Fourteen versions of the Bible were 'data
mined' using a computer to search for terms such as: tax;
taxes; tax collector; toll; custom; coin; tribute; money; etc,
...and Jesus. Other topics can also be found quickly and completely,
e.g. everything about Moses and commandments, Joseph & Pharaoh, or Herod
& John the Baptist, etc.
 The
question here is "Who would Jesus tax?"
Why Jesus & taxes?
1. The Charges
What were the criminal charges made against Jesus?
"They began to accuse him,
saying, "We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding
paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ,
a king." - Luke
23:2
Depending on which Bible translation
you read, there were two or three charges made against Jesus.
• Charge 1: "perverting the nation"
pervert:
to turn upside down, overturn, overthrow; Source: LawyerIntl.com
• Charge 2: "forbidding paying
taxes to Caesar"
forbid: to
command [someone] not to; Source: OneLook Dictionary
• Charge 3: "saying that he
himself is Christ, a king."
Christ:
messiah, the expected king and deliverer. Source: Merriam-Webster
Christ:
the Anointed; Savior of the World; Source: Webster's 1828 Dictionary
 
Fact: Jesus was charged with a tax crime ... "forbidding
paying taxes". But, is there any evidence for this charge?
 How
to Search the Bible with a computer
- A good tool for searching the Bible is Bible.cc (currently 15 versions), or use your favorite search tool.
- Find every Bible verse for tax. Also look for related
terms, such as taxes, custom, customs, toll, tolls, tribute,
tributes, tax collector, ...etc.
- Make a list of all these tax related verses, include names and numbers.
- Read each verse to see if the words came from Jesus, since this is about Jesus & taxes.
- Read each translation (all 15 different
versions). This will help you find and search for other terms.
- Determine what evidence exists to support the charge that Jesus was "forbidding
paying taxes".
What did Jesus teach others about taxes?
2. A Tax Lesson
When tax collectors came for the money, Jesus asked Simon...
  "What
do you think, Simon? From whom do kings on the earth collect tolls
or tributes? From their own subjects, or from foreigners?" When
he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him, "In that case,
the subjects are exempt. However, so that we don't offend them..."
- Matthew
17:25-27 (ISV)
Fact:
- Who was tax exempt?
Jesus taught his disciple Simon "the subjects are exempt"
from tolls and tributes [taxes].
- Who are subjects?
Subjects
are citizens, like Simon and Jesus.
Subjects: Cambridge Dictionary
- Who would Jesus tax?
Jesus taught, "kings on the earth" should
only tax "foreigners".
Notice Jesus said "we"...
"the subjects are exempt.
However, so that we don't offend them..."
(ISV)
Other Bible translations say...
"Therefore the children are exempt"
(WEB)
"Really, then, the sons are tax-free"
(NWT)
So, Jesus considered himself and Simon to be "subjects"
of the king (or "sons" or "children" of the king) and thus exempt from tolls
or tributes.
Wasn't this about paying a temple tax?
Jesus asked Simon about collecting taxes for "kings on
the earth".
Kings don't have to pay taxes.
Some have said since Jesus was a king, or the son of a king, he
didn't have to pay taxes, but...
Jesus said "My kingdom is not of this world."
- John 18:36
This would make Jesus a "foreigner",
which in his own teaching means taxpayer.
Jesus then tells Simon to go catch a fish and in its mouth there
will be a coin for the tax payment, then "give it to
them for me and you."
So, Jesus paid taxes.
Some have used this fish story to say that Jesus paid taxes. This
is hardly a feasible example to teach others, since Jesus did
not pay the tax from his earnings or his purse. Perhaps the important point here is that Jesus did not have, i.e. use, this money, which had engraven images, idols with self-proclaimed gods, and so violating Commandments No. 1 & 2.
(Was Jesus really saying, "They want tax money? They should go fish for it. However, so we don't offend them, you do it Peter - but tell them to wait while you get it from a fish's mouth. Then give it to them for me, and you.")
But, Simon had already committed Jesus to pay the tax.
Some say Jesus did not want to "offend them",
because Simon already told the tax collectors Jesus would pay
them. But, notice, it appears the tax collectors thought Jesus was trying to avoid them, since they had to actually ask Simon if Jesus pays his taxes. Evidently, Jesus did not intend to pay
the tax, because he was avoiding them, and they sensed it.
Notice, Jesus used a question to teach that taxes belong only upon "foreigners."
Foreigners are people who do not add to - or contribute to - a
kingdom's economy, unless they are taxed.
It's also possible the tax collectors overheard Jesus giving this
tax lesson to Simon, and they reported Jesus for being a tax protester. Maybe
Jesus had even asked the tax collectors this same question...
"What do you think? ... From whom do kings on the earth collect
tolls or tributes?"
Did Jesus also question (anger) lawyers and judges?
"How terrible it will be for you experts in the law. You have taken
away the key to knowledge. You didn't go in yourselves, and you kept out those who were trying to go in."
- Luke 11:52 ISV
Mammon?
Who was Jesus teaching?
 3.
School of Tax Collection
"Now the tax-gatherers and
the notorious sinners were everywhere in the habit of coming close
to Him to listen to Him;" -
Luke 15:1 (WNT)
Everywhere, in the habit.
Other Bible translations say...
Jesus was teaching tax collectors ...
who where "everywhere". It was a "habit". And, if tax collectors "kept coming", then the topic Jesus was teaching may well have been tax-related. What other subject would draw large groups of tax collectors? ... Higher interest?
Who did Jesus keep around for company?
4. Friends of Jesus
According to Matthew (another tax collector), Jesus said he was...
'a friend of tax collectors and
sinners!' - Matthew
11:19
Jesus admitted that tax collectors were his friends.
What did Jesus say about his tax collector friends?
"Why do you eat and drink
with the tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered
and said to them, "It is not those who are well who need
a physician, but those who are sick." - Luke
5:30-31
Jesus thought tax collectors are "those who are sick."
Why would Jesus consider tax collectors to be sick?
Was it because, Thou shall not steal? ... Or, for serving a false god, the god of mammon?
Why charge Jesus with a tax crime?
5. Interfering with Tax Collectors & Tax Collections
One possible reason for Jesus' tax charge was Zacchaeus,
a chief tax collector.
Interfering with a chief tax collector's duties could
explain why Jesus was charged with a tax crime.
Zacchaeus believed that he himself had done wrong, so he gave
half of his "goods" to the poor in an attempt
to heal his own sickness. In addition, Zacchaeus knew he had stolen
property for himself, as well as tribute for Caesar. He told Jesus...
"If I have wrongfully exacted
anything of anyone, I restore four times as much." -
Luke 19:8
(WEB)
Zacchaeus, a chief collector, was probably responsible for producing
significant revenues for the government. So, to have Zacchaeus
returning half of Caesar's tributes, plus his own commissions (interest),
to the subjects (taxpayers) would have set a bad example for his
junior tax collectors. And, many other individual tax collectors would
have also been upset with Zacchaeus and Jesus for initiating these tax refunds, costing them their own money also, which they had already
taken (exacted, stolen, forced) from taxpayers.
A second possible reason for Jesus's tax charge was Matthew,
another tax collector, and one who became Jesus' disciple.
 Jesus was disrupting the government system, acting against the Roman IRS by convincing
their tax collectors to follow him.
"As Jesus went on from there,
He saw a man called Matthew, sitting in the tax collector's booth;
and He said to him, "Follow Me!" And he got up and followed
Him." - Matthew
9:9
Matthew, a tax collector, abandoned his tax booth (gave up a well paying job) in order to follow
Jesus. Apparently, many other tax collectors also abandoned their
duties, since as shown previously, "the tax collectors and sinners kept
coming to listen to Jesus". - Luke 15:1 (ISV)
What do you think Matthew's boss said to his boss about
Matthew abandoning his duty? And, after the head boss, Pilate,
found out, surely some of these tax collectors also ended up hanging
from crosses. (Maybe it was a tax collector hanging on the cross
next to Jesus, and the week before, and the week after.)
Chief Tax Man, Pontius Pilate (local IRS head)
 Pontius
Pilate, was the Roman prefect and the head man in charge of collecting
taxes for Rome.
"The procurators' and prefects' primary functions were
military, but as representatives of the empire they were responsible
for the collection of imperial taxes" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilate
Pilate must have known that many of his imperial tax collectors
were leaving their duties to follow Jesus. He would have noticed
a lack of tax revenues coming into tribute headquarters, and would
have investigated this decline in income taxes. He would have
been very angry with Jesus for teaching the tax collectors anything
that contradicts imperial taxation, or for using parables putting tax collectors
in the same category as prostitutes.
"Truly I say to you that the
tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God
before you." - Matthew
21:31
Many of today's religious leaders will tell you, some tax collectors
were bad because some of them took more than they should.
But, Jesus didn't say only some tax collectors were sinful.
Jesus referred to the tax collectors. Perhaps
because the duty of the tax collector is a sin, taking that which
does not belong to them, while serving another master, the God
of Mammon [riches].
Notice, the Founding Fathers of the United States also knew forcing
tributes was wrong, and arranged for taxes to be shared equally. And, these taxes were to be collected from the States, not directly from its People . Read the Consitution
of the United States.
Even modern-day lawmakers believe Jesus was correct, about collecting
taxes "from foreigners". Although the
U.S. Government now takes its tax money directly from citizens,
the actual law written by lawmakers follows the teachings of Jesus,
only taxing foreigners and foreign earned incomes. (See end of this page for more, or search tax law for "excluded income", and "how to determine taxable income". See if you can find the list of taxable income. Hint: Income that is not considered tax exempt.)
Have you read U.S. tax
law?
All tax collectors take by force. (Just give it time,
they'll appear to enforce.)
People who take violate God's law - "Thou
shall not steal."
Is this why tax collectors were "everywhere in the habit
of coming close to Him to listen"? Because their own
guilty feelings brought them to Jesus to listen?
Jesus used parables to teach people. This parable put tax collectors
in the same group as "swindlers" and the "unjust"...
"The Pharisee stood and was
praying this to himself: "God,
I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust,
adulterers, or even like this tax collector."
- Luke
18:11
If Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector had "wrongfully
exacted" taxes, and harassed citizens, then it's very
likely that many junior collectors under Zacchaeus followed his
example and also wrongfully exacted taxes (like organized crime).
Jesus wasn't the only one who believed tax collectors were sinners
and sick. [Luke 19:7]
On which topic was Jesus given a "test"?
