The tax

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

THE TAX

Matt 17:24-27

24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma 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 sons or from others?"  26 "From others," Peter answered. "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. 27 "But so that we may not offend them, 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." 

NIV

There is an illustration here which bears some explanation. First we should note this tax was not a civil tax collected by the Romans, or for the Romans as Matthew had been doing and was even referred by himself in the naming of the twelve, as Matthew the tax collector. This was a religious tax collection for the service of the temple. This was a tax that was established by God and given to Moses to collect in the numbering of the people, a census. Each man must pay his tax for the temple. When Peter was asked about if Jesus paid his tax, he affirmed that he did. It is not mentioned but we have to think Jesus was right there when Peter answered for him. This would agree with the personality type of Peter, jumping right in, speaking before thinking it through. Nevertheless Jesus then asks Peter about who do earthy kings collect taxes from, their sons or others. The whole point about this question and illustration about earthy kings and not collecting taxes from their sons but rather from their subjects shows us that Jesus was saying that he is the Son of God and therefore not under any obligation to pay the temple tax as the temple belonged to his Father. However not to offend anyone and cause more opposition then there already was, Jesus had Peter go fishing. Now the first fish caught had the exact amount needed to pay the tax for Jesus and Peter. This again is proof of the divine nature of Jesus. How else would he be able to know, unless it was proof of omniscience? He could not have placed the coin there, or maybe he could being divine, but he certainly knew it was there, and caused that fish to be the first one caught. All proof of his divine nature. Now as for the tax business, paying for the service of the temple. We could take that into our day and see our paying tithe or offerings as for service to the church. To pay for the needs of the building, the pastors and staff and such. However, that tax, tithe and or offering is collected from strangers and not from the son of the king. Are we not qualified to be called sons of God?

Gal 3:26-29

26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

NIV

Therefor by the example or illustration given by Jesus and his resulting reasoning, we are exempt from paying any tax, tithe or offerings, as the church is the house of God and we are his sons. However as to not offend anyone Jesus provides what we need in order to bring the appropriate amount to pay or give for the service of the church. Therefor it is appropriate for us to bring our portion, not as a command, or under compulsion, but as to not offend or be a cause of opposition. That is people should not oppose us because we do not give. Yet at the same time we should not let our right hand know what our left hand is doing in our giving. So how do we handle that? It might be acceptable to affirm we believe in giving, but that we do it only for God to see and therefore use only cash and receive no record of our giving for tax purposes or for anyone to know how much we give. If a record is kept of our giving and receive credit for our giving for a tax write off, than have we not already received our reward?

Matt 6:2-4

2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret . Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret , will reward you.

NIV

Although we have already dealt with is passage in Chapter 6, it applies here as well. Again Jesus was making reference to giving to the needy, but it also can apply to all giving, bringing all we give at church for the service of the temple. Our giving should be between us and God who will reward us. If we receive any reward from man, perhaps our giving is meaningless to God. Yet even as the sons of God, let us pay our “tax” which Jesus provides.