Neh 5:4 | KingComments | STEP | Yet another group lost the use of the fruit of their fields and vineyards. They had to borrow money to pay tax. The king, who let Nehemiah go, still has his grip on the land, as it is still under his authority. The people are still subject to a strange ruler. This pressure is especially felt in the high taxes (cf. ). Partly because of this there is not enough money left to buy food. Paying tax to a foreign ruler must make the people realize that this is the result of their unfaithfulness. The fact that money has to be borrowed for this makes them slaves in two ways. They are servants of the king of Persia and now also of the man from whom they have borrowed money. As members of the church, we are strangers and sojourners on earth. We are reminded to be in subjection to the governing authorities ( ; ). In that position we are told: “Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax” ( ). But it is not God’s intention that we make ourselves dependent on others to fulfill our obligations. If we do, we will lose our spiritual freedom and sell ourselves to people from whom we expect salvation.

‏ Nehemiah 5:4

Money for Tax

Yet another group lost the use of the fruit of their fields and vineyards. They had to borrow money to pay tax. The king, who let Nehemiah go, still has his grip on the land, as it is still under his authority. The people are still subject to a strange ruler. This pressure is especially felt in the high taxes (cf. Ezra 4:13 ; 20 ; Ezra 6:8 ; Ezra 7:24). Partly because of this there is not enough money left to buy food.

Paying tax to a foreign ruler must make the people realize that this is the result of their unfaithfulness. The fact that money has to be borrowed for this makes them slaves in two ways. They are servants of the king of Persia and now also of the man from whom they have borrowed money.

As members of the church, we are strangers and sojourners on earth. We are reminded to be in subjection to the governing authorities (Tit 3:1; Rom 13:1). In that position we are told: “Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax” (Rom 13:7). But it is not God’s intention that we make ourselves dependent on others to fulfill our obligations. If we do, we will lose our spiritual freedom and sell ourselves to people from whom we expect salvation.