If you are receiving and reading your local Smithville Review today, you have missed the 2023 deadline to file your federal income tax return.  Tax Day was first introduced in 1913, when the Sixteenth Amendment to the U. S. Constitution was ratified, giving the U. S. Congress the legal authority to tax all incomes.  Originally, the filing deadline was March 1, changed to March 15 in 1918, and to April 15 in 1955, unless it conflicts with a weekend or a holiday.  In 2023, the deadline is April 18, 2023, because April 15 was on a Saturday, and the next weekday, Monday, April 17, is recognized as Emancipation Day in Washington, D. C.

        “Words from Above” in the Bible tell us that a religious sect in the days of Jesus asked Him about paying taxes.  They asked Him if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar. What they were really asking was whether or not taxes should be paid to the Roman government, which ruled the nation of Israel at the time.  Jesus realized that they were trying to set a trap for Him to make Him look bad in the eyes of the people of Israel.  He asked them to show Him a piece of tribute money, so they brought Him a penny.  He then asked them whose image and superscription appeared on the penny, and of course they said it was Caesar’s.  He then told them to give to Caesar what belonged to Caesar, and give to God what belonged to God.  They were amazed at His answer, and left Him and went on their way.

        On another occasion, people responsible for collecting tribute money came to Peter and asked him if his master, Jesus, paid tribute, to which Peter replied that He did.  When Jesus learned about what they had asked Peter, He told him to go fishing in the lake and take hold of the first fish he caught.  Jesus instructed him to open the mouth of the fish to find a piece of money, which He told him to use to pay the taxes for both of them.  It would have taken four days to catch enough fish to be sold to pay these taxes.

Jesus taught Peter to obey the laws of the land and the laws of the Temple as well.  After Jesus returned to heaven, Peter began to teach and preach in the name of Jesus, and was told by the religious authorities to stop.  It was now a different matter, and Peter had to inform them that he had no choice but to obey God rather than men, and this is exactly what he did.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.