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Jesus Pays The Temple Tax Matthew 17.24-26 Introduction:
Through out His ministry Jesus was asked difficult questions.
At times He simply asked what the scriptures said; on other occasions He
pointed out their inconsistency. Each
time I read of a question directed at Jesus I see Him confound the people.
Much like shooting fish in a barrel. This passage is a little different
because of who is asked the question and how it is answered.
Let us take a look. A)
Place – 1.
The adopted city of 2.
Jesus healed a centurion’s servant here, Matthew
8.5 3.
Jesus cast out demons, Mark 1.21-28
His fame spread throughout the region 4.
He raised Jarius’ daughter, Mark
5.22-24, 35-43 5.
He healed the woman with blood, Mark
5.25-34 6.
Jesus healed a noble man’s son, John
4.46,54 7.
Not particularly receptive to
Jesus’ teachings, Matthew 11.23-24 B)
1.
Part of the Law of Moses, Exodus 30.11-16 a.
Same for every male over 20 years of age b.
For a ransom or atonement 2.
Nehemiah 10.32 for the service of the
house of God 3.
This was not a Roman tax but one imposed by God. a.
Jesus taught that we should pay taxes to governing authorities, Matthew 22.21 b.
Paul stated the same principle in Romans
13. 4.
The tax it self a.
Exodus 30.13 was half a shekel b.
Nehemiah was one third of a shekel c.
half of a shekel was equal to 2 Greek dranchmae d.
2 Greek dranchmae was equal to 1 denarius. Therefore
the tax was about 2 days wages C)
Method of collection 1.
Month of Adar (March-April) an announcement was made in all the towns and
villages or 2.
From the 15th to the 25th booths were set up in the towns
and villages to collect the tax 3.
Afterward a man had to go to D)
Question—“Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?” 1.
Seems to imply that Jesus would not pay the tax and be in violation 2.
They did not ask Jesus but Peter. Obviously
Peter was a known disciple of Jesus. 3.
Peter answered without consulting Jesus which is pretty risky and presumptuous. 4.
In one sense Jesus would not of had to pay the tax because He was sinless and
did not need atonement. E)
Jesus asked Peter whether a king would tax his own household or strangers, v. 26 1.
Jesus did not have to pay the tax because He is the Son of God, Matthew 16.16-18 2.
Jesus called the temple the house of God, John
2.16 F)
Jesus pays the tax 1.
He did so as to not “offend” the tax collectors, or the people, or His
enemies. 2.
Perhaps meaning to not give them occasion to blaspheme, Matthew 12.31 3.
This theme is taken up in Matthew 18 with causing offense 4.
Jesus tells Peter to go to the sea and cast in a hook a.
He would catch a fish b.
The fish would have a coin in its mouth c.
The coin would pay for Jesus and Peter’s temple tax G)
Lessons 1.
Jesus asserts His deity and proves it. This
should not have been lost on Peter, Matthew
16.16-18. a.
He was omniscience – He knew all things b.
Omnipotent – His power to either create a fish with a coin in its mouth or to
know there would be a fish there with a coin in its mouth. 2.
Jesus made Himself subject to the Law. 3.
Jesus was teaching Peter a lesson. a.
They were asked a question about their teacher in Matthew
9.11 b.
Jesus was their teacher, Matthew 23.8,10 c.
Would people recognize us as being a disciple of Christ? 4.
Jesus paid the price for our atonement with His blood. |