Tribute

Gifts and honours paid as a mark of respect and submission to kings and others in authority; also, praise given to those to whom it is due.

Tribute required by God

The spoils of war

Numbers 31:28 See also Numbers 31:29, Numbers 31:36–41

Set aside a tribute for the LORD from what belongs to the soldiers who went into battle: one out of every five hundred, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, or sheep.

The glory due to his name

Psalm 96:7–9; Hebrews 13:15

Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and enter His courts. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.

Tribute paid to kings

Eglon, king of Moab

See also Judges 3:15, Judges 3:17–18

David, from the Moabites

2 Samuel 8:2 parallel 1 Chronicles 18:2

David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

David, from the Arameans

See also 2 Samuel 8:6 parallel 1 Chronicles 18:6

Solomon, from all the lands

1 Kings 4:21 See also Ezra 4:20

And Solomon reigned over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms offered tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.

Ben-Hadad's demands from Ahab

1 Kings 20:2–9

Ahab, from the king of Moab

2 Kings 3:4

Isaiah's advice to Moab

Isaiah 16:1–2

Jehoshaphat, from the Philistines and Arabs

2 Chronicles 17:11

Uzziah, from the Ammonites

2 Chronicles 26:8

Jotham, from the Ammonites

2 Chronicles 27:5

The Assyrian kings, from Israel

2 Kings 15:19–20, 2 Kings 17:3–4; Hosea 10:5–6

Pharaoh Neco, from Jehoiakim

2 Kings 23:35

Babylonian plunder

2 Kings 24:13; 2 Chronicles 36:18

Artaxerxes, from the Jews

Ezra 4:13, Ezra 7:24

Xerxes, from the whole empire

Esther 10:1

Roman taxes

Matthew 22:17 parallels Mark 12:14, Luke 20:22

Tribute paid to those in authority

David

2 Samuel 9:6

Daniel

Daniel 2:46

Haman

Esther 3:2

Herod

Acts 12:21–23

Tribute in the form of praise

David, of Saul and Jonathan

2 Samuel 1:23–27

Paul, of faithful friends

Romans 16:3–13; 2 Corinthians 8:22–24; Philippians 2:19–30; Colossians 4:7–14; 2 Timothy 1:16–18

John, of Demetrius

3 John 1:12

Christian principles on paying tribute

OT teaching

Proverbs 24:21–22

Jesus Christ's teaching

Matthew 22:21 parallels Mark 12:17, Luke 20:25

“Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Apostolic teaching

Romans 13:7 See also 1 Peter 2:17

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.

Tribute due to Jesus Christ

Prophesied in the OT

Psalm 72:10–11 See also Psalm 89:22; Isaiah 52:15

May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

Due because of his exaltation

Philippians 2:9–11 See also Isaiah 45:23

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Fulfilled in the New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:24, Revelation 21:26

By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.

And into the city will be brought the glory and honor of the nations.