Matthew 22:21
Matthew 22:2121“Caesar’s,” they answered. So Jesus told them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
The Watchtower reads "pay back Caesar's things to Caesar" as authorisation for paying taxes and obeying laws that do not directly conflict with Jehovah's commands — but draws a sharp line at any positive civic engagement. JWs pay taxes but do not vote, serve on juries, run for office, salute flags, sing national anthems, or sign petitions. The verse is read as ruling out only direct disobedience to civil law, not as authorising broader civic participation.
Jesus's principle cuts both ways. Caesar has a legitimate claim — taxes, civic order, honour due to authorities. The Watchtower accepts Caesar's claim on tax revenue but rejects Caesar's claim on jury service, voting, and civic participation, all of which (and Caesar's claim in the imperial structure Paul addressed) treats as part of the same package. Pair with (NWT itself: authorities "placed in their relative positions by God" and "God's minister" in v. 4), (Paul appealing to Caesar to further the gospel), and (prayer for kings and those in authority "that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life"). The Watchtower has drawn a line through the middle of "render unto Caesar" — taxes yes, jury duty no — that the text itself does not draw.