Why would a Christian want to pay their taxes? Why would you want to submit to governments that are imperfect, corrupt, or even hostile to your faith? Taxes hurt! Paying them often feels like daylight robbery—especially when your money is given to politicians you didn’t vote for, only for them to waste a lot of it. With leaders who are sinners, and even spending our taxes on policies that are immoral, why should real Christians still want to pay their taxes? Your motives really make all the difference, and in 1 Peter 2:13–15 Peter provides three motives for this kind of submission to authority.

Motive 1: Because You Love God

The first motive appears in verse 13: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution.” Submission, including the payment of taxes, is ultimately done for the Lord’s sake. Every true Christian loves Christ and desires to please Him. And Christ Himself made this matter of paying taxes clear when He said, “Render to Caesar the things that are

Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s,” (Matthew 22:21). The Christian can therefore honestly say, “I want to pay my taxes—because Jesus said so.”

Other good motives may exist, such as avoiding punishment or maintaining a clear conscience, but the main motive is love for God. This motive proves itself most clearly when obedience is most costly. Other motives can easily disappearwhen taxes feel heavy, when leaders are untrustworthy, or when submission seems unfair. . Only love for Christ will be a strong enough motive to submit when it really hurts to do so, but that’s exactly what must drive a true believer.The good news for a true believer is that you can be confident that God will provide, even when financial burdens feel heavy and a little extra money would go a long way. God cares for His own and He will sustain you!

But if you find yourself  inwardly saying something like, “If I have to submit like this, then I’m not really willing to follow Christ” you’re simply revealing that you’re not saved yet, and still have a heart like the Rich Young Ruler. He loved his money more than Christ, and walked away sad. Remember that obedience to Christ is not optional,  and eternal life is at stake. God is not mocked. Thankfully Jesus is still saving sinners, and full forgiveness is available to anyone who will simply repent and believe the good news. True repentance, however, does include a commitment to obedience in every area of life, and that includes paying your taxes, and submitting to authority.

Motive 2: Because You Appreciate God’s Purpose for Government (v.14)

The second motive is rooted in appreciating God’s design for civil authority. Submission is not based on liking a particular government or agreeing with every policy. Every human government is flawed so submission must be grounded in the recognition that God has ordained their authority for  reasons.

There are two primary reasons for authorities outlined in v.14: the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do good. Firstly, government exists to punish those who do evil. God has given authorities the “sword,” (Romans 13:4) meaning real power and responsibility to punish evil. Punishment is not optional or arbitrary but necessary. Scripture affirms even the serious punishment for serious crimes, including capital punishment in Genesis 9:6.

In our day, people assume that humans are fundamentally good and only need better conditions or rehabilitation. Scripture teaches otherwise: the human heart is inclined toward evil from youth (Genesis 8:21). Human beings are stubborn and resistant to God’s rule. Government therefore restrains evil through punishment. This punishment does not solve the problem of sin—that is the work of the gospel in the hearts of individuals, and the mission of the church—but it limits the outward expression of sin in society.

The second reason authorities exist is to praise those who do good. Authorities should provide recognition, honour, and reward for right conduct. Because human behaviour is shaped not only by fear of consequences but also by the desire for reward, God's design is for government to use the carrot as well as the stick.

An additional purpose of government—helpfully noted by John MacArthur—is its role as a deterrent. Authorities are meant to be a terror to wrongdoing (Romans 13:4). The fear of punishment restrains crime and preserves order. Even deeply flawed governments still have this effect to some degree, and for that reason, even evil authority is better than no authority at all.

Even when your tax funds are misused or systems appear corrupt, the underlying structure still serves God’s purpose in a fallen world. And when your obedience feels costly, you must remember that Christ Himself suffered far more for the sake of others. Submission is therefore an act of appreciation for God’s wise ordering of society.

Motive 3: Because You Accept God’s Will (v.15)

The final motive for submitting to authority is explicitly stated: “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” God’s will is that the submission of believers would silence false accusations made against Christianity. Therefore, when Christians obey God’s requirement to “be subject” to the authorities they engage in evangelistic submission and suffering.

Christians have always been misunderstood and misrepresented. In the early church, believers were falsely accused of cannibalism, immorality, atheism, and rebellion. Today, accusations take different forms but follow the same pattern: Christians are labelled as bigoted, greedy, or power-hungry. Yet Peter describes the effect of godly conduct as silencing such accusations. According to commentator D. Edmond Hiebert, the word Peter uses carries the idea of muzzling—like restraining a vicious dog so it can no longer bark. When believers live with integrity, they muzzle the mouths of their mockers. Accusations lose credibility because the evidence of their lives points to the contrary! This is God’s will for you as a believer, that your submission will have this effect.

Conclusion

Every true Christian loves Christ and desires to obey Him fully. This is why submission to authority, including the payment of taxes, is possible. Three motives make this submission possible: First, because you love God. Second, because you appreciate God’s purpose for government. Third, because you accept God’s will—that through good conduct, false accusations are silenced and Christ is honoured before the watching world.