1950 This Means Everlasting Life - A2Z.org

200 "THIS MEANS EVERLASTING LIFE"
to the laws of the land simply for the sake of
escaping legal punishment . But a lover of righteousness
does not subject himself to the Superior
Authorities just to spare himself the divine wrath
and execution of judgment . He does it because it
is right and it gives him peace of heart . One's
own conscience, says the apostle, should be a force
stronger than fear to move Christians to do right .
"There is therefore compelling reason for you to
be in subjection, not only on account of that wrath
but also on account of your conscience ." This matter
of conscience should also apply to the question
of paying tribute or taxes to worldly rulers .
The apostle was writing to God's holy ones living
in Rome, and Rome was one of the great taxing
powers of ancient times . Daniel 11 :20 The holy
ones at Rome were paying taxes, and that with
good conscience : "For that is why you are also
paying tribute." Romans 13 :5, 6, NW The apostle
was also well acquainted with how at the time
that Jesus was about to be born "a decree went
forth from Caesar Augustus for all the inhabited
earth to be registered ; . . . and all people went
traveling to be registered, each one to his own
city". And Luke, Paul's close companion, records
how Jesus' foster father Joseph and his human
mother Mary complied with that decree of Caesar
and were registered .-Luke 2 :1-5, NW.
1 4 To pay the taxes levied is Christlike and therefore
can be done with good conscience toward
14 . a What did Jesus say on payment of tax to
Caesar? b What do we owe "Caesar" in payment, and
what not?