Friday, December 08, 2006
Tribute
Sometimes people forget that Jesus lived at a real place at a point in time with real issues. He had to deal with taxes, religous expectations, oppression, politics, public opinion, etc. Unlike most people, Jesus never served these things. He never let other people dictate His life.
One day when the disciples came to Capernaum, the Temple tax men came to Simon and asked him, "Doth not your master pay tribute." It's kind of like the usher at church showing up at your door and asking, "What, you don't believe in tripute to help do God's work?"
Most Jews hated Roman taxes, but the annual payment to support the Temple was matter of national pride and religous obligation. Jesus had a reputation for bending or outright ignoring the religous rules. Maybe this was a test to see just how far He would go?
Refusing to pay the two drachma tax would have likely caused quite a stir. Jesus was willing to make a scene and cause uproar when necessary. But He was not out to be a rebel just to assert His independence. Everything He did has a purpose. Jesus would gladly refuse to conform to social expectations, but he would never do so just to push buttons. Jesus was not trying to make headlines.
The Temple tax men likely came to Simon because Capernaum was his hometown. They probably knew Simon. He was a local businessman, and he could probably pay the bill even if Jesus could not. Simon did the only logical thing at the time. He told the tax men what they wanted to hear and went to see what Jesus would say.
Before Simon could even get out his question, Jesus asked Him a question. Jesus wanted Simon to come to the conclusions himself that is why he frequently asked questions instead of just giving an answer. Jesus asked, "What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children or of strangers?"
Simon responded the obvious answer - strangers. Jesus asked, "Then are the children free?" Connect this with what happened earlier in the chapter where God declares Jesus as His beloved Son. Simon witnessed this and knows who Jesus is.
In essence, Jesus was saying that He did not have to pay the Temple tax because He was God. Jesus wanted to make sure that Simon knew of His freedom to choose whether or not to pay the tax. This showed Jesus' restraint in not declaring or demanding His rights. Jesus did not have a chip on his shoulder or feel like He had to prove anything to anyone. The question and lesson was provided for Simon's instruction not Jesus' ego. The Lord was willing to pay the tribute to avoid creating unnecesssary offence. This circumstance didn't seem to be warrant a strong stance.
Instead of worry about where He was going to get the money, Jesus trusted His Father. He sent Simon to go catch a fish. He told Simon that a coin would be in the fish's mouth that would pay for both His and Simon's temple tax. Simon went and did as Jesus commanded.
The miracle coin is reminicent of a few Jewish legends that would have been common in that day. God will not always allow you to go fishing to pay your tithe. But He will provide the money necessary for you to fulfill your obligations. Jesus' instruction showed Simon that God not human effort is the source of all our needs.
Jesus had street smarts. He knew how to get out of a tough situation or a trap set by an opponent. Instead of respond in authority, Jesus relented to their request. He demonstrated meekness, which is authority under control.
Throughout the Gospels, there are a number of times when religous leaders tried to trap Jesus and get Him to say or do something that they could use to tarnish His image. While it is not clear if that was the purpose of this episode, Jesus dodged the bullet. He showed that He knew how to play politics when the situation did not call for outright revolt against the established practices. These lessons would prove pivotal for Simon as he would later have to learn how to respond to religous pressure and public expectations.
One day when the disciples came to Capernaum, the Temple tax men came to Simon and asked him, "Doth not your master pay tribute." It's kind of like the usher at church showing up at your door and asking, "What, you don't believe in tripute to help do God's work?"
Most Jews hated Roman taxes, but the annual payment to support the Temple was matter of national pride and religous obligation. Jesus had a reputation for bending or outright ignoring the religous rules. Maybe this was a test to see just how far He would go?
Refusing to pay the two drachma tax would have likely caused quite a stir. Jesus was willing to make a scene and cause uproar when necessary. But He was not out to be a rebel just to assert His independence. Everything He did has a purpose. Jesus would gladly refuse to conform to social expectations, but he would never do so just to push buttons. Jesus was not trying to make headlines.
The Temple tax men likely came to Simon because Capernaum was his hometown. They probably knew Simon. He was a local businessman, and he could probably pay the bill even if Jesus could not. Simon did the only logical thing at the time. He told the tax men what they wanted to hear and went to see what Jesus would say.
Before Simon could even get out his question, Jesus asked Him a question. Jesus wanted Simon to come to the conclusions himself that is why he frequently asked questions instead of just giving an answer. Jesus asked, "What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children or of strangers?"
Simon responded the obvious answer - strangers. Jesus asked, "Then are the children free?" Connect this with what happened earlier in the chapter where God declares Jesus as His beloved Son. Simon witnessed this and knows who Jesus is.
In essence, Jesus was saying that He did not have to pay the Temple tax because He was God. Jesus wanted to make sure that Simon knew of His freedom to choose whether or not to pay the tax. This showed Jesus' restraint in not declaring or demanding His rights. Jesus did not have a chip on his shoulder or feel like He had to prove anything to anyone. The question and lesson was provided for Simon's instruction not Jesus' ego. The Lord was willing to pay the tribute to avoid creating unnecesssary offence. This circumstance didn't seem to be warrant a strong stance.
Instead of worry about where He was going to get the money, Jesus trusted His Father. He sent Simon to go catch a fish. He told Simon that a coin would be in the fish's mouth that would pay for both His and Simon's temple tax. Simon went and did as Jesus commanded.
The miracle coin is reminicent of a few Jewish legends that would have been common in that day. God will not always allow you to go fishing to pay your tithe. But He will provide the money necessary for you to fulfill your obligations. Jesus' instruction showed Simon that God not human effort is the source of all our needs.
Jesus had street smarts. He knew how to get out of a tough situation or a trap set by an opponent. Instead of respond in authority, Jesus relented to their request. He demonstrated meekness, which is authority under control.
Throughout the Gospels, there are a number of times when religous leaders tried to trap Jesus and get Him to say or do something that they could use to tarnish His image. While it is not clear if that was the purpose of this episode, Jesus dodged the bullet. He showed that He knew how to play politics when the situation did not call for outright revolt against the established practices. These lessons would prove pivotal for Simon as he would later have to learn how to respond to religous pressure and public expectations.
