S. Matthew 17:24-27
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.”
O. Jesus doesn’t wait for Peter to ask Him about paying the temple tax. Jesus asks Peter who usually pays it. Peter replies (others not children) so Jesus shares, “that we may not cause offense” go catch a fish and the first fish you catch will have a coin, use that to pay the tax.
The word “offense” comes from a Greek word that we get our word “scandal” from. It means to “lay a trap, to trip over, a stumbling block or offense…”
Jesus did not want there to be anything that caused others to stumble or perhaps find fault with their ministry.
A. I do not want people to stumble or to find fault with the ministry that God has given me. I will pay my taxes. I will submit (yield) to the authority that is over me knowing that God has put that authority in place because I do not want people to “not hear” (trip over, stumble) the message of the Gospel of Christ due to my actions.
P. Thank you Father for this word. Holy Spirit fill me and give me wisdom to carefully balance the high call to serve you and in responding to governing authorities. In Jesus’ name!