6. Holy Tax Advice
"The Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap
him in his talk.
They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying,
"Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way
of God in truth, no matter who you teach, for you aren't partial
to anyone.
Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes
to Caesar, or not?"
But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you
test me, you hypocrites?
Show me the tax money." They brought to him a denarius
[coin].
He asked them, "Whose is this image and inscription?"
They said to him, "Caesar's." Then he said to them,
"Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and
to God the things that are God's." - Matthew
22:15-21 (WEB)
Luke goes on to say...
"They couldn't make him say anything
wrong in front of the people. His answer surprised them, so they
said no more." - Luke
20:26 (GWT)
Jesus was given a "test" about paying taxes.
Apparently, Jesus had a reputation for being knowledgable on tax matters.
Things to Caesar? Things to God?
-
This was a trap, but "Jesus perceived their wickedness".
- Jesus didn't say "yes" or "no" (to avoid the trap) either of which would have been trouble for him. Answering "yes" would have meant Roman justice. Answering "no" would have angered the Jews, lost him credibility, and probably some of his followers.
Jesus didn't have Caesar's coins, and may have never used them before, since he had to ask who's picture and inscription was on the coin used for paying taxes (notice, this was a blatant and proud, in your face, response by Jesus to hypocrites, essentially saying, "I don't know, what does the tax coin look like, before I tell you?" ).
Jesus was publically admitting he never possessed Caesar's tax coins before, and so could have never paid Caesar's taxes before, and was proud enough to say so in public, to hypocrites who obviously did, because they possessed the tax coin.
- "Show me the tax money ... Whose is this image and inscription?"
This is an example of the coin thought to be seen by Jesus. But, many of Tiberius' minted coins had the same inscription. Of course, Tiberius Caesar's coin had a picture of
himself, but what the Bible doesn't say is the inscription, both front and back.
 Inscription on front:
TI[berius] CAESAR DIVI AVG[usti] F[ilius] AVGVSTVS,
"Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the Divine Augustus"
Back of coin:
Image of the Caesar's mother Livia depicted as a goddess (called Pax), and the inscription:
PONTIF[ex] MAXIM[us], "chief priest"
Caesar's coin was claiming him to be the son of two gods, and also chief priest. This is why Jews considered Caesar's coin (and Caesar) to be blasphemous. And, why they needed moneychangers (international bankers, by definition) at the temple. A Jew didn't want to carry this coin. And, as you can see, Caesar was rubbing it in the noses of Jews when it came time to pay him a tribute, a tax with his own coin, so declaring their willful obedience and recognition to him as god.
So, the question which was actually being posed to Jesus, by hypocrites, was, Should we serve your God, or the man on this coin who claims that he is god, the son of two gods? (i.e. Should we obey your God, and/or the Caesar-god?) Notice, the answer given by Jesus was really a choice, for each person to decide for themselves to whom they belonged.
And notice, Young's Literal Translation
"Give back the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God." - Mark 12:17
- Would Jesus break the first and second commandment? Caesar's coin was considered blasphemous by the Jews for having
the "graven image" of a false god, and because the
coin included an inscription saying Caesar was the son of a god. So, assuming Jesus knew the commandments, "You
shall have no other gods", and "Thou shalt not make thee
any graven image (idol), or any likeness", and "Thou
shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them"
[Deuteronomy 5:8],
then would Jesus break the first and second commandments to make use of a "graven image", or "serve"
or "bow down" to this false god by offering
a tribute to his system? Apparently not, because Jesus didn't use these coins, and didn't even know what they looked like. He had already rendered, given back.
- If Jesus was understood to say "Yes, pay your taxes to
Caesar", then why was he charged with "forbidding
paying taxes"? Is it possible for a person to be publically charged
with forbidding paying taxes [Luke 23:2], if that person had already stated his position,
in public, as being "Yes, pay your taxes"?
- "Things" that are Caesar's, and "things"
that are God's? Look all around you. Can you find anything which God did not make?
If God made every thing, doesn't every thing
belong to God, including Caesar? Wasn't this the point of Jesus' answer? That everything belongs to God. Indeed, everything will still belong to God long after Caesar's
greatest grandsons are done using them.
- If the "King of the Jews" really was for
paying Caesar's taxes, wouldn't he have been Rome's favorite
Jew? Indeed, such a well-followed leader, who was surrounded by tax collectors, would
certainly not have been crucified, but instead would have been
made Caesar's favorite chief tax collector in the land. Governments do
not destroy their best tax cheerleaders, it's bad for
the treasury.
Did the "hypocrites" already know "the
way of God in truth," ... that God created, and owns,
everything? And, didn't they already know all things
will still belong to God long after Caesar is done using them?
Probably many hypocrites did know, because it was already written in the
scriptures...
"The earth is the Lord's,
with all its wealth; the world and all the people living
in it." - Psalms
24:1
The Earth, Wealth, and People, are the Lord's,
not Caesar's.
"In the beginning God
created the heaven and the earth." - Genesis
1:1
God created everything, including Caesar.
"the earth is the LORD's."
- Exodus 9:29
Assuming Jesus already knew it was written, "the
earth is the Lord's, with all it's wealth", and
knew the first and second commandments, then it appears
his answer meant No, Paying taxes to Caesar is not
lawful. Jesus was merely avoiding the hypocrites' trap. And, those who think Jesus was advocating rendering taxes to Caesar missed His point completely ...
God made all "things," and so ... ALL "things"
belong to God, even Caesar. Caesar is not god.
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"Hmm, Things..."
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Notice, a 501(c)(3) church cannot speak freely
about the many wicked Caesars found in your local,
state, & federal government.
"no substantial part of the activities
of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise
attempting, to influence legislation ... and which
does not participate in, or intervene in (including
the publishing or distributing of statements),
any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition
to) any candidate for public office." - 26
USC Sec. 501(c)(3)
Notice, no church has to be a 501(c)(3)
to be exempt. All churches are "exempt
automatically".
• "Churches, ... These
organizations are exempt automatically"
- Organizations Not Required To File
irs.gov/publications/p557/ch03.html#d0e3612
• "churches"
- "Mandatory exceptions" - 26
USC 508(c)(1)
Notice, no church has to be 501(c)(3)
to receive deductible contributions. All church
contributions are already tax deductible.
"most organizations other
than churches ... must apply to the IRS."
- Organizations That Qualify To Receive Deductible
Contributions
- irs.gov/publications/p526/ar02.html#d0e368
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What did Jesus say about bankers?
7. Fractional Reserve Lending?
Jesus "overthrew the tables of the moneychangers"
(i.e. bankers) in the temple, and called them "thieves."
[Mark 11:15,
John 2:15,
Matthew 21:12]
Jesus thought bankers were crooks. But, what
happens to people who mess with Big Money? Aren't they set-up?
Judged? Disposed?
Notice that Jesus had preached about God for three years,
but he was dead in just three days after ejecting the moneychangers
from the temple. Hmmm?
Some have their doubts over
what belongs to Caesar.
For more, see Jesus
and the Money Changers - Wikipedia (Thank you, CIA?)
What did Jesus teach about money?
8. Treasure in heaven
Jesus may have had a problem with money itself, a system of service
to a false god, Mammon, the god of riches. Jesus said very few
rich people will make it to heaven.
 "Truly
I say to you, it is hard for a man with much money to go into
the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is simpler for
a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a man with much
money to go into the kingdom of God. And the disciples, hearing
this, were greatly surprised, saying, Who then may have salvation?
And Jesus, looking at them, said, With men this is not possible;
but with God all things are possible." - Matthew
19:23-26
Can a camel ever fit through the eye of a needle? Notice, with
the money system of men "this is not possible".
"And he said to them all, If any
man has a desire to come after me, let him give up all,
and take up his cross every day, and come after me."
- Luke 9:23
 Give up all? ... Like what?
"There came one running, and kneeled
to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may
inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, Why call me good?
There is none good but one, that is, God. (Side note: Wasn't Jesus admitting he is not a God, the Lord? And, wouldn't worshipping Jesus violate, You shall have No other Gods before me?) You know the commandments,
Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear
false witness, Defraud not, Honor you father and mother. And he
answered and said to him, Master, all these have I observed from
my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said to him,
One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have, and
give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and
come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that
saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions."
- Mark 10:17-22
 Would any of this explain "Give ... to Caesar the things
that are Caesar's", for example his money system, since "With men this is not possible"?
Jesus was teaching against chasing after money (because
a camel can never fit), and against serving the engraved-god-image-idol-worship money system. The result would be less
money available for government tax collectors, and so, less tax
money for self-described god Caesar. Rome would not find such teachings desirable.
What did Jesus say to the local government officials (the high
priests who were partners with the moneychangers)?
9. Dissenting with Government
"Then Jesus went into the temple.
While he was teaching, the high priests and the elders of the
people came to him and asked, "By what authority are you
doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"
- Matthew 21:23
After telling the priests and elders a parable, Jesus insults them by saying...
"I tell you with certainty, tax
collectors and prostitutes will get into God's kingdom ahead of
you!" - Matthew
21:31
"When the high priests and the
Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was talking about
them. Although they wanted to arrest him, they were afraid of
the crowds" - Matthew
21:45
Contrary to Saul's (St. Paul, the Roman/Jew) message about obeying authorities ordained by God (Romans 13), Jesus certainly did not, and he even mocked the authorities, though they could have arrested
him. He was telling these officials they had a lower
status than tax collectors and prostitutes.
Why destroy Jesus? Was it about taxes?
Let's see...
- Jesus was charged with the crime of "forbidding paying
taxes". Luke
23:2
- Jesus was teaching his disciple, Simon, that taxes
belong upon "foreigners". And, "the
subjects [children, sons] are exempt." Matthew
17:25-27
- Jesus was teaching tax collectors who "were
everywhere in the habit of coming close ... to listen to Him."
Luke 15:1
- Jesus wanted to be friends with tax collectors
Matthew 11:19,
and sought them out because he thought they were "sick"
Luke 5:30-31 and needed to correct their condition.
- Jesus was disrupting tax collections by taking
tax collectors away from their jobs. Luke
19:8 , Matthew
9:9
- Jesus was publically tested over the subject of "taxes",
by "hypocrites" who did possess and use Caesar's coin. Matthew
22:15-21
- Jesus disrupted the moneychangers operations in the temple, thus disrupting
banking. He even called them thieves. Mark
11:15, John
2:15, Matthew
21:12 .... Notice, less banking = less money use = less taxes.
