Romans 13:6 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

For this cause, i.e. in token, or in testimony, of that subjection you owe to magistracy, pay ye tribute: the word is plural in the original, and thereby is intended all taxes and burdens, which are legally and customarily imposed. For they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing: this is a reason why tribute should be paid to rulers; but it is for the support of their authority, and a due recompence for their great care and industry. When he says, they attend continually upon this very thing, the meaning is not, they attend always upon the receiving of tribute; but it is to be understood of the duty of magistrates, which is, to be continually promoting the good and welfare of their subjects; to encourage the good, and punish the evil-doer, which is the very thing he had been before speaking of.