Everybody Needs Instructions - Matthew 17:14-27

Introduction: How many of us like instructions? How many of us take the time to read instruction booklets that come with products we order from China? How many of us men think that we don’t need instructions? I’m guilty! However, I often find myself having to go back and look at the instructions. And I hate it when I get something together and discover that I missed a piece, and I must take the thing apart just to insert that one piece.

   What about another type of instruction– instructions about life? Do you like people sharing instructions with you about how to do things a certain way, that if you did it their way you would find it so much easier? I have discovered that not very many people receive instructions very well. A lot of people are opposed to accepting instructions from others. And yet, we all need instructions.

   Are you aware that Biblical teaching is instruction? We read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 the following about instructions:

   16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

   The Greek word for “instruction” here is paideia (παιδεία), which refers to training, discipline, and correction necessary for growth in righteousness. Paul reminds us that Scripture doesn’t just inform; it transforms and equips us.

   We also read in Proverbs 4:13,

   Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.

Instruction isn’t just helpful – it is vital to our spiritual survival.

As we come to our text, we see Jesus instructing His disciples in three key areas: faith, salvation, and responsibility. His instruction was meant to help them live upright lives and deepen their understanding of the Kingdom of God.

   It has been said that the BIBLE stands for “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.”

   So, with all that as our introduction, let’s get into our Bible and see what instructions God has for us today. First, we have…

Instructions About Faith – Matthew 17:14-21

    14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

   Every day you and I face situations in life that require immediate action. A sick child. Overdue bills. Aging parents. Marital problems. These are the issues we often face in life.

   Here in our text, a father comes to Jesus, and he is seeking mercy for his son, who is an epileptic and suffers severely – falling into the fire and the water. This father took his boy first to Jesus’ disciples, but they couldn’t cure him.

   I want to say from the get-go that this father ended up where he should have started at the beginning. Sometimes we think other people can help us, and they can at times, but no one can help us like Jesus. He is the great physician – He is the healer.

   Look at Jesus’ response to this father in verse 17 and following…

   17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

   Jesus diagnosed the problem with his disciples, this man, and even the boy. The problem is universal, and it affects all people. Jesus called them a faithless and perverse generation. Why such a stern rebuke? Because they had witnessed with their eyes all that He had done. He had been with them for three years. Where was their faith?

  Jesus tells the father to bring his son to Him. Jesus looked at the boy and saw the real problem – it was a demon. Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the child was cured from that very hour.

   In verse 19 we read,

   19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

   The disciples saw how easy it was for Jesus to heal the boy, and they wanted to know why they couldn’t cast the demon out.

   20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

   The answer Jesus provides is that they couldn’t heal the boy because of their lack of belief. The word “unbelief” here in verse 20 is, apistia (ἀπιστία), which means a lack of trust or confidence in God. Jesus was not just speaking about their inability but their lack of dependence on God’s power.

   Next Jesus talks with his disciples about the importance of faith. The size of faith is not the issue. Jesus said that faith as small as a mustard seed can accomplish great tasks. With small faith, one can move large mountains (not literal mountains but difficulties in our lives). Jesus says that with very little faith, we can be mountain movers and that nothing will be impossible for us.

   One man said, “Small faith (mustard seed) can accomplish great things when placed in an all-powerful God.”

   Finally, Jesus told His disciples that the situation that they found themselves in with the boy could only be dealt with by prayer and fasting.

   As I read this, I thought that we as believers have a lot to learn here. We need to learn that certain situations will come into our lives that will require prayer and fasting. One area for sure is spiritual battles. When we fight in the spiritual realm we need to be prayed up and we need to fast to get our minds focused on spiritual truth.

   So, let’s think about prayer and fasting for just a few moments:

   Three ways to pray:

1. Pray the Word – Ephesians 6:17

   And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

The words “which is the word of God” could read, “which is the sayings of God.” We need to learn to pray God’s Word. Here is an example:

   Lord, You said no weapon formed against me shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). I stand on that promise now. You are my refuge and fortress (Psalm 91:2), and I trust You to defend me.”

2. Pray in the Spirit – Ephesians 6:18

   praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

   We must yield to the Holy Spirit. Come and submit your need to the Spirit. Scripture tells us that when we don’t know what to pray the Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26).

3. Pray with Authority – James 4:7

   Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

   Christ’s followers need to stand in their identity – you are in Christ! You need to speak with boldness. We don’t beg for victory – stand in victory. We pray in the name of Jesus!

  Three ways to fast:

1. Partial fast – Daniel 10:3

   I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

  Set aside certain foods for a period. This allows you to focus on God alone. Skip meat, sweets, and processed foods. Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and drink only water.

2. Complete fast – Ezra 8:23

   So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.

   When life is very complicated, I would suggest that you do a complete fast (Water only). Set aside food for a period. You won’t starve yourself. Start by skipping one meal and using that time to pray.

3. The Soul Fast – Hebrews 12:1

   Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

   Not all fasting must involve food. Sometimes it’s stepping away from worldly distractions that drown out God’s voice. Fast from TV, social media, news, gaming, or whatever might be consuming your time. When you clear your mind, you can start hearing God.

   Jesus said that in certain situations a need requires prayer and fasting. There is a message here for each one of us.

   Above all – walk in faith.

   Matthew Henry comments: “Faith is the key that unlocks the treasury of divine power.” Without faith, even the disciples were powerless.

   Faith, prayer, and fasting – three tools to accomplish much!

   The next area of instruction is

2. Instructions About Jesus’ Death – Matthew 17:22-23

   22 Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

   This is Jesus’ second passion prediction that He shared with His disciples. Remember He had shared with them back in Matthew 16:21-23. His disciples heard Him speak about His suffering but missed it when he talked about His resurrection.

   Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection equals our SALVATION!

   What do we discover in these verses? We discover…

   There is BETRAYAL – 17:22

   Jesus told His disciples the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. Betrayal is no doubt one of the most hideous things a person can do to another human being.

· When a parent betrays a child.

· When a spouse betrays their mate.

· When a soldier betrays his nation.

· When a leader betrays their people.

· When a pastor betrays his church.

· When a coworker betrays a colleague.

· When a disciple betrays his master.

   The phrase “betrayed” in Greek means to hand over or deliver into the hands of another. It signifies both Jesus' willing sacrifice and the fulfillment of prophecy.

   There is MURDER – 17:23

   Jesus told His disciples that they would kill Him (murder Him). We know all of this because we’ve read in the Bible that Jesus was crucified – nailed to a cross at Calvary. For six hours Jesus hung in agony on behalf of sinful man.

  The Jews murdered Jesus!

   There is RESURRECTION – 17:23

   Finally, Jesus told His disciples that on the third day, He would rise again. Death could not hold the Son of God. Jesus would conquer the coldness of death’s grip. Nothing could hold down Jesus Christ. We know that all of this happened even as He predicted. God’s plan is never defeated.

   Again, you and I know the story, but the disciples at this moment didn’t know how things were going to turn out. So, our text tells us that “they were exceedingly sorrowful.”

   Last Sunday I preached about how things turned out – Jesus Rose from the grave – He is alive!

   Charles Spurgeon said, “Christ's death was not a defeat, but the greatest victory ever won.”

   We serve a risen Savior – Amen!

   The third area of instruction is…

3. Instructions About Responsibility – Matthew 17:24-27

   24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

  The tax man in Capernaum wanted to know if Jesus paid the temple tax. Yes, they even had taxes back in the days of Jesus. Every Jewish man twenty years up to fifty years was required to pay a tax to support the upkeep of the temple.

   Bear in mind that Jesus was born during the time of a census so that government could determine who to tax, and how much to tax. Taxation goes back a long time.

   Do you ever feel like the tax man is waiting for you? Jesus and His disciples came into town, and the tax man was on them like white on rice.

  In 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote that in life, “nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Well, Jesus just talked about His death, and now He talks about paying taxes.

   Yes, we all pay taxes! Have you ever heard the Tax poem?

The Tax Poem

Tax his land, Tax his bed, Tax the table at which he's fed.

Tax his tractor, Tax his mule, Teach him taxes are the rule.

Tax his work, Tax his pay, He works for peanuts anyway!

Tax his cow, Tax his goat, Tax his pants, Tax his coat. Tax his ties,

Tax his shirt, Tax his work, Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco, Tax his drink, Tax him if he tries to think.

Tax his cigars, Tax his beers, If he cries tax his tears.

Tax his car, Tax his fuel, Find other ways to tax his due.

Tax all he has, Then let him know, That you won't be done till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers, Then tax him some more, Tax him till he's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin, Tax his grave, Tax the sod in which he's laid.

Put these words Upon his tomb, 'Taxes drove me to my doom...

When he's gone, Do not relax, it’s time to apply the inheritance tax.

  Are you aware that you will work nearly 4 months every year just to pay taxes? Tax Freedom Day marks the day on which the average American has earned enough to pay their taxes for the year.

   Jesus continued… let’s pick up at verse 25,

   25 He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

   As I read these verses, I couldn’t help but think how “times” may change but ideas don’t. Jesus asked Simon the following question: From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers? Look at Peter’s answer in verse 26, “From strangers.” Nothing has changed. This is even how Congress works today – most of them know all the loopholes allotted, and they use them. They once talked about millionaires, but now they talk about billionaires paying their fair share in taxes, all the while they seek to exempt themselves. It’s the STRANGERS that pay the majority of taxes, not the oligarchs and kings (those in positions of authority).   

   According to Jesus’ instructions “sons” were exempt from taxes. His Father (God) was the rightful owner of the temple. He was free from this tax. But Jesus paid the tax so as not to cause a scene.

   Jesus sends Peter off to fish (he was a skilled fisherman). Jesus told him where to go and cast a hook. Jesus told Peter that the first fish he caught he was to look into its mouth, and in its mouth, he would find a piece of money. He was told to give it to them (the tax collectors) for both Him and Peter. The coin in the fish’s mouth was a “stater”, worth about two drachmas – exactly enough to pay the temple tax for two people.

   John MacArthur states, “Jesus’ miracle in providing the tax money shows God’s provision even in civic duties.”

   We may not like paying taxes, but we do have a social responsibility to pay our rightful share. Jesus refused to cause a scene. Jesus said elsewhere when questioned about paying taxes to Rome,

   “Therefore, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar‘s, and to God the things that are Gods.” (Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:17; Luke 20:25).

   How you and I respond to government taxes reflects just how well we receive instructions from Jesus. It also is a witness to the world.

Conclusion: Just as we need instructions to assemble a product, we need God’s instructions for our spiritual lives. Jesus instructed His disciples in the areas of:

1. Faith – He told them to trust in God, even when situations seem impossible.

2. Salvation – His murder and resurrection were part of God’s plan, and our sorrow turns to joy in His victory.

3. Responsibility – That even in civic matters like taxes, we follow Christ’s example of wisdom and grace.

   Let’s not ignore God’s Instruction Manual—the Bible. Instead, let’s study it, apply it, and trust that God’s instructions always lead us to life and truth.