- Jesus was teaching that rich men don't get into
heaven (a camel will never make it through a needle's eye), and teaching against the accumulation of money, and
against Caesar's money system, "With men this is not
possible." Matthew
19:23-26, This would also mean less taxes,
and would have resulted in a reduction or even the destruction of the
moneychanger's (banker's) tax-money-slave system.
- Jesus insulted the chief priests and elders (i.e. local authorities,
local government, crime partners of moneychangers)
by telling them "tax collectors and prostitutes will
get into God's kingdom ahead of you!" - Matthew
21:31 This would have also insulted all those other tax
collectors, those who were perfectly happy with taking other people's money (stealing).
The problem Romans had with Jesus was over taxes
(i.e. money).
 Jesus was interfering with the Roman internal revenue service,
and talking to 'Roman IRS agents' about their sickness. Evidently,
Jesus did forbid paying taxes (except "from foreigners").
Jesus was a tax protester, against wealth, and against
the money system. He could not use Caesar's money, whose own coin
declared Caesar to be the son of a god, without breaking the first
two commandments, "You shall have no other gods,"
and No idols.
This type of behavior would put Jesus on any government's bad-boy
list.
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How can a government get treasure into it's treasury if
there are no taxpayers, no money users, and no one dependent
on the system itself?
This was a choice of whom to serve...
"Give ... to Caesar the things
that are Caesar's,
and to God the things that are God's."
The system of man wants you - and needs you -
in the system.
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"I want You ...
in my piggy!" |
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If you think we are the only ones
having this interpretation of Jesus being a tax protester,
see...
- "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jesus"
by Bell and Sumner, p. 198-199, 2005 Edition. It describes
a similar interpretation of the rendering unto Caesar.
- Jehovah's Witnesses also have a somewhat similar
take on this. Read their book "The Greatest
Man Who Ever Lived", in section 108,
published by The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society
- the International Bible Students Association of
New York. If you call Jehovah's Witnesses they will
be happy to come to your home and give you a copy
of this book, free.
- Jesus-on-taxes.com
- This website has an entire book, by Ned Netterville, on the subject of
Jesus and taxation. It's titled "Jesus
of Nazareth, Illegal-Tax Protester"
and is free to download. This e-book is filled with
details and analysis, and as the title implies comes
to the same conclusion [there are legal taxes and
there are illegal taxes]. Considering that this author
did not data mine the Bible with a computer [or so
we assume], this e-book is amazingly thorough and complete. Ned Netterville's effort, including all those contributing to it, is probably the most important thing written about Jesus since the words of Jesus were first recorded. Do not continue through life without reading this e-book, because your 501(c)3 church is failing you, greatly.
- "Rabbi Jesus", a book
by Bruce Chilton, p. 202, April 2002 Edition. Chilton
also indicates Jesus meant that all locals "should
be free of taxes" - though he attributes
Jesus' statement to an issue of Temple taxes instead
of His actual question about tolls or tributes to "kings on the earth"
...
"He [Jesus] is telling his preeminent
disciple [Simon/Peter] that all Israelites, as sons
of a king, should be free of taxes for the Temple,
and that those who collect such taxes can, in effect,
go fish for them." - Rabbi Jesus
- Other interesting observations can be read in the
online encyclopedia, Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Render_unto_Caesar. Also use Archive.org to see older versions of this Wiki page (because
all tax related topics on Wiki are highly censored, by ... Guess who?)
- Probably the most significant interpretation, also
found on Wikipedia, is this amazing take on the "Render
unto Caesar" moment...
"A second time when asked about Roman
taxes Jesus doesn't produce a Roman coin but asks
his opponents to. They are able to produce one complete
with its idolitrous image and blasphemous inscription.
Having once again exposed his opponent's divided
loyalties [by having them produce a idolitrous,
blasphemous coin] he responds that those who
are Caesar's should be given to Caesar and those
who are God's should be given to God."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_and_the_Money_Changers#Jesus.27_authority
(You may need to copy this address into Archive.org to find this one)
* Notice, this interpretation renders people
loyal to Caesar to Caesar, and people loyal
to God to God. Money may not have even been
the object of Jesus' answer. Considering
Jesus was trying to save people, and wasn't very fond
of money [Mark
10:23, Matthew
19:24], this is possibly the most accurate translation.
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Our
emperor, Fraud, stands naked.
"But he has nothing on!"
Watch
Uncle Sam dance
for Mammon. (Warning: Slightly graphic) |
Jesus said...
"No servant can serve
two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the
other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." - Luke
16:13
[Mammon: the god of riches - 1913 Webster]
Apparently, we can choose from just two ways, the god of riches - following Caesar's way,
or the God of truth - the way of God in truth. But, no one can serve two masters.
So, what did Jesus say we should do?
"You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him
only."
- Matthew 4:10
Notice, for Jesus, truth was the religion ...
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
- John 14:6
(Apparently, if we live by the truth, we just might make it into the kingdom of Heaven.)
|
 According to Jesus, it is impossible to serve Caesar,
to give him your time, through labor and taxes, and to also serve
God.
Apparently, the Pharisees disciples who tested Jesus were only
temporarily stumped by his answer, because he was charged with
forbidding taxes, anyway.
Why might Jesus have forbid paying taxes to kings of the earth (governments)?
