Seeds for 11/06/2023 - Matthew 17:24-27
Scripture: 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?”
“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?”
“From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “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.”
Observation: This is an odd episode due to the specific and peculiar instructions at the end regarding the fish with a coin in its mouth. That said, this spectacular image need not distract us from what comes beforehand and the point that is being made.
They arrive in Capernaum, Peter’s backyard. Perhaps that is why the officials approach Peter instead of Jesus about His payment of the temple tax. Peter vouches for Him. Jesus, naturally, is interested in the teachable moment.
Jesus’ method is Socratic. He leads with a question: “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” There’s a comparison here, though it’s a little implicit, between the “kings of the earth” and the King of heaven and earth, the King of all Creation. The kings of the earth, according to Peter, exempt their children from paying taxes. One privilege of being a child of the king is not being required to pay taxes within the king’s own realm. The implication is clear. God’s realm is manifested in the temple. That’s the gathering place for the people of God. Therefore, by analogy compared to earthly kings, the children of God ought not be required to pay temple tax—that’s their Heavenly Father’s realm.
However, just because they should not be required to pay the temple tax does not mean they cannot choose to do so. Generosity is still an available option. Rather than “cause offense,” Jesus gives the Peter the strange directive about the fish with a coin in its mouth.
There may be times when our freedom from some requirement may not be worth exercising because of how it would be interpreted by others. We must be guided by wisdom, not merely permission. In other words, just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should do it.
Here, whether it would bring undue scrutiny on Jesus at the wrong point in time, would not be worth trying to explain His rationale, or some other reason, Jesus decides that it’s better to pay the temple tax for both He and Peter than “cause offense.” In this case, wisdom dictates foregoing a freedom He would otherwise enjoy.
Application:
When and/or where have you seen an example of the principle, “just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should”?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, grant me clarity on the difference between Divine commands and human customs. Give me wisdom in exercising or foregoing my spiritual freedom for the sake of your greater good. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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