Shalom Friends,
I understand that marriage belongs to God, but the tax belongs to the gov't, this is to be paid according to scripture. Whether marriage is a right or privilege isn't the point here. Yahuweh gave the jews the land of Israel, it was their RIGHT to live in that land, it was conquered by Rome and they were asked/ MADE to pay a tribute tax to Caesar for the priviledge to live in a land inwhich it was their RIGHT to live according to Yahuweh. Were they to refuse to pay this tribute tax? The teaching of Yahushua was YES, he himself paid the taxes imposed on the citizens of the land that was given to them by Yahuweh, WHY did he pay the taxes, as not to OFFEND them. We can see this in;
Matt. 17:24-27 "And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Kepha, and said, Doth not your Rabbi pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Yahushua prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Kepha saith unto him, Of strangers. Yahushua saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."
Matt. 22:17-21 " Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Yahushua perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto Elohim the things that are Elohim's.
Are we or are we not only to give tribute/ praise to Yahuweh? Yahushua was teaching that it wasn't about the tribute, but rather it was about the money, to pay the tribute tax wasn't giving tribute/ praise to Caesar, it was about obeying the law of the land.
To get a marriage licence isn't about giving tribute to Caesar either, but rather obeying the law of the land. I would think that Yahushua would say to pay the marriage tax as for we should'nt offend them. To do otherwise could be preceived as foolish, unwise, arrogant, and prideful. Sorry for my disagreement, but thats what I believe the scriptures teach.