We are taxed for every enjoyable thing on earth, it seems, right?!  Our income is taxed when it comes, when it is saved and then used later, and then as it is used to purchase what is needed.  But even so, we trust that the taxes we pay to the treasury of our country, state, and city are fair and reasonable.  Yes, I know what you are thinking, but we do have the right to change the situation with our vote. 

Let’s go back a couple of thousand years to the Roman occupation of the land Jesus is walking on with his disciples.  In Rome, the taxes were anything but fair.  The people didn’t get a vote.  Every person paid more than what they had or they were jailed or killed.  Most were earning a living to pay taxes to Rome! The Romans were oppressive, cruel leaders who used and abused the people under their power.  The religious leaders were pawns of manipulation under Roman rule. They each thought they had the upper hand.  The people were forced to obey both the Romans and the religious leaders who also taxed the people.  Fear was the factor in play.

So, when “tax men” came to Peter and inquired if Jesus paid taxes, Peter quickly responded, “of course,” without really knowing if The Teacher paid taxes or not.  The Fear Factor, which plagues Peter later as well, caused Peter to say yes just to avoid the conversation and resulting consequences.

But Jesus knew what Peter said and did…

Matthew 17:24-27, The Message

When they arrived at Capernaum, the tax men came to Peter and asked, “Does your teacher pay taxes?”

²⁵ Peter said, “Of course.”

But as soon as they were in the house, Jesus confronted him. “Simon, what do you think? When a king levies taxes, who pays—his children or his subjects?”

^26-27 He answered, “His subjects.”

Jesus said, “Then the children get off free, right? But so we don’t upset them needlessly, go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull in the first fish that bites. Open its mouth and you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Fear blinds wisdom.  Peter responds without thinking it through.  He avoids truth with a lie to alleviant trouble for the moment.  We always make our situation worse by lying. A better response could have been, “let’s go ask Jesus.” Instead, Peter tries to handle it by himself. 

Jesus confronts Peter.  Jesus knows our hearts.  He knows that what guides our hearts will be reflected in our behavior.  Fear is in the heart of Peter when the tax men approached him.  Jesus lovingly, and with a little amusement, corrects Peter, the fisherman, with a plan to pay the taxes.  This is yet another lesson in thinking before you speak, Peter!  Jesus’ love for Peter has not changed.  Jesus’ love never changes for us as He corrects us in our thinking and behaving.

Jesus sends Peter, the fisherman by trade, to do what he does best—fish!  Jesus brilliantly helps Peter with a way out of the mess he made with a plan of action that suits Peter’s abilities.  I love it!  Jesus has done that for me repeatedly.  He will do it for you, too, when you come to Him with a heart of complete trust and obedience for the One who knows us best.

Cast the hook.  Pull in the first fish.  Open its mouth.  Pull out a coin.  BAM—taxes paid!  Nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible with God!

Fear is driven out by the love of Jesus!  Trust and obey, for there’s no others way…

Lord,

I love this story of your glory revealed through Peter yet again!  I love how you love us!  I love you, Lord, with all my heart, mind, and soul.  The more I realize the depth of love you have for me enables me to love others even more with deeper thoughts of the same mercy and grace you have extended to me.  I love how your love drives out fear, reminding us that you are for us, not against us, even when we need correction with action.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen