THE LIFE OF CHRIST - MINISTRY OF WITHDRAWALS

Fourth Withdrawal

-Jesus Pays the Tribute Money

-Matthew 17:24-27

-The men 20 years of age and older were required by the Law to pay a tax for the purpose of

 supporting the temple (Ex 30:12-16, 2 Chron 24:4-9).

-When Jesus and the apostles returned to Capernaum, those that collected the money came to

 Peter and asked whether or not Jesus paid the tribute.

            -Peter simply answered, “Yes.”

-When Peter then entered the house where Jesus was at, Jesus first spoke to Peter.

            -The KJV uses the word “prevented.”  This does not mean that Jesus restricted or hindered

             Peter (as we would use the word today).  Instead, He preceded Peter in speaking.  The point

             is this:  Jesus had not been present at the time Peter had been questioned and Peter hadn’t

             spoken to Him about it, yet Jesus knew exactly what had taken place.

-Jesus asked Peter whom the kings of the earth collected tribute from – children or strangers. 

 “Strangers” is not used here of foreigners but non-family subjects within a kingdom.

            -The king’s children were exempt from taxes.  Jesus, the Son of God, was therefore exempt

             from paying the tribute money. 

            -Yet, to avoid causing an offense to others, Jesus paid the tribute money for Himself and for

             Peter in a miraculous fashion.

            -In so doing, He paid the tribute in accordance with the Law but did so in such a fashion as to

              identify Himself as the Son of God.