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Leg 2 Day 70
Gracious Toward Authority
Jesus Among Us
Scripture:
Matthew 17:24-27
MATTHEW 17:24–27 (NIV)
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.”
Life Lessons from Jesus:
Matthew is the only gospel writer who records this account about Peter being questioned concerning the temple tax. This tax was imposed by the Jewish leaders at the temple in Jerusalem. Exodus 30:11–16 explains that it was the people’s responsibility to take care of their place of worship. In the Old Testament, paying this contribution was one of the people’s primary connection points to God because contributing to the temple was part of their atonement.
In Matthew 12:6, Jesus has already explained to the people that He is greater than the temple—He is the Temple. You would think the Son of God would be exempt from the tax. Jesus is Lord over everything, yet He humbly submits to paying the tax “so that we may not cause offense.” Jesus still pays the bill. He respects a different kind of authority, showing a graciousness when it’s decent to do so and doesn’t go against His own work, His purpose. He knows He’s higher than it all, yet He does what is expected in order to make the temple leaders happy in this small thing.
Jesus sets a great example for us here. Just because God is our authority doesn’t mean we can run around claiming that no one else has authority over us. We are still to submit, to a reasonable extent, to the authorities who have been set above us. We follow God, yes, but we also live under laws and rules within our society that provide for peace and order.
The WAY:
Consider these questions as you reflect on today’s reading:
What points was Jesus communicating to Peter concerning His obligation toward the temple tax?
Why do you think Jesus provided for Peter’s tax as well as for His own?
In what ways can you follow Jesus’s example in this story by submitting to human authority while still living for God first?
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for always being the perfect example for us. All I have to do is keep looking to You, and I will understand how this life is to be lived along the way, with humility and kindness. In Your name, amen.