Legalidades

Be Subject to Government

1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God [granted by His permission and sanction], and those which exist have been put in place by God. [Prov 8:15] 2 Therefore whoever *resists [governmental] authority resists the ordinance of God. And those who have resisted it will bring judgment (civil penalty) on themselves. 3 For [civil] authorities are not a source of fear for [people of] good behavior, but for [those who do] evil. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good and you will receive approval and commendation. 4 For he is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, [you should] be afraid; for he does not carry the [executioner’s] sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an avenger who brings punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be subject [to civil authorities], not only to escape the punishment [that comes with wrongdoing], but also as a matter of principle [knowing what is right before God]. 6 For this same reason you pay taxes, for civil authorities are God’s servants, devoting themselves to governance. 7 Pay to all what is due: tax to whom tax is due, customs to whom customs, respect to whom respect, honor to whom honor.

8 *Owe nothing to anyone except to *love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbor has fulfilled the [essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman]. [Matt 22:36-40]

12 Keep your behavior excellent among the [unsaved] Gentiles [conduct yourself honorably, with graciousness and integrity], so that *for whatever reason they may slander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may [instead come to] glorify God *in the day of visitation [when He looks upon them with mercy].

Honor Authority

13 Submit yourselves to [the authority of] every human institution for the sake of the Lord [to honor His name], whether it is to a king as one in a position of power, 14 or to governors as sent by him to bring punishment to those who do wrong, and to praise and encourage those who do right.

17 Tell us then, what do You think? Is it permissible [according to Jewish law and tradition] to pay a *poll-tax to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, asked, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?19 Show me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius [a day’s wage]. 20 And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"21 They said, "[*The Emperor Tiberius] Caesar’s." Then He said to them, "Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s."

The Tribute Money

24 When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the *half-shekel [temple tax] went up to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the half-shekel?" [Ex 30:13; 38:26] 25 Peter answered, "Yes." And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly rulers collect duties or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?"26 When Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt [from taxation]. 27 However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to them [to pay the temple tax] for you and Me."

25 Come to terms quickly [at the earliest opportunity] with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way [to court], so that your opponent does not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you are thrown into prison. [Luke 12:58, 59] 26 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid the last *cent.

18 and you will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you within that [very] hour; [Mark 13:11-13; Luke 21:12-19]

Jesus’ Birth in Bethlehem

1 Now in those days a decree went out from [the emperor] *Caesar Augustus, that all the inhabited world (the Roman Empire) should be *registered [in a census]. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone went to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 So Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register with Mary, who was *betrothed to him, and was with child. [Matt 1:18-25]

15 In fact, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,

And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales;

Now look, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.

17 All the nations are as nothing before Him,

They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.

9 because a wide door for effective service has opened to me [in Ephesus, a very promising opportunity], and there are many adversaries. [Acts 19:23-41]

10 So Pilate said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?" 11 Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me at all if it had not been given to you from above. For this reason the sin and guilt of the *one who handed Me over to you is greater [than your own]."