Matthew 17:24-27…Ready

Matthew 17:24-27…Ready

17:24  After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma-tax came to Peter (They came to Peter out of respect for Jesus’ status as a Rabbi,  Or He simply was unavailable.-(New)) and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax? (Was meant to stir-up further rumors and accusations about Jesus as being anti-Temple, anti-Law, anti-religious, ant-worship, anti-Sabbath, anti-rituals.-(New)  They may have thought Jesus being a Rabbi may claim exemption, since priests were not required to pay the tax.-(New)  25 “Yes, he does,” he replied. (The quick reply has Peter rushing to the defiance of Jesus-(New) When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” (Jesus reverts back to Peter’s original name “Simon” when inconstant with his “Rock” type leadership role-(New) he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes- from their own sons or from others? (Jesus is not questioning the legitimacy of this tax, but rather is simply asking a principled  question.-(New) “26 “From others, “Peter answered.” Then the sons are exempt,”(Does not mean were exempt from civil taxes-(Rom. 13) But from our sin debts owed to God. Nor Is this a blueprint for how Governments should operate. But simply an acknowledgment in how the world worked at that time.-(New) Jesus said to him. (For a Complete Expository See Book) 

Extended Sermon 

“Teaches how as adopted Sons & Daughters of God we are free from the Law and Penalty of Sin through the Atoning work of Jesus.”→  As you put your faith in Jesus and His Atonement work on the Cross your now a free child of God. No longer chained to the Commandments, ceremonial rituals, or the opinions of men..-(Gal. 2:16, 4:4-7)  When the weight of religious expectations or the pressure of perfection threaten to drain your spirit, remember His work is enough. The burdens you once carried, the ceremonies and checklists, have been replaced by a living relationship—a daily invitation to Grace. In Jesus we have a better Covenant, a better sacrifice, a better promise, a better hope, a better Temple in heaven. (Heb. 9:1-28, 10:1-25) Let each day be shaped not by what you must do to earn approval, but by the joy of what’s already been done for you. Lift your eyes from the shadows of yesterday’s failures and fix them on the hope that never fades. Walk in confidence that as a child of God your cherished, loved, and forgiven by Him.

“Warns against speaking rashly and presumptuously without consulting the Lord first”. ⇒ There are plenty of Christians who put words in Jesus’ mouth.  Have you ever heard someone say  “I know Jesus wouldn’t want me trapped in a loveless marriage.” When what Jesus actually said was “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.”-(Mt19:9).Someone will say “Money is the root of all evil”. When the bible actually says “the love of money is the root of all evil”-(1 Tim. 6:10). Or they’ll proclaim a prosperity Gospel, just follow Jesus and all your financial problems will be solved. When Jesus actual taught “Foxes have holes, birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest his head”.-(Matt. 8:20)  There are a lot of Christians who have a healing ministry will say, “Jesus wants to heal you.” When Jesus actually said  as He did to Paul, who prayed three times for his thorn in the flesh to be taken away? “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2-Cor12;9) Perhaps you can remember a situation in which you carelessly gave a reply without considering whether you were in line with Scripture. Later you realized what a fool you were. Or we answer questions according to our old nature and thinking without taking the time to ask God first? I Was there times you quickly agreed to something, but later realized your decision, while well-intentioned, was not the best.

“Calls for speaking better claims of Christ’s status, rule, and authority. “ ⇒ Peter gave a wrong impression of His Lord to the tax collectors by making Him seem less than He truly was. Remember not too long ago, back in chapter sixteen, Peter made a powerful declaration of Jesus as God; “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”-(16: 15) Not only that, but earlier in this same chapter Peter witnessed Jesus’ divine glory on the mount of Transfiguration where God said “This is my beloved Son listen to Him”-(17:1-5)  What Peter should have said was “Are you kidding me, Jesus shouldn’t have to pay the Temple tax, He owns the Temple! He’s the One who’s going to Atone for our sins. He’s the One who’s going to fulfill all the sacrificial offerings. He’s the one who’s going to be our New High Priest. We to must speak of better claims of  Christ in Who is and all He has done. If not carful we can act just like Peter in making Christ look small. What we say or do either magni­fies the Lord or diminishes His glory.  May the Lord forgive us for doing the latter so much, so unthinkingly, so easily. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you could have spoken better claims of Christ. When someone questions Jesus’ status as the “Son of God” do you remain quite out of fear of starting a conflict, or do you speak up.

