John Calvin Commentary Romans 13:6

"For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God`s service, attending continually upon this very thing." — Romans 13:6 (ASV)

For this reason also, etc. He takes this occasion to introduce the subject of tributes, the reason for which he deduces from the office of magistrates; for if it is their duty to defend and safely preserve the peace of the good, and to resist the harmful attempts of the wicked, they cannot do this unless they are aided by sufficient force.

Tributes, then, are justly paid to support such necessary expenses. But regarding the proportion of taxes or tributes, this is not the place to discuss the subject; nor is it our place either to prescribe to princes how much they ought to expend in every affair, or to hold them accountable.

Yet they ought to remember that whatever they receive from the people is, so to speak, public property, and not to be spent in the gratification of private indulgence. For we see the purpose that Paul designates for these tributes which are to be paid—namely, that kings may be provided with the means to defend their subjects.