Freedom and Responsibility

Introduction: Election day is coming up, and America could not be more polarized (maybe more polarized than we have ever been?). We may think, “I am a citizen of Heaven, and earthly politics don’t matter. Wrong! Jesus expects us to be responsible and functional members of our society, and in America that means participating in the democratic process: voting!

A Test

Rejection Theme in Matthew’s Gospel

Setting: Back to Capernaum (Jewish or Gentile context?)

Tyre and Sidon: Canaanite Woman’s faith ()

Gentile Area: Jesus doing mass healings ()

Gentile Area: Feeding the 4000 ()

Back to Galilee: Pharisees and Sadducees test Jesus (vv.

Back to Galilee: Pharisees and Sadducees test Jesus ()

Back to Gentile Area: Beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees ()

Caesarea Philippi (Gentile Area): Peter’s confession of faith ()

Caesarea Philippi (Gentile Area): Jesus foretells his death ()

Caesarea Philippi (Gentile Area): Take up your cross ()

Caesarea Philippi (Gentile Area): Transfiguration ()

Caesarea Philippi (Gentile Area): Jesus heals a boy with a demon ()

Back to Galilee: Jesus foretells his death a second time (vv.

Back to Galilee: Jesus foretells his death a second time ()

Back to Capernaum (home base): Testing and teaching about tax ()

Main Idea: We are free in Christ, but we must be responsible citizens of this world.

A Test: To Pay or Not to Pay

A Test

(vv. 24-25a)

What kind of tax was this?

Probably a regional Roman tax, though possibly the temple tax.

Tyre and Sidon: Canaanite Woman’s faith

Why did they go to Peter?

Tension between the religious leaders and Jesus, or respect for the Jewish teacher?

Peter assumes an affirmative answer

Gentile Area: Jesus doing mass healings

Tax: Didrachma (half-shekel)

Gentile Area: Feeding the 4000

A Test: : To Pay or Not to Pay

Why did they go to Peter?

What kind of tax was this?

Back to Galilee: Pharisees and Sadducees test Jesus

Tension between the religious leaders and Jesus, or respect for the Jewish teacher?

Why did they go to Peter?

Back to Gentile Area: Beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees

Peter assumes an affirmative answer

Peter assumes an affirmative answer

Caesarea Philippi (Gentile Area): Peter’s confession of faith

Caesarea Philippi (Gentile Area): Jesus foretells his death

Caesarea Philippi (Gentile Area): Take up your cross

Caesarea Philippi (Gentile Area): Transfiguration

Caesarea Philippi (Gentile Area): Jesus heals a boy with a demon (

Back to Galilee: Jesus foretells his death

Back to Capernaum (home base): Testing about tax

The Deeper Meaning: To Pay, But Why?

(vv. 25b-26)

Going into the house, Jesus pulls Peter aside (Jesus might have overheard the exchange, or had divine knowledge of the exchange)

Jesus gives Peter a lesson: Sons don’t pay tax (benefit vs. responsibility)

The sons are free

Freedom and Responsibility

(v. 27)

So as not to offend them: offend who? The Jews? The Romans?

Miracle: Catch one fish, find a coin

I think the meaning is in the miracle: The miracle seems so strange and mundane. God provides a miracle for the purpose of paying tax? That seems so petty.

Jesus’ exemption from tax (Recognizing who Jesus is)

His submission to pay (Recognizing what Jesus did)

God’s supernatural provision in order to pay the tax (Trusting God to provide for us because of our position in Christ)

We might ask the clarifying question: How do we normally pay tax? God enables us to work, He provides for us, and then we pay tax (tithe?) out of our increase. Thus, our paying of tax is always based on God’s supernatural provision. Thus, we are surprised by Peter’s finding a coin in the mouth of the fish, but we probably shouldn’t be surprised. God’s provision in this instance is utterly unique. It is fitting that God’s unique provision would be for God’s unique (one and only) son. The principle, however, is the same. Jesus trusted (and likewise Peter) that God would provide for him so that he could pay the (mundane) tax. So also we are called to trust God that He will provide for our needs so that we can pay tax (or contribute meaningfully to society).

Miracle

A Stater is a Shekel, which is 4 Drachma, so it is enough for Peter and Jesus

What about the other disciples?

Freedom and Responsibility

(v. 27)

After the miracle, Peter pays the tax for both Jesus and Peter

Miracle: Catch one fish, find a coin, pay the tax for both Jesus and Peter

What about the other disciples?

So What?

Matthew Explanation of the Text

All decisions are made on the basis of what enhances the gospel, and Christ’s ambassadors are to surrender their “rights” for its sake.

Thus, is the point Christological or “submission to government?” Or Both?

What does it mean for us to be in the world, but not of the world? Or to be citizens of Heaven and exempt of the requirements of Earth, yet sojourners on Earth and subject to the human government systems?

Matthew 3. Foregoing Rights

as part of God’s mission to the world, believers will forego their “rights” and place themselves under obligation to the world’s system.

Why Not Allow Yourself to be Wronged? See

Submission to Government: ;

Church: If this is about the church (Jesus paid the temple tax, although he was free not to because he is the Son of God), what do we learn about our responsibility to tithe?

Yes, we are free, we do not have to do anything. Yet, if we do not regularly attend church, or tithe, we are neglecting our responsibility of being in the world but not of the world.

Or, we might rephrase the point this way: If non-believes measured the truthfulness of the gospel message by the way that they see us giving back to God, would they believe that you are truly saved? If the gospel truly transforms, then has it transformed your pocketbook? If the gospel has not transformed your pocket book, have you truly been transformed?

If supporting Jesus’ work (tithing) of growing his church was the measuring criteria for whether or not we are saved, would the world look on and recognize that you’re saved?

Now, to be very clear, we are not saying that tithing saves you. We are not saying that you are not saved if you don’t tithe. We are simply saying something similar to what James said, “Faith without works is dead.” Or, what Jesus said, “you will know them by their fruit.” If the fruit you produce is evidence contrary to what you say you believe, then you may just be a hypocrite, and fooling yourself.

In summary, whether or not we tithe has everything to do with the Gospel that we say we believe. Do you believe Jesus saves? Do you believe he transforms us? Does your lifestyle prove as much? Now let’s apply the same concept to government and taxes.

If this is about government (Jesus’ illustration was about kings and taxes on imports and exports), what do we learn about our responsibility to pay tax even though Jesus is Lord of all and we are his co-heirs in his kingdom?

Government: If this is about government (Jesus’ illustration was about kings and taxes on imports and exports), what do we learn about our responsibility to pay tax (participate in government processes) even though Jesus is Lord of all and we are his co-heirs in his kingdom?

Do we truly care about our fellow man? Do we care about the people that we are fellow travelers with? Do we care enough about them to be involved in their lives? Do we care enough about our communities that we’ll participate in civil political processes? Do we pay tax? Do we vote? If we don’t do these things, we show the world that we don’t care. We might be saying, “My eternity is secured, so I don’t care about the fate of the rest of these people.” If we have been changed by Jesus, then our participation in government will reflect that. Do you pay tax? Or, do you cheat on taxes? Do you vote using biblical values as a measure? Or do you vote based on your personal preferences? If you were questionned by an unbeliever as to why you voted a certain way, would the Gospel of Jesus Christ be a part of your answer? Again, we will be known by our fruit. What kind of fruit do unbelievers see?

Conclusion/Two take aways: Trust God to provide, and let your trust in His provision be evident in your participation (tithing) in church, and your participation (paying tax and voting) in government. In so doing, let us show the world that we are responsible citizens, all while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, rejoicing in our freedom, and longing for the day we’ll be with Him in eternity!