Peter is asked whether Jesus pays the temple tax. Interesting question, because rabbis and priests were exempt. Well, Jesus does pay it - Peter knows that. He isn’t in the exempted categories, even though Peter might have expected him to be (after all, he’s just recently acknowledged Jesus to be the Messiah).
It clearly puzzles Peter because the Lord raises the question with him. He asks him who it is that pays taxes in a country, the children of the king or others? The answer, as Peter well knows, is ‘the others’. So, says Jesus, the king’s children are excluded. The burden doesn’t fall on them. So far, so straightforward.
But here’s Jesus’ point: if the children are exempt then he, of all people, has no need to pay the temple tax. And neither, it seems, does Peter - for all who follow Jesus as Messiah become themselves children of the heavenly King whose temple it is. So why does Jesus pay it - and why will he pay it on Peter’s behalf too?
“So that we may not cause offence.”
The reason for the Son of God coming into the world is to rescue, not to repulse. He hasn’t come to gloat and parade his position or rest on his rights. He has come to serve, in the deepest humility and meekness. Such service doesn’t negate his identity, it flows from it.
And the same is to be true for all who are children of God through being united by faith to the Son. The gospel may well give offence but that alone must do so. Our attitudes and actions must not.
This is underscored in the very next scene (it’s often best to ignore chapter breaks) where the Lord Jesus states that “whoever takes the lowly position of [a] child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Central to life as a child of God in this present world is a genuine humility that doesn’t look to exploit its position, nor angle for personal power or make a case for exceptional treatment.
Christian identity is manifested through love. The true posture for all who follow and serve Jesus is one of lowly service, in all gladness. Within society, in our neighbourhoods and workplaces, in school or college. Being willing to go the extra mile, to serve without expectation or desire for reward. To do so without ulterior motivates.
The fear of losing out that naturally snipes at our hearts is dispelled by the generosity of our Lord Jesus Christ: he will provide for all our needs. Peter is to go out and find in the mouth of a fish an amount that will cover both Jesus’ and his tax bills. In the Lord we have all could desire and all that is necessary to sustain our service and to cultivate a contentment that will be evident in all our words and deeds.
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This is underscored in the very next scene (it’s often best to ignore chapter breaks) where the Lord Jesus states that “whoever takes the lowly position of [a] child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Central to life as a child of God in this present world is a genuine humility that doesn’t look to exploit its position, nor angle for personal power or make a case for exceptional treatment.
Christian identity is manifested through love. The true posture for all who follow and serve Jesus is one of lowly service, in all gladness. Within society, in our neighbourhoods and workplaces, in school or college. Being willing to go the extra mile, to serve without expectation or desire for reward. To do so without ulterior motivates.
The fear of losing out that naturally snipes at our hearts is dispelled by the generosity of our Lord Jesus Christ: he will provide for all our needs. Peter is to go out and find in the mouth of a fish an amount that will cover both Jesus’ and his tax bills. In the Lord we have all could desire and all that is necessary to sustain our service and to cultivate a contentment that will be evident in all our words and deeds.
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My heart is resting, O my God,
I will give thanks and sing;
My heart is at the secret source
Of every precious thing.
Now the frail vessel Thou hast made
No hand but Thine shall fill;
The waters of the earth have failed,
And I am thirsty still.
I thirst for springs of heavenly life,
And here all day they rise;
I seek the treasure of Thy love,
And close at hand it lies;
And a 'new song' is in my mouth
To long-loved music set:
Glory to Thee for all the grace
I have not tasted yet!
Glory to Thee for strength withheld,
For want and weakness known,
The fear that sends me to Thy breast
For what is most my own.
I have a heritage of joy
That yet I must not see;
The hand that bled to make it mine
Is keeping it for me.
My heart is resting, O my God,
My heart is in Thy care;
I hear the voice of joy and health
Resounding everywhere.
"Thou art my portion", saith my soul,
Ten thousand voices say;
The music of their glad Amen
Will never die away.
(Anna Laetitia Waring, 1823-1910)
