21
Temple Tax
Matthew 17:22-27
The twelve disciples are alone with the Master in Galilee, and His conversation with them is serious. Simon can sense that his Master carries a heavy burden this morning - Jesus had, after all, spent the entire night in prayer again.
Then Jesus says something that sends a chill down his spine: “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.”
Simon jumps up: “Master, I, Simon, will never, ever allow this to happen!”
Jesus looks at him sadly. “Peter…” Jesus says softly, and Simon wishes the ground would swallow him whole. His face turns red as he suddenly remembers how Jesus had just the other day called him “Satan” when he had said something similar. He wants to bite his tongue off!
But then another thought strikes him: how did Jesus just address him? “Peter!” A few days ago, when he had confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, Jesus had told him that from then on, he would be known as Peter, the rock. “On this rock, I will build My church!” the Master had said.
And now, after this terrible blunder, the Master still calls him Peter. He cannot understand how Jesus forgives him over and over again - and still says good things about him. “What have I done to deserve this?” he wonders.
Then, as if nothing had happened, the Master continues: “On the third day, the Son of Man will be raised from the dead.”
This is now the second time Jesus has told them these things, and it fills them with deep sorrow. On top of that, they do not understand it at all.
Silently, they leave for Capernaum. Upon their arrival at the synagogue, they find officials collecting the temple tax. Peter feels uncomfortable - this is quite a controversial issue. And it seems as if Jesus pays no attention to the officials at all - He simply looks the other way.
“Master, what should we do?” Peter wants to ask, but he holds himself back as one of the men walks straight up to him.
Pointing toward Jesus, the man asks: “What about Him? Doesn’t your Rabbi pay the temple tax?”
Peter swallows hard - he needs to think fast. “Of course!” he replies with a forced smile.
Satisfied, the man turns and walks away. But Peter is not at ease.
“Master…” he begins as they step into the synagogue.
But Jesus is already ahead of him: “Simon, what do you think? Who is required to pay taxes to a king? His sons or his subjects?”
Peter is caught off guard. But the answer is obvious: “Of course, the other people!”
“Well then, that means the sons are exempt from the tax, doesn’t it?”
Suddenly, a light goes on in Peter’s mind: “Of course, Master! Now I understand…”
“But we must not offend these people, Peter. I think we should pay the tax to keep the peace. I want you to go and catch a fish.”
Now Peter is completely confused. “What does a fish have to do with paying tax?”
“Peter, go cast your line into the sea. The first fish you catch will have a coin in its mouth. Bring it to the synagogue and use it to pay our tax.”
Peter takes off at a run to carry out the instruction. “Fishers of men!” he sings as he prepares his line to catch his “tax fish.”
What About My Tithe?
Does this mean I no longer have to give my tithe?
Indeed! The tithe (or as one might call it, the temple tax) has now become a thanks-offering - I give it voluntarily out of gratitude, so that the Kingdom of God may expand. But also because a new love is growing in my heart - not only for God but also for my fellow-human beings.
Why? Gratitude!
But beyond that, when I live out love, I proclaim the Gospel without words. If I follow the law simply as an obligation, it is meaningless. It must come from the heart - only then does it truly make sense!
Prayer:
Lord, I love You deeply, and that is why I try to do what You want me to do!