“Even today, are you speaking better claims of Christ. Instead of claiming Jesus as your friend and buddy, claim Him as your Lord  & Savior. Instead of saying I go to church, say I have a personal relationship with Jesus. Instead of saying I was baptised a Christian, say I’m a Christ follower. Instead of saying I accepted Jesus into my heart, say I accepted Jesus as.my Lord & Savior.” → Not only are we to speak better claims of Christ we need to speak visible claims of Christ in how we live and act as well. A verbal claim is a start, but visible claims are the proof. Do you speak better claims of Christ by living a transformed life. Do you speak better claims of Christ by enduring hardships. Do you speak better claims of Christ by showing God’s kindness in difficult moments. Do you speak better claims of Christ by being more loving, forgiving, and compassionate towards others. Do you speak better claims of Christ by witnessing to others all that He has done. Do you speak better claims of Christ’s divine power, authority, and work. Do you speak better claims of Christ’ divine power when doubt creeps in that He can heal you and change you. Do you speak better claims of God’s grace & forgiveness when feelings of condemnation creeps in. Do you speak better claims of Christ’s Atoning work when feelings of having to earn Salvation through good works creep in.

Additional Notes & Applications 

Teaches how Jesus meets us right where were at, already knowing our anxieties and worries even before we ask.

Jesus is not saying we don’t have to pay taxes. But is pushing us to a greater understanding of His Atonement work having paid our sin debts owed to God.

The Tax collectors question;  “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax” some see as spoken negatively. If spoken with a raised voice and accusatory inflection it can imply that they were accusing Jesus as being disloyal and unpatriotic. Others see the question as being asked in the form of an opinion as to either “Did Jesus regard the payment as mandatory or voluntary (A dispute debated between Pharisees & Sadducees) Or “did Jesus exempt Himself of the Temple tax by claiming His status as a Rabbi” (A claim that many other Priests exempted themselves on )

Notice the catch 22 it puts Jesus in. If He pays the Temple tax He’s denying His deity as the Son of God and owner of the Temple. If He doesn’t pay the Temple tax He’s breaking God’s law and disregarding Old Testament regulations. Or if Jesus doesn’t pay the Temple tax He would have only frustrated the collectors and help them build their case against Him. If Jesus did pay the Temple tax He could confuse His disciples.

It’s been asked why didn’t the collectors of the Temple tax just go right to Jesus Himself. We don’t really know. Maybe according to Jewish custom it would have been disrespectful to go directly to the Rabbi. You would go to his followers instead.

Because this event  is only found in Matthew’s Gospel. Suggests Matthew, being a former tax collector. No doubt found the incident of personal interest.

27 “But so that we may not offend them (Jewish tax collectors. Who were probably waiting outside for His money. ) 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. (Displays Jesus’ Omniscience in knowing a fish would have  a coin in its mouth. Or arranged the fish to bite Peter’s hook exactly at the right time. Was not to far of a stretch since fishes are known to swallow bright shiny objects. Was not too big of deal for Jesus to perform. Did not our Lord command a great fish to swallow Jonah  and then spit him out on dry ground. -(New) Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours. (Matthew doesn’t tell us how it ends. Because for Matthew it was more about the lesson that was learned, then the taxes that got paid. Plus the fact, since Matthew is no longer a Tax Collector, he wasn’t so concerned about whether taxes got paid or not. Pay them or don’t pay them, it’s not my responsibility anymore, I’m retired..-(New)

Extended Sermons 

“Calls for putting the welfare and eternal security of peoples souls above our own rights lest they fall” ⇒ As believers were to forgo personal liberties so as to avoid causing others to stumble and fall away from Christ. This may mean modifying the way you live, the places you go, the things you do, the way you dress, the stuff you watch, the things you say, especially around those with weaker consciences. If you are doing something in a group and someone views it as Sinful or Wrong. And says “I don’t think I should do that,” then you should honor that person in his or her conviction. You wouldn’t engage in certain behaviors like drinking alcohol around a brother who’s recovering alcoholic. You wouldn’t invite a brother to a steakhouse for dinner who’s a Vegetarian. You wouldn’t play cards around a brother who struggles with gambling. You wouldn’t listen to rock music around those who view rock music as Satanic. You wouldn’t dress seductively around a brother who is easily tempted. You wouldn’t get piecing’s or tattoos if your parents are dead set against it.  So the next time you do something, you have to ask yourself are you pulling people towards Jesus or pushing them away.  Do love your brother or sister in Christ more than your right to do this or to do that? (1-Corn. 8:1-13)

