Matthew 17:24-27, The Temple Tax

24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”


25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.


When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”


26 “From others,” Peter answered.


“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”


This is what I call irony…


The tax collector came to Peter and asked “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”


Of course Peter doesn’t go and ask Jesus. The question sounded accusatory so he knew how to answer. Without hesitation He says “yes”. And we find out he wasn’t exactly correct.


But, then, Jesus bailed him out…


When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”


26 “From others,” Peter answered.


“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”


We are "Children of the Kingdom". When God assesses the costs associated with His Kingdom he does not come to us for the necessary resources. If that was true we could buy our way in and feel a sense of privilege.


No, God went directly to His Son. The cost of defeating sin and Satan were laid directly on His shoulders. When we come to faith though, and we don't pay the price, it doesn't mean the price wasn't paid.


To illustrate his point, Jesus performed the miracle of the coins. With those coins, Peter paid his Lords tax...as well as his own.


Peter got off for nothing...


But, to ensure this gift isn't an offense to others, Jesus tells us to live as though it cost us everything. Holy living is never for ourselves. we don't need to prove anything. Its always for others.


So, Peter was right. Jesus did pay. In fact, he paid it all. We surely know that. The question is...are we living as though we do?


Live boldly out there today...