Matthew 17 - Jesus Pays His Taxes!

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The Temple Tax

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.”

This is a great story which we can learn a lot about.  First, we need to understand that the temple tax was collected for the upkeep of the temple in Jerusalem.  Jewish males over 20 paid the tax usually annually, as they went up for one of the annual Jewish festivals. It was equal to about two days wages.  

The irony comes when the tax collectors asked if Jesus would pay the tax. Some have explained it in this way, "But then Jesus explained that He is not liable to pay this tax, because the Father doesn’t require it of His own Son." In a sense Jesus is revealing to Peter his true identity.  Peter had just experienced the Transfiguration, where he saw Jesus in a glorified state and now he is going to see another miracle.  

Then Jesus does something very interesting.  Instead of exerting his right to not pay the tax he pays the tax to avoid offending the inquiring man.  Jesus was more concerned about the potential relationship with this man than being right.  And then to show Peter that he was indeed that Son of God, he miraculously provided the tax for both of them in the mouth of a fish.  

So what might this mean for us today?  We live in a world governed by earthly powers. Jesus teaches Peter today that even though we might not agree with a law or a tax because of our beliefs, it is still good to pay the tax and obey the law.  Why?  First so you don't end up in jail. And more importantly as Jesus says, "So we may not cause offense!"  The only exception to this is when we are required to break God's law.  Then we need to obey God not man. This is another topic for another day.  Keeping with the tax analogy, Christians should pay their taxes.     

When a Christian portrays themselves as above the law, or exempt from requirements other citizens must obey, it can often be offensive.  Paul says in Romans 13:1 as practical instruction to the early Christians, 

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Romans 13:1

Be a good citizen. Don't offend others as if you are above the law. As someone once told me, "The only thing that should be offensive is the gospel."