Matthew 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
Don’t Try to Protect Jesus from Himself
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Did your dad have the capacity to embarrass you? A lot of times people are embarrassed by someone in authority whom they love. We can feel this way about a President, a pastor, or an executive. They love the country or company, but they feel as if that person has said or done something to embarrass them. So there are times when we can feel obligated to protect a leader from himself.
That seems to be what Peter was thinking as we read this story in Matthew 17. It says, “And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?” They were not talking about a tax from Rome, but a temple tax, one among the Jewish people. It would have been a voluntary assessment, but it was kind of expected. The question was a leading, pointed question. “Hey, doesn’t your master pay tribute to the temple?”
Verse 25 says, “He [Peter] saith, Yes. And when he cometh into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.”
The truth is, God the Son was not obligated to pay this sum. And yet Peter was eager to tell those who might be critical the answer they wanted to hear in order to protect Jesus from any possible oversight on His part. Peter’s answer was an emphatic “Yes!” I may be wrong, but I do believe that Peter was a little defensive and perhaps trying to protect Jesus from Himself. But, is “protecting someone from himself” noble or insubordinate when that person is an authority?
That depends on whether you are trying to explain who that person is or to explain away who that person is. Who Jesus is is a matter of clearest record. Sometimes a president or executive may be inconsistent with himself, but Jesus is not. Jesus is not forgetful or dishonest with what He said or with Who He is because He is eternally immutable. God the Son is Who He is, and He will always do right. Don’t try to protect Jesus from Himself, instead rest in Who He is.
First, notice Who He is. He is God. Jesus is the Creator of the universe, so to think that He was obligated to pay this temple tribute is sheer folly. Jesus asked, “Do kings charge their own children, or do they charge people they don’t know?” The meaning of this rhetorical question is clear. If a king would not charge his own children, then God need not charge His own Son.
Second, remember why Jesus came. Verse 27 is fascinating. Jesus basically says, “I am not obligated to pay this tribute. The temple is mine. The world is mine. But, just so we don’t offend them, go catch a fish, and in that fish you will find a piece of money to pay the tax.” Jesus didn’t need to pay this tribute, but He did. Can you think of anything else that Jesus gave? Jesus gave Himself. Jesus wasn’t obligated to die on the cross. I am. A Jesus Who would be so generous as to give His life for every sinner would not be stingy when it came to the temple tribute, though He did not owe it.
Third, remember how Jesus is. He is gracious. In order to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks us a reason of the hope that is in us. People are to note our hope and gracious demeanor and not some trait unbecoming of a follower of Jesus.
Jesus is God and Jesus is gracious. He is both. Don’t be embarrassed of Him. Declare Him even when it is not expedient or politically correct.
Jesus is not fashionable, nor will He ever be, because He wasn’t fashioned by humans. He is the Creator of them. Declare Him in all of His authority and grace. You can take Him or leave Him, but it will be on His own terms.