Slavery
Jesus knew that people were having their land and property taken,
and even having their children taken as slaves, if they did not
pay their taxes. Such tax slavery was written about some 400 years
before Jesus...
"We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields
and our vineyards... we are forcing our sons and daughters to
be slaves, and some of our daughters are forced into bondage already,
and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to
others." - Nehemiah
5:4-5
(Note: Can you spot it's the Income tax and Property tax mentioned here? This is happening today. You've all sold your children, even your great, great grandchildren into slavery, since it will take generations to pay off the trillions of dollars stolen by banker bailouts. Most people serve the god of Mammon, and chase money, being trained to from birth, ("go to college, be successful") in stock markets, and expecting profits without actually performing labor for it (investing). Money for nothing. And, now the U.N. will become a global IRS, squeezing you for your carbon credits, with a cap and trade bill, just for existing.)
Taking children was done by many cultures. In the case of males,
to be taken while still young, then indoctrinated into the tyrant's
fighting force, or enslaved. In the case of females, to be taken
as additions to harems for the rulers, or as army prostitutes,
or also enslaved. In recent times, the Japanese were accused,
by their now elderly victims, of taking women as prostitutes for
their military.
Seized Property and Land
Jesus also knew that a Caesar would spend his "tributes"
[taxes, seized property, land] on war, oppression, and building
monuments to himself, a false god. To get a good, graphic
idea of what forced tax payments were like in Jesus' time, see
the movie The Nativity
Story. To read about some modern-day examples of forced tax
collections, just search the Internet for "IRS raid".
According to non-Christian, Roman historians, some people were
even put to death when they could not pay Caesar's tax. Likely,
these were some of the people that ended up on crosses, and fed
to lions in a Roman coliseum. Maybe Christians were favored as
lion food because, at the time, they were still living by Jesus'
teaching, to serve one master, God, and refused to pay Caesar tribute.
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War
What does a 'Caesar' do after taking your tax money? Isn't
war frequently one of "the things that
are Caesar's"? Over the last 100 years, the United
States alone has been averaging one war for every 16 years. The last serveral "wars" weren't even declared by Congress, the only ones legally able to do so, thus they were illegal actions, just invasions for the god of mammon.
And, all these wars are just scams of merchants and mercenaries. No need to believe us, silly data miners, just Google "War is a racket" by General Smedley Butler. It's a free e-book everyone should read.
This doesn't even include the smaller military actions, such as
bombing
Serbians, the Iran-Contra
'affair', or the invasion of Panama and the capture of Panama's
leader, Noriega. (When Noriega was asked, "who is your drug dealing partner?", he said, George Bush)
|
Warning: This is very graphic, but then you have
already played your part - you've payed tribute for this, and even sacrificed your own sons and daughters. (Google "War is a racket" by General Smedley Butler)
If any links have disappeared, copy the address into Archive.org |
Thou shall not kill
Every creature is born with the right to kill anything that is coming to kill it. Aside from that, what part of this don't people understand. If we give tributes to a 'Caesar', haven't we then enabled him
to conquer others with deadly force? Haven't we then become an accomplice, part of
the killing, and so, violated the commandment "Thou shall
not kill"?
 Yes. We do kill, and pay for death, with our taxes. The funder
of death is as guilty as the trigger man. Thus, all taxpayers are useful idiots.
Look into your mirror to see destruction incarnate. Your fingerprints
are found all over the tribute money, and the murder weapon. You've labored hard for it, too.
But, not everyone is with you.
"We are war tax resisters because we have discovered
some doubt as to what belongs to Caesar and what belongs to God,
and have decided to give the benefit of doubt to God."
- Pastor John K. Stoner
Pastor Stoner has apparently not been drinking his fluoride
water, or taking his vaccinations.
 The
question is "Who would Jesus Tax?" - Not Paul,
or anyone else.
- Romans 13 was written by Paul (Saul), a Roman.
- Paul, like many Romans was dedicated to wiping out followers
of Jesus (i.e. stray tax collectors, prostitutes, sinners,...)
- PBS.org
- Paul (Saul) played a part in the stoning murder of Stephen.
- Acts 7:58 (Apparently, he ran the coat check for the event)
- Paul was not quoting Jesus in Romans 13:1-13:7.
- Paul was not one of Jesus' 12 disciples.
- Jesus never even knew Paul in life.
- Paul was arrested and put in prison. (Paul, like Jesus, didn't
obey "higher authorities", either.)
- Half of the New Testament was written by this Roman, Paul. -
Bible,
Wiki
For more on Paul, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle
It appears Paul may have written Romans to benefit "authorities".
"be in subjection to the higher authorities,
for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist
are ordained by God" - Romans 13:1 (WEB)
Paul wrote this, Jesus did not. Paul was a Roman, Jesus was not.
Paul served Rome, working as a bounty hunter of Nazarenes, the followers of Jesus of Nazareth.
One bible translation explains Paul like this,
"If you owe taxes, pay them. If you owe toll, pay them.
If you owe someone respect, respect that person. If you owe someone
honor, honor that person" - God's
Word.
But, what if you don't owe? If you don't owe - taxes,
toll, respect, honor - then you don't owe! Nothing is due.
Who do we actually owe? Does God approve of government authorities
who are tyrants, such as Hitler, Stalin, or the Communist
Chinese government? Are tyrants "the higher authorities"
we must be "in subjection to", because they're
ordained by God?
