The Affordable Care Act: What Did Jesus Do?

Matthew 17:24-27

The Affordable Care Act was passed into law in 2010. The law changes the options by which a health care plan is purchased. The United States government offers options, and private insurers are allowed to compete in that marketplace. Significant to this discussion is the fact that you MUST either purchase insurance coverage OR pay a penalty, or tax, for choosing not. After the legislation was signed by President Obama, there began a legal case to determine whether the law paralleled the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court affirmed it. It is the law of the land. The implementation has begun.


The U.S. government has always had the authority to increase taxes. This is the first time the citizens of this country have been REQUIRED to buy something that, previously, they had the choice not to.


"When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, 'Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?' He said, 'Yes'. And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, 'What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take custom or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?' Peter said to Him, 'From strangers.' Jesus said to him, 'Then the sons are free. NEVERTHELESS, LEST WE OFFEND THEM, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.' "


"Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Pay therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Matthew 22:17, 21


God has called us to be a testimony of Him in Christ Jesus toward men. Jesus was focused on the testimony of the Son of God paying what the kings of the earth had required. So should the sons of God be! We see how difficult it was for the Son of God to create a piece of money to pay the tax. He will make a way for us to obey this law according to His wise direction. Whether we agree with the reasoning behind this law or not, submission does not begin until we disagree. We want all men to understand that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. When we order our steps with His, they will have that opportunity!