jusus give us everything

Jesus Gives Tribute Money
Text:
Matthew 17:24-27, And when they were come to Capernaum, they
that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your
master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the
house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of
whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their
own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers.
Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding,
lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea; and cast an hook, and
take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his
mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto
them for me and thee.
Commentary:
I. While still in Capernaum certain tax collectors asked Peter if Jesus
paid taxes.
A. In different versions this tax is variously called “half-shekel”
and “two drachma” tax.
B. This was a Jewish poll tax levied yearly for the support of the
temple.
C. If Christ paid the tax his enemies may have had an occasion to
claim Jesus was nothing special, just an ordinary citizen.
Rabbis were exempt from paying this tax.
D. To have refused to pay the tax would have given rise to the
charge that Jesus was technically a law breaker.
E. The tax was essentially voluntary. For centuries no
enforcement and no fines were levied for non-compliance.
F. Beginning in the time of Christ mild penalties were posted for
non-compliance but were rarely enforced.
II. Peter answered that Jesus did indeed pay the temple tax (for the
support of his Father’s house).
III. When Jesus and the disciples came into a house, Jesus asked Peter:
A. What do you think? What is your opinion, Simon (Peter)?
B. Do kings receive toll/tax/duty from their sons or from
strangers/others?
C. Peter answered that king’s collected taxes from strangers, not
their sons.
D. Jesus said that the sons were, therefore, exempt from the tax.
E. Jesus’ question to Peter showed that Jesus knew what had
happened.
F. Peter may have been unaware of the implications of the
question, “Does your Master pay the temple tax?”
G. Jesus evidently paid the tax not because he was obligated to do
so, but voluntarily, out of a spirit of good will, to support his
Father’s house.
H. Jesus was Son of God, the king of heaven and, therefore,
exempt from the tax.

IV. To avoid causing his critics to be offended/to stumble Jesus gave
Peter some very unusual instructions as to how to get money with which
to pay the tax.
A. Cast a hook into the sea (of Galilee) and look in the mouth of
the first fish you catch.
B. That fish would have a shekel/a four drachma coin in its mouth.
C. Peter was to take this coin and pay the temple tax for himself
and for Jesus.
V. Questions:
A. How nice it would be if our taxes were optional! Would you
pay taxes if they were optional?
B. How would you like to be able to go fishing and “catch enough
money” to pay your taxes?
C. Jesus made arrangements for Peter’s and his own taxes. What
about the taxes owed by the other apostles?