Loving The God of Truth

Welcome to all those in the ODM who desire to know and to love the God of Truth through the faithful study of His Word. Please feel free to share your comments, insights, questions, concerns, words of encouragement, thanksgiving, praise, and prayer requests with all of us.

May God most richly bless the reading of His precious Word to our hearts this year.

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
They are sweeter than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;

In keeping them there is great reward."

(Psalm 19:7-11)

Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Temple Tax

24After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"

25"Yes, he does," he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?"

26"From others," Peter answered.

"Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. 27"But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."

I've notice was verse 25 and 26. We would all assume that Jesus being the son of God would be exempted to follow any laws on earth or heaven but he chose to even though he didn't have to.

I think this passage tells us that we need to do what we have to do in this life like he says in verse 27, but also that God will provide what we need as Jesus told them to catch a fish that has money in its stomach.

2 comments:

helen_W said...

we are in agreement michelle... render unto caesar what is caesar's and to respect the authority that God has placed over us... i do believe we should serve as good citizens of earth...

darlayoo said...

it's interesting how Jesus makes the point that paying taxes is an obligation that comes from the work we do. notice how Jesus instructs peter the fisherman to go fishing, and out of the mouth of the first fish came the money for the taxes. what a neat and tidy little miracle! i hope it's not irreverent to say that i think that Jesus communicated His point with wonderful grace and "style".