The Temple Tax: an Illustration of the Sermon
A. B. Bruce, D. D. Matthew 17:24-27 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Does not your master pay tribute?… Our Lord. had been preaching humility to His disciples; now He exhibits it in His own self-humiliation. He would say in effect, "Were I covetous of honours I should stand on my dignity as the Son of God, and claim to be free from servile obligations; but I suffer my honours to fall into abeyance, and make no demands for a recognition which is not voluntarily conceded." I. The MANNER of payment was also so contrived by Him as to reinforce the lesson. He gave directions as the Lord of nature to whom all creatures in land or sea were subject. "Behold who it is that pays this tax and that is reduced to such straits; it is He who knoweth the paths of the sea." II. The REASON which moved Him to adopt the policy of submission to what was in itself an indignity, "Lest we should offend." How careful was our Lord not to offend. He did not take offence. He did not resent the demand for tax as an insult. The lowly one did not assume this attitude, but gave what was asked without complaint. It teaches the children of the kingdom not to murmur because the world does not recognize their status and respect their dignity. They must wait for the manifestation of the sons of God. III. A lesson for those who consider themselves aggrieved by demands for "church rates" and "annuity taxes." Let the children be free if possible, but beware of imagining that it is necessary for conscience' sake always to resist indignities, and to fight for a freedom which mainly concerns the purse. It is not a mark of greatness in the kingdom to bluster about rights. The higher one rises in spiritual dignity the more he can endure in the way of indignity. The humility of Jesus was thus shown in not taking, so His love was manifested by His solicitude to avoid giving, offence. "Lest we should offend." How happy for the Church and world if this conciliating spirit ruled. (A. B. Bruce, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? WEB: When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, "Doesn't your teacher pay the didrachma?"