Instruction About Taxes
Matthew 17: 24-27 Linked
∗ During a time when Jesus and Peter were in the town of Capernaum, which is in the region of Galilee in the northern part of the Biblical land of Israel, tax collectors approached Peter and asked for taxes for the Temple.
∗ Peter was questioned about Jesus paying the temple tax.
∗ It shows the curiosity of the tax collectors to find fault with Jesus.
∗ Knowing the conversation, Peter was questioned by Jesus, whether the tax to be paid by the sons of the land or by the strangers.
∗ Peter answers, ” to be paid by the strangers,” and Jesus replies: “Then the children are exempted.
∗ Jesus, as God’s son was exempted from tax.
∗ But to avoid offence, He paid on behalf of Himself and Peter.
JESUS, THE MIRACLE WORKER
∗ How did Jesus pay the temple tax?
∗ And that was a miracle, Peter was to go fishing at the Sea of Galilee. The first fish Peter caught, Jesus said, would have a silver shekel in its mouth.
∗ The story ends at this point, without stating that Peter caught the fish as Jesus predicted.
∗ But, when Jesus says, it is done, for He is a miracle worker.
∗ The silver shekel (four-drachma) coin would be exactly enough to pay the temple tax (two-drachma coin for each) for two people – for Jesus and Peter. It is usually thought to be a Tyrian shekel.
JESUS, THE PROVIDER
∗ Here Jesus was not showing off his prowess as a miracle worker.
∗ Instead, he was reinforcing the point of His parable.
∗ While the tax portrayed God as a harsh ruler, the miracle sent the message that God is a loving father who provides for the needs of his people.
JESUS, THE HUMBLE SERVANT∗
∗ Jesus’ consideration for the collectors of the tax sends another important message.
∗ Although Jesus is the divine Messiah (Matt 16:16) and God’s beloved Son (Matt 17:5), he is also a servant who humbly laid down his life for all of us. (Matt 17:22-23)
∗ He calls his disciples to follow his example of humility. (Matt 18:3-4)
THE DISCIPLES IN DILEMMA
∗ The disciples were facing a conundrum.
∗ If they believed Jesus was the Son of God, why should he — and they — pay for the upkeep of their Father’s house?
∗ Yet if they didn’t pay the Temple tax, they would no longer be considered Jews, an identity they didn’t intend to shed.
∗ Jesus solves the dilemma for them by affirming his identity as the Son of God (and extending sonship to his followers, while protecting himself and Peter from still more confrontation with Jewish authorities.
THE CONFIRMATION – JESUS THE MESSIAH
∗ Jesus as the Son of God does not need to pay the tax for sons are free from taxation.
∗ But the disciples need to know that Jesus is greater than the temple, whereas before His death the temple had been the focal point of Jewish faith, now after His resurrection, it is Jesus who is the centre of faith.
ST. PETER’S FISH
∗ The Bible does not specify the species of the fish caught by Peter, but Tilapia is sometimes referred to as “St. Peter’s fish.”
Let’s pray…..
Lord, lets worship You without any dilemma for You are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is the miracle worker and the provider for the people eternally. Amen.
Glory be to God
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