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Will Jesus Pay My Taxes?

August 26, 2016

Matthew 17:24-27

24 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?”

25 “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?”

26 “From others,” Peter answered.

“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “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.”

CONSIDER THIS

Because this is a curiously puzzling text, I am going to attempt a series of observations with the help of my tutor, Craig Keener, and let you do what you will with them.

  1. Note this is a “Temple Tax.” This is money collected by the Jewish leaders in order to care for the Temple. Scholars say they had more money than they knew what to do with as a result of this tax.
  2. Often people in Jesus situation who led a mission where they were not making money were exempted from the tax. Hence the question, ““Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
  3. Jesus, in Jesus-like fashion, turns the story in a different direction. He moves to talk about the ways of Kings and how they tax and who is exempt from their taxes. The King’s children, of course, are exempt.
  4. Jesus, the one who is greater than the Temple, the one who is the true King, shows extraordinary humility by consenting to pay the tax, and this despite the exemption he could have asserted. He models for his disciples the way of not asserting one’s own rights.
  5. Finally, Jesus the King, not only pays the tax himself but he also pays for Peter’s tax. In this way, he shows how Peter is an heir of the King and is exempted. Jesus does not exempt himself but he actually pays for others so they will be exempt.

Any King who pays the taxes of his subjects is an extraordinary King. In fact, no King does it—not even Jesus. Why doesn’t Jesus do this? Because Jesus doesn’t have subjects. Jesus actually adopts his subjects as his children. And because they are his children they are exempted from the tax. Here’ the twist. Jesus does not waive the tax. He still pays the tax on their behalf.

So what are we to make of all of this? Here’s my own take on it. It sounds strangely similar to what is about to unfold in Jerusalem on Good Friday. The King will go to the cross to pay his children’s tax debt—the insurmountable debt of sin—only he will pay the debt once and for all with his very life.

As we press on through the text we will read more stories about Kings and servants and children and debts that will further shed light on the message of the Cross.

So, yes, Jesus will pay your taxes—not to the IRS—but before the High Court of Heaven, where it matters most.

THE PRAYER

King Jesus, how can we begin to thank you for what you have done for us. Because I can never pay you back, I want to offer you myself. I know most kings would pay my debt only to take me as their slave. You actually free me from the slavery of sins debt by making me a son/daughter. That’s why I want to serve you for the rest of my days. Yes, Lord, let my gratitude be expressed through my joyfully taking up my cross and following you. I pray this in the name of Jesus, the one who is my salvation. Amen.

Daily Text MATTHEW 08-26-16THE QUESTIONS

1. Do you have more of an idea of what this mysterious story might have meant at the time it happened? How about what it might mean for now?

2. Compare and contrast the nature of Jesus as King with the nature of earthly Kings and leaders.

3. Have you considered that we are now following one king or another. We are living under the reign of another leader. Wouldn’t you rather that be King Jesus? While we are graced to make the choice, there’s not any real choice there is it?

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J.D. Walt, is a Bond Slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. jd.walt@seedbed.com.

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WHAT IS THIS? Wake-Up Call is a daily encouragement to shake off the slumber of our busy lives and turn our eyes toward Jesus. Each morning our community gathers around a Scripture, a reflection, a prayer, and a few short questions, inviting us to reorient our lives around the love of Jesus that transforms our hearts, homes, churches, and cities.

Comments and Discussion

2 Responses

  1. Good job on exposing the unfathomable upside down Kingdom of God! Your final question takes me back to the Heidelberg Catechism and the books about it; they were my foray into what all I did not know and understand about basic orthodox Christian doctrine, especially what I call the “Big Theology” of who God is and who I am. As a result, I was with left with a range of different feelings/thoughts/impressions, the primary one being “Where has this kind of teaching been all my life?”. Hard on the heels of that were two more thoughts: “There is absolutely no way a human could have made this up!” and “I would be stupid not to buy into this!”

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