‘Teaches how God often uses the skills and tools we already posses for His glory and work” ⇒

“Teaches as we stay obedient to God’s promises in doing what He asks, we open the door to His miraculous provision as well. ” ⇒ When God’s going to solve our problems and meet our needs, He’s going to work in us and through us. Notice Peter just didn’t sit on the porch waiting for the fish to come to him, he went to the lake. Peter still had to take his fishing poll and put bait on the hook. God’s going to tell us what to do and how to it. Even giving us the strength and faith to it.  And what you can’t do He’ll do the rest. When we walk in obedience to God’s instructions He will do miraculous things in our lives. Jesus is watching to see if we will obey his commands in our everyday life. If we choose to disobey Him, we have no reason to expect anything from Him. But if we dare to obey Him, we have every reason to expect miracles to happen.

“Teaches long before we ever realize we have a problem the answer for the problem has already been started a long time ago by God.” → Because the fish had already swallowed the coin (how soon before Peter caught it is unknown) There’s an important lesson to be learned, we may be at a place in our lives where we haven’t got the solution yet. But we need to remember that God already knows about it and has already worked out a solution.. His timing and plans are already in motion and in place . Nothing ever comes unexpected or as a surprise to God. God knows that disease your going to contract and the medical help your going to need. God knows the  job your going to be laid off from and the unemployment check your going to need to get through it.

“Teaches when pursuing a path of love and unity with others. God will see that it succeeds, even if it takes a miracle.” ⇒ Knowing this what’s stopping you from being faithful to God, loving others, and being a blessing to those around you because of the work and miraculous provisions of Jesus…………(To be Continued)

“Even today, will you put aside disagreements over worship music, alcohol consumption, infant baptisms, bible translations. Will you aside arguments over how old the earth is, where Cain found a wife, how Noah got all the animals on the Ark, that they are not worth losing a Christian brother or sister over.” → Imagine a Christian brother or sister comes to you believing, based on the number of genealogies in the creation account of Genesis, that the earth is only 6000 years old. Or they believe there were other humans living on the earth in the land of Nod and that’s where Cain found a wife.–(Gen. 4:16) Or they believe based on the account of the creation of land animals on the sixth day, it included dinosaurs as being created alongside humans as well.-(Gen. 1:24-25) And that in the account of Noah’s flood implied dinosaurs were aboard Noah’s Ark.-(Gen. 6:19-20) Do you arrogantly explain the truth. Do you put them down and tell them they’re wrong and going to hell for believing that. Or do you listen to their argument and walk them through scripture lovingly and patiently, praying for them as you do? We need to understand that some people may take time to process information or may have different beliefs. Be patient and willing to answer their questions without getting defensive. As an example say “I understand that you may have different views and opinions and I respect that. I’m happy to share what I believe about creation, but I also want to hear your perspective.  As Christians we need to be careful not to win the battle and lose the war by losing a brother or sister in the process. As believers our views may be fundamentally different from each other, but we can still call each other brother & sister because what unites us is far bigger than what divides and separates us. Let us adopt the Maxim “In the essentials—Unity, In the non-essentials—Liberty, and in all things—–Charity” (Rupertus Meldenius 1627 German Lutheran theologian)

“This is not saying we have to compromise on truth. Give up the essential doctrines of the faith. Or go soft on the authority of the written Word. But i’s about the peripheral and non-essential.” → Disputable matters regarding personal convictions, denominational beliefs, interpretation of scriptures, etc. that at the end of the day it just doesn’t matter.” There are some non-essential matters that are not worth arguing about like Was Job an historical person or merely an allegory? Is the story of Jona be taken as a historical account or as a parable and allegory. Is the creation narrative in Genesis to be interpreted literally as six-days or as epochs of time. Is the Rapture going to be before the Tribulation period (pre-trib) or after the Tribulation period (post-trib).. While healthy discussion is important, not all doctrine and theological interpretations warrant division. Focus on core doctrines and allow for diverse perspectives on less essential issues. It’s been said “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity. When it comes to essential doctrines, Christians should engage in healthy discussion and strive to understand God’s truth.

Additional Notes & Applications

Teaches whatever problems we have Jesus is in it together with us. (Your problems become Jesus’s problem.

Displays how we can get around evil motives while still obeying God.-(V. 27)

Teaches how it’s better to avoid conflict, than to give the enemy ammunition to attack.

Teaches how the greater whole of the Church is more important than individual rights.

Calls for submitting and enduring that which is unjust and unfair all for the glory of God.

Calls for picking our battles carefully. We can win the battle, but lose the war.

Teaches when out of money and ides trust that the Lord will always come up with a solution.

Calls for a faith that will do whatever God asks no matter how crazy or impossible it sounds.

Displays the bounty of God’s resources and supplies for whatever is needed and appropriate.

Teaches how God does not work in generalities, but  in specifics. If God provided the specific thing Peter  needed in a fish, He can find the specific thing you need as well.-

Teaches how  God will make a way forward for us after our mistakes, redeeming us from the foolish things that we say without thinking.

Teaches how God does not send miracles to enable us to do what we can quite well do ourselves. Men should not be allowed to meet their obligations in a lazy and effortless way.

Teaches by providing only one coin for Peter the Lord is there to meet our needs and not our greed’s.

Display the great lengths the Lord will go to  protect our integrity and witness. Our confession is His provision.

Teaches what the Lord instructs will be delivered exactly as He says.

Teaches just because there’s not one word, doesn’t mean Jesus’ miracles fail.

Displays how the Lord knows what it’s like to be poor. Having no money in His pocket He had to send Peter to get their tax money from a fish.

The Lord meets our needs no only for our sake; giving us faith, hope, and joy. But also for His own sake and glory. Suppose Jesus didn’t provide the tax, and Peter had to go outside and say sorry couldn’t come up with the money. People would then say “Oh so this is what you get for trusting Him.” You say He is God, He supplies all our needs in Him, and He can’t pay a half shekel tax!  You see if Jesus doesn’t do something about our needs He loses glory. You think He’s going to let that happen! In fact God has more at stake to lose than we do if He doesn’t take care of us. It’s just like parents if they’re not taking care of their children they’ll lose their reputations and testimony. . That’s why when we pray for something we need, we say “We ask this in Jesus’ name”. That It be used for His honor and His glory and not our own.  (That’s why selfish prayers do not get answered, because were using it for our self and not for God’s glory.)

This is not saying that Jesus never gave offense. In fact the Gospels record 78 examples of Christ offending someone. Matthew leads the way with 42 recorded insults, followed by Luke with 22, Mark with 9, and John with only 5. There are many times Jesus taught things that caused people to take offense. There were times Jesus called the religious leaders hypocrites for their outward religious show. To which they were offended by his words.-(Matt. 15:12) Another time in Jesus’ hometown the people were amazed by his wisdom but also offended by his claims, considering him just a carpenter’s son.-(Matt. 13:53-55) Another time Jesus came into the Temple and after overturning their tables and driving out all the animals He allowed the children to shout praises of Him as the Messiah “Hosanna” to the “Son of David . Which offended and outraged the religious leaders-(Matt. 21:12-15) Even His disciples were occasionally offended by His teachings.  After Jesus spoke about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, many of his disciples left him, saying, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?-(John. 6:60-66) But Jesus would not give offense when it came to God’s commands. Or things that were not central to His message or counterproductive to His mission.

There are times when the Church is called to give offense. Where we must stand up for the hard cold truth of the Gospel and God’s Word. It’s going to be offensive to people when you tell them their a sinner heading for hell unless they repent. There’s going to be a problem for people when you tell them Jesus is God and the only way to heaven, But there are other times when giving offense is counter productive to our cause. It’s going to be counterproductive to argue over the type of music used during worship, traditional or contemporary.. It’s going to be counterproductive to argue whether baptism should by immersion or sprinkling. It’s going to be counterproductive in arguing over which bible translation should be used, the K.J.V. or the N.I.V. It’s counterproductive in arguing should Pastor’s be female or male only. It’s going to be counter productive in arguing over church sacraments, in using wine or fruit juice in communion.

As to why Jesus paid the Temple tax anyway has been variously explained as. Jesus having already been falsely accused as being Anti-Temple, Anti-Law, Anti-Sabbath, Ant-rituals. He didn’t want to give them any more fuel to throw on the fire if it can be avoided. Or Jesus already having declared Himself the Messiah, it would not have been a good look for Him not support something that God had instituted, Jesus may have also had Peter in mind, who having already claimed He did pay, not to pay it would have thrown Peter under the bus, making him look like a liar and not as a man of his word, furthering damaging his reputation. Others suggests Jesus by miraculously providing the money through a fish He was able to pay the Temple tax without giving His allegiance to Judaism. Or that He was in any way personally accountable in atoning for His own sins.

Some point out that according to Exodus 30:13-14, only those older than age twenty were required to pay the two-drachma tax. The fact that Jesus only paid the tax to cover Himself and Peter may indicate that Peter was the only one of Jesus’s Twelve disciples who was older than twenty. If so, this would mean that the rest of the disciples were teenagers, which was a common age for young men to follow a rabbi as his disciple. Though this sounds plausible, most see it as highly unlikely.

Does not mean that Jesus and the disciples didn’t have money. After all they had a what’s called a “moneybag” used for managing donations, ministry funds, and alms. Of which Judas Iscariot was responsible for managing. But Jesus would not take this tax out of the treasury the disciples used for ministry and caring of the poor, and use it for secular work,

If were to consider just how incredible this miracle was. First somebody had to lose a coin in the lake. That coin would have to be the exact denomination needed to pay the tax for two people. A fish had to catch that coin in his mouth and not swallow it. The fish would have to go to the edge of the beach at the same time Peter went there to catch him. Peter would have to cast the hook in at just the right time to catch that fish. The fish would have to bite that hook at that instant. Not only that Jesus had the supernatural omniscience to know that Peter would do all these things and catch that fish to pay that fee.

Many find this story hard to believe. But finding a coin in a fishes mouth is not that far fetched. In fact it’s known that in the Mediterranean Sea there are about twenty different species of fish. And there is a type of fish called a “Tilapia”. That the female lays her eggs and the male fertilizes the eggs and the female takes the fertilized eggs and places them into here mouth until the eggs hatch. And in the early days of fish development the young fries stay inside her mouth. She’ll open here mouth the fries would go and swim around a pit and then they’ll go back to mom. As the fish begin to grow sometimes little fries like our children don’t know when it’s time to leave the house. And it makes mom uncomfortable. So mom not wanting the lager and grow fish to be cramming themselves into her mouth. Would go down to the bottom and she would pick up pebbles or even coins if there were one laying on the floor. And then when one of the fries tries to get into her mouth they find it very uncomfortable and eventually stop trying to get into her mouth. So to catch one of these Tilapia’s with a coin in it’s mouth is not that strange of a story at all. Others take this story of opening the fishes mouth and finding a coin as just a metaphorical way of saying that when you catch the fish you’re to go and sell it for the price of a shekel and you will have the money for they’re tax.

Interesting how Jesus paid the tax even though He has not happy with everything that was going on in the Temple. Remember earlier when Jesus cleansed Temple, chasing out the sellers and money changers.-(John 2:13-17 ) And will soon have do it all over again.-(Matt. 21:12-13)  So too for us, we may not agree with everything the church is doing, but we must support it. Even when we find ourselves at odds with the decisions or directions of those around us—whether in our communities, our workplaces, or our places of worship—we are still called to contribute, to support, and persevere a cause greater than our own preferences.

There’s debate as to whether Jesus was speaking Literally or Figuratively. There were popular stories in both Pagan and Jewish Literature… Of Money/Treasures Found in the Mouths of Fish. It’s possible Jesus was using playful language to express…That they were very Low on money.  Others suggests in its original cultural context; it was meant in a humorous way (i.e. finding things where you would least expect them)? Others suggests that it really wasn’t a miracle at all, that Jesus was saying go catch a fish and then sale it and whatever money you get will be enough to pay for our taxes. Whether this was a parable or a symbolic act, the standard interpretation leans towards a literal miracle within the biblical context.  Whether Jesus was Commanding Peter to Actually Catch a Fish or Not… Doesn’t Change the Point of the Story The Point is: Jesus was Free to Not Pay the Tax… And Yet He Paid it Anyway

For you fishermen out there this is the only biblical reference to fishing by hook and line. All the rest are nets.

This is the only miracle that is self-serving, where money or financial benefits are involved.

Many wonder what happened when Peter went back to the tax collector guys. Did he go back and say “Oh my bad, we actually didn’t pay this year” “Here’s your money.”