The Founding Fathers of the United States were very religious,
but even Thomas Jefferson, the third President and chief author
of the Declaration of Independence, said, "Resistance
to tyrants is obedience to God." (Here we have an example
of someone ordained by God, the 3rd President of the United States,
Thomas Jefferson, saying it is obedience to God to resist tyranical
government.) Isn't this exactly what Jesus and his disciples were doing?
If Paul really did write Romans 13:1-13:7, then why did the
Romans kill him? Wouldn't such words, which render to Caesar
obedience and taxes have made Paul one of the Emperor's favorite
citizens, much like Jesus would have been if He really was rendering things to Caesar?
It seems Paul himself did not actually practice obedience to authorities,
because he was imprisoned by higher authorities, and eventually
killed by higher authorities.
Notice Paul also exposed Peter as an outlaw...
"He [Paul] utterly opposed any idea that the law was
binding on Christians, declaring that even Peter did not live
by the law."
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_of_Tarsus#Arrest_and_death,
and see Gal 2:14.
Why should people accept Romans 13:1-13:7, believing subjection
and obedience to authorities is Christ-like, when Jesus, and
nearly every apostle, was killed by the higher authorities, including
Paul.
"be in subjection to the higher authorities" - Romans
13:1 (WEB)
Perhaps Paul wrote this after he was sent to prison.
Evidently, Paul did learn something from Jesus, since he wrote in 1 Timothy 6, "the love of money is the root of all evil." Or, in other words - those from Jesus, "Render unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar."
"Would you like to live without being afraid of the authorities?
Then do what is right, and you will receive their approval."
- Romans
13:3 (ISV)
Translation: Do what you are told, if you don't want trouble.
Too bad Paul couldn't warn Jesus about this, since he never actually knew Jesus in life.
Read what happened to the apostles...
Subjection is forced ... by governments & tax collectors
| Service +
Force = Compliance
- 1040
Instructions, 2004
"To protect the honest
taxpayer, we have strengthened enforcement of the tax laws."
-IRS Commissioner, Mark W. Everson
"...everyone who
does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light,
lest his works would be exposed." - John
3:20-21
|
Notice Nazis also wore black.
Was this government "ordained
by God"?
Homeland Security? |
"You devour widow's houses and
say long prayers to cover it up. Therefore, you will recieve greater
condemnation." - Matthew
23:14
Those who use force to take "taxes" are violating
well established laws.
Pilate asked him, saying, Are
you the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, You say
it." - Luke 23:3
Notice, Jesus didn't admit to Pilate he was a King. Jesus only
said, "You say it". (Only 3 of 14 Bibles, or
21%, say Jesus answered "yes" to this question). Evidently,
Pilate didn't care if Jesus thought he was a king, since even
Jesus admitted he wasn't a king "of this world" ...
"My kingdom is not of this world." - John
18:36
And Pilate said to the chief priests
and the people, "In my opinion this man has done no wrong."
- Luke 23:4
So, if Jesus really did confess to being a king, then why did Pilate say, "this man has done no wrong"?
Obviously, claiming a kingship over Jews was not the reason Jesus was whipped and executed. It had to have been one of the other charges against him, perverting the nation, and forbidding paying taxes.
[Also notice, Jesus was preaching for three years, but was not bothered by the government
until he threw the moneychangers out of the temple. And, three days
later Jesus was dead. Hint: His death was obviously for perverting the nation (ejecting moneychangers, i.e. bankers) and forbidding paying taxes (healing the "sick" - i.e. tax collectors)] When Pilate found out Jesus was from Galilee
he sent Jesus and his accusers to Herod, the ruler of Galilee.
But, Herod also found Jesus not guilty and returned him
to Pilate. Apparently, Herod didn't care either if Jesus wanted
to be a king. And, when Jesus was returned to Pilate, he again
pronounced Jesus not guilty.
Also agreeing that Jesus was innocent was Pilate's wife who said...
"Have nothing to do with
that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream
because of Him." - Matthew
27:19
But the chief priests continued to demand that Jesus be killed.
So, Pilate got some water and washed his hands, literally, in
front of the crowd, of any responsibility for killing Jesus.
"I am innocent of the blood of
this righteous person. You see to it." - Matthew
27:24
Notice, Pilate and his wife both said Jesus was righteous.
So, after Pilate said, several times, he saw no reason to punish
Jesus, he then has him scourged, which is worse than an ordinary
whipping.
Why would Pilate scourge Jesus, after he just said "I
can't find this man guilty of any crime"? Such harsh
punishment wouldn't fit the crime, if he "has done no
wrong."
Why would Pilate change his mind?
Pilate's primary concern, at least one of them, was getting tribute-tax-money-property
into Caesar's treasury. And, all bureaucrats, including Pilate
know, those who don't perform as expected soon lose their jobs.
Did Pilate hear new testimony about Jesus? Maybe some testimony from
a few of the tax collectors - that Jesus was indeed teaching tax
collectors - to not pay taxes? If so, Pilate would
have heard that his tax collectors were neglecting to collect
taxes in order to follow Jesus. This might explain why Pilate
changed his mind, from declaring Jesus not guilty, to then having
him scourged.
Was Pilate's question "What is truth?" concerning
Jesus and taxes?
- Fact: Jesus was charged with "forbidding paying taxes".
