Matthew 17:24-27 | I Samuel 8:4-22 | Gospels in Lent Track: Mark 7-9
You just have to love this passage! There are several elements that resonate with our experience, even today. While it ends with one of Jesus’ weirdest miracles, everything else is something we might imagine facing in our own lives:
Jesus came home to Capernaum after a long trip only to face a tax bill.1 Not only that, but the tax agents themselves came into his house. But he looked past them and had a quick little conversation with Peter about the reality of taxes - with the IRS right there listening in. Yet he obeyed and paid his share of taxes, and also Peter’s.
It is clear that the systems of this world do not resonate with Jesus. Taxes are one thing and having to pay them is enough of an annoying struggle for so many. But soon enough, powers and systems beyond taxes will flex even more muscle in Jesus’ direction. Let us keep our eyes on his posture.
Matthew 17:24-27
When they came to Capernaum, the people who collected the half-shekel temple tax came to Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“Yes,” he said.
But when they came into the house, Jesus spoke to Peter first.“What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect taxes, from their children or from strangers?”
“From strangers,” he said.
Jesus said to him, “Then the children don’t have to pay. But just so we don’t offend them, go to the lake, throw out a fishing line and hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a shekel coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”
I Samuel 8:4-22
So all the Israelite elders got together and went to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “Listen. You are old now, and your sons don’t follow in your footsteps. So appoint