Legalidades

Submission to Authorities

1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. 2 Consequently, whoever resists authority is opposing what God has set in place, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval. 4 For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not carry the sword in vain. He is God’s servant, an agent of retribution to the wrongdoer.

5 Therefore it is necessary to submit to authority, not only to avoid punishment, but also as a matter of conscience. 6 This is also why you pay taxes. For the authorities are God’s servants, who devote themselves to their work. 7 Pay everyone what you owe him: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

Love Fulfills the Law

8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

Submission to Authorities

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.

17 So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

18 But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, "You hypocrites, why are you testing Me? 19 Show Me the coin used for the tax."

And they brought Him a denarius.*

20 "Whose image is this," He asked, "and whose inscription?"

21 "Caesar’s," they answered.

So Jesus told them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s."

The Temple Tax

24 After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax* came to Peter and asked, "Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?"

25 "Yes," he answered.

When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. "What do you think, Simon?" He asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?"

26 "From others," Peter answered.

"Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. 27 "But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin.*Greek a stater; that is, a silver coin worth approximately one shekel Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours."

25 Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.*Greek kodrantēn; that is, a Roman copper coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius

18 On My account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say.

The Birth of Jesus

1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire.* 2 This was the first census to take place while* Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.

15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;

they are considered a speck of dust on the scales;

He lifts up the islands* like fine dust.

17 All the nations are as nothing before Him;

He regards them as nothingness and emptiness.

9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.

10 So Pilate said to Him, "Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?"

11 Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin."