The Tax

Let us begin today to look at Luke 2:1-3 which says, And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. There are several questions answered for the Bible student here. One is, Who was to be taxed? (all the world) The word world means a part of a whole. This law of first mention in the N. T. should be looked at carefully. The next question is, Why were they to be taxed? Caesar Augustus was fighting wars on several fronts and needed monies to outfit his soldiers. I wonder is there a divine reason? The third question is Where were they to be taxed? ( into their own city) I wonder does God need someone, somewhere at sometime, to do something.