Aug 4 2005

August 8, 2005

Temple Tax Mt 17:22-27

As Jesus and his disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were overwhelmed with grief.

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said,
"Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?" "Yes," he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, "What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?" When he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him, "Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you."

There is a way to do things. Jesus foretells that there will be a coin in the mouth of the first fish caught which can be used to pay the tax. He has just told the disciples that he will be killed and raised on the third day and in the next moment, he is concerned to not offend the tax collectors of the temple. The knowledge that the fish would have the coin in it is again a sign to the disciples of the divinity of Jesus. Although he is divine, he is anxious to follow the ways of the people and not offend the temple tax collectors even though he believes that the foreigners and not the members should be the ones taxed. It is a lesson in patience with the ways of the world.