helps us see taxes not as a burden but as a way to support our community.

How to Apply These Bible Verses About Taxes

Applying Bible teachings about taxes in real life can help us live more faithfully and responsibly. These verses offer practical wisdom that can guide our daily actions and attitudes.

  • Start your day with a prayer for wisdom and guidance in managing your finances, including paying taxes.
  • Be honest in all your financial dealings. Avoid shortcuts or dishonest practices, even if they seem beneficial in the short term.
  • Set aside a portion of your income for taxes as soon as you receive it. This helps you stay prepared and reduces stress when tax time comes.
  • Get involved in community discussions about fair taxation. Your voice can help promote justice and fairness in the tax system.
  • Reflect on your attitude towards taxes. Try to see them as a contribution to the common good rather than a burden.

Remember, God is with you in every aspect of your life, including your finances. Trust in His plan and let your faith guide your actions. For more prayers and Bible verses, visit PrayersFor or try our Bible Verse Generator to deepen your understanding and faith.

Start Your Day with Faith and Inspiration!
Sign up to receive a daily prayer and Bible verse straight to your inbox. Begin each morning with words of hope and guidance.
Thank you! 🙏
Oops! Something went wrong, please try again.
OTHER RELATED PRAYERS & VERSES