Luke 23:2
- Fact: Jesus taught "the subjects [children, sons] are exempt."
And, that "kings of the earth" should instead collect taxes
from "foreigners." Matthew
17:25-27
- Fact: Jesus was teaching to tax collectors.
Luke 15:1
- Fact: Jesus was friends with tax collectors Matthew
11:19, and He sought their company in order to heal their sickness.
Luke 5:30-31
- Fact: Jesus interfered with tax collectors work.
Luke 19:8 , Matthew
9:9
- Fact: Evidently, being the right person to ask, Jesus was tested
specifically about paying taxes. Matthew
22:15-21
- Fact: Jesus overthrew the tables of moneychangers, disrupting banking,
and thus, taxes. Mark
11:15, John
2:15, Matthew
21:12
- Fact: Jesus was against Caesar's money system, because it was harder
("impossible") for the rich to enter into
heaven - "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked
at them and said, "With men this is impossible".
Matthew
19:23-26 If there was less wealth to tax, Caesar's taxes
(his pile of money) would shrink.
- Fact: Jesus insulted the chief priests and elders (i.e. government
authorities, the crime partners of moneychanging thieves) by
telling them "tax collectors and prostitutes will get
into God's kingdom ahead of you!" - Matthew
21:31 He said this even though they could have arrested
him. And, this would have also insulted all the tax
collectors who were completely happy taking other people's money.
Result: Guilty!
Jesus was found guilty of a tax crime. Forbidding paying
taxes is what put him on the cross. And so, he was killed by Pilate
over money (what else). By convincing people
to give (render)
Caesar's false-god money system back to Caesar, Jesus was "perverting
the nation."
"...To Caesar the things that are Caesar's."
For this he was beaten, scourged, given the 'walk of shame',
and slowly executed.
 Jesus
was a tax protester, of Caesar's tax-money-slave system.
Wouldn't Good
Friday be a better national tax due-date in the United States,
instead of April
15, as a reminder to all the slaves - Thou shall not resist?
Who would Jesus tax?
Is this what really happened?
Pilate: "What is truth?"
Jesus: "The subjects are exempt. You should only tax foreigners."
Pilate: "I'm going to crucify you!"
If you can find a Bible translation which quotes Jesus
teaching something different about taxes, contact
us and we'll add it here.
The Subjects are Exempt - Only Tax the
Foreigners
Where is the list of taxable income?
 The
list of taxable income from U.S. Income Tax law is buried
deep in Title 26, CFR Sec.
1.861-8T(d)(2)(iii). It's a list of taxable items
and prescribes that only a "foreign taxpayer"
and "foreign earned income" are taxable. It
is written immediately following the legal definition of "exempt
income" (excluded income).
To find this list, simply go to the US Government's Electronic-CFR:
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov
- Click 'Simple Search' (on left side)
- Enter 26 for Title number
- In search box enter: income that is not considered tax
exempt
- Click 'submit search' button.
Result: Section 861
Fact: All fundamental income tax instructions
are written in Sec. 861, including...
- how to determine taxable income
- eliminated income
- eliminated items
- excluded income
- income that is exempt or excluded
- the sources of income for purposes of the income tax
- specific sources
- specific guidance
- deductions to gross income
- exempt income (defined)
etc, etc ... There are many more, just examine the rest of this website
Only one section in the Code of Federal Regulations lists
the "income that is not ... exempt" (a.k.a. taxable income). Read the list. It's just one of many things
you can find with your computer.
 Why
isn't the list of taxable items written up front in Sec.
1, but instead hidden hundreds of sections later in Sec. 861?
You'll find that U.S. Income tax is fraudulently implemented
by politicians and bureaucrats (high priests), and bankers
(money changers).
The US Tax Code (26USC) and Regulations (26CFR)
have been data mined, and the result is Sec. 861. Read it
and confirm. Ignorance is no excuse. To see more about
data mining tax code, start with these...
How does such massive fraud happen without being noticed? You'll
find many "tax experts" don't even read tax
code, or regulations. In fact, tax experts use Publications,
which are printed by the IRS. These Publications tell
your expert what to do, and how to do it. The "experts"
know very little about their own expertise, or laws. They simply obey Mafia instructions.
Don't believe it? Just visit any tax preparation business and
ask if they have the US Tax Regulations (26CFR), or the Internal
Revenue Code (26USC), or... if they just follow IRS Publications. [Quite
likely, they don't even have Publications anymore. Now, they simply
rely on tax software, fraudulently written, to locate the amount
of tax "imposed".]
Test Your Tax Expert!
Why not? They work for you, see if they know what they're doing.
You don't even have to make the test difficult. Simply ask your
tax expert...
"Where is Exempt income defined?"
If your tax expert doesn't know, then show them the answer...
Answer
Then, tell your expert to search for your "excluded
income". It's their job. They get paid to know the law,
and to save you money with deductions and excluded income.
Did you know that data mining can be done in all 48 Titles of
Law, and in every country which uses codification?
Leb
wohl, Konsortialführer! Der schwindel is over. The jig
is up.
All of your houses will fall.
* Please report any errors using "found error"
in your email subject line. Thank you.
|
"What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings on the
earth collect tolls or tributes? From their own subjects,
or from foreigners?" When he said, "From foreigners,"
Jesus said to him, "In that case, the subjects are exempt."
-