Hooked on Jesus

Matthew 17:24-27 Hooked

Our text today shows us a dear picture of Jesus, how something mundane becomes a beautiful picture of the providence of God. We easily get Hooked on Jesus.

Matthew 17:24–27  “ 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?” 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.””

We often hear the typical verses you know references that play out in our minds when we hear when Jesus talks about taxes beginning in Luke 20:19–26 the chief priest and describes that very hour it tells us certainly lay hands on him, but they feared the people for they knew it had spoken in this parable against him now this isn’t this same same occurrence this is a completely different thing, but you know it kind of gives us another picture of how money and using it to pay taxes and things like that were viewed by Jesus, so — they watched him and said spies pretended to be righteous that they might seize on his words in order to deliver him to the power in the authority of the governor, and that would’ve been pilot so they asked him saying teacher we know that you say and teach rightly and do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not.

But he perceived their craftiness said to them. Why do you test me show me a denarius whose image and inscription does it have they answered and said Caesars, and he said to them render therefore, to Caesar, the things that are Caesars and to God, the things that are gods, but they cannot catch him in his words in the presence of the people, and they marveled at his answer and kept silent,

So Jesus looks at money and things like that not casual lackadaisical or dismissive manner, but he knows that we need these things to operate in this world and that God can use it to take care even of what we may again think are mundane, but God knows that they’re important to us.

So let’s break into Matthew chapter 17 verses 24 through 27 and let’s get Hooked on Jesus

01 Hooked on Taxes 02 Hooked on Family 03 HOOKED

01 Hooked on Taxes

In Matthew 17:22  “ Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said…” they were on the way back to Capernaum.

Matthew 17:24–25  “ 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?” 25a He said, “Yes.””

Capernaum: CaperPic 01

Those who received & temple tax.

The temple tax is paid during passover from visitors, but collected often a month before by those living in Israel. This comes from Exodus 30:11–16  “ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 12 “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them. 13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the Lord. 14 Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the Lord. 15 The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give an offering to the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves. 16 And you shall take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves.””

When counted, each adult male, whether rich or poor (v. 15), was to pay a half shekel, one-fifth of an ounce. A “gerah” was a Babylonian weight. The shekel was silver (cf. 38:25–26 and comments there). This practice became the basis of the later temple tax (Neh. 10:32, though the amount then was reduced to one-third of a shekel) that became an annual tax in the time of Christ that we see in (Matt. 17:24).

Nehemiah 10:32  “ Also we made ordinances for ourselves, to exact from ourselves yearly one-third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:”

Now, from what I read this wasn’t required yearly, or the like. It simply was at that time for the tabernacle. But you know beauracrats, are gonna bureacratize.

What crazy is that “After AD 70, when the temple was destroyed, the Romans diverted this tax to the temple of Jupiter in Rome, after which it ceased to be a matter of patriotism and became a symbol of their subjection to a pagan power; the fact that the story is nonetheless recorded is one of the incidental indications that Matthew’s Gospel should be dated before AD 70.” (France)

The temple tax coming right after Matthew 17:22–23  “ 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 up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.” Is another testimony that speaks to the coming Ransom Jesus would pay once and for all for the World if they would receive it. Everything a reminder that the cross, the empty tomb, is coming.

02 Hooked on Family

Matthew 17:25b–26  “ 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.

Ok, the Sadducees argued against a temple tax.

The Quamran community, paid it once in a lifetime.

some say that this is about jesus saying we don’t or shouldn't have to. There is

fyi after the temple was destroyed in 70, the romans kept taking the tax and sending it to the temple of jupiter! In Rome no less!

Jesus uses the plural. Sons. This religious tax, which even at this time is voluntary, but carries a stigma in not doing it, like he says to Not offend. The very idea of taking the lower seat. Of rejecting our pride and walking in Him. Jesus said in

Luke 14:7–11  “ So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.””

Even if Jesus is making the point that they don’t have to, even what is leavied in Nehemiah its not reason for us to not pay taxes or what He also points out in 27 God calls, God makes the way;

03 HOOKED

Matthew 17:27  “ 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.””

Offend - skandalizo - cause to sin, stumble, create scandal.

Now, some explain this away as Peter went and fished and earned the money to pay it.

Ok, Peter knows fishing. If money was ever found in a fishes mouth, he would've suggested it. Jesus is specific, go fish (work) and see how I provide in the midst of that.

Does this mean that Jesus is gonna pay your tax burden. No. But it does mean if you are in his will, that there will always be every need met so that His testimony His image, is seen in us.

So you think that God is calling you to ministry, to Africa or Mexico or somewhere here in the states, or right down the road.

If He is, He will get you there. It doesn't mean it wont be tough. Jesus’ group had an evil man taking from the till, embezzling. When a woman broke an expensive perfume to wash His feet, Judas complained, in John 12:4–6  “ But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.”

They didn't have a 4 drachma coin even to pay for the tax. But God. If you walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), you will see things others don’t. A desperate need here is a chance to see Gods hand in our lives.

Secondly, since we have died to pride, we are to minister to the weak around us. Strength is truly shown in humility. Power is the capacity to take that lower seat. Romans 15:1–6  “ We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”