Matthew 22:21 has been quoted to mean that you should obey the government. But is this interpretation accurate?
“Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”
If you look at the context of Matthew 22:21, it is easy to see that this verse was not presented as a mandate to blindly follow your government. The verse is not a mandate to to blindly be obedient to the leaders of your country.
Jesus made this statement in response to a trap that was set by the Pharisees and Herodians. They attempted to get him to reject Roman authority or to alienate his Jewish followers. His response dodged the trap and affirmed that people should fulfill their civic duties, but it also recognized that God is where spiritual devotion and focus must be.
As such, you should pay your taxes, but you should not do things that go against your Christian faith.
Other Verses on the Government
There are other versus that talk about the importance of following government rules and respecting authority.
For example, 1 Peter 2:13 states, “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority.” This verse was written in a time when Christians truly faced hostility. These advice that he was providing was seen as to help prevent conflict with the authorities while people maintained their faith. The intent seemed to be to have Christians respect and follow government laws to maintain peace and avoid unnecessary persecution. This submission to the government, however, did not mean blind obedience. God’s higher moral law takes precedent.
In Romans 13:1 it states, “Let everyone be subject to governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” This verse indicates that governments only exist under God’s sovereignty, and thus should be respected. This verse, which is also written by Peter, raises questions such as what should a Christian do when a government enacts laws that contradict God’s moral principles. Scholars and theologians vary, but argue that the emphasis was to obey the lawful and just governance, not simply blindly follow all government actions. When oppressive regimes are in control, a Christian must still put God’s moral principles first.
These verses indicate that Christians should follow and even respect government laws. But again, the ultimate allegiance is to God. Obedience to the government should never contradict your faith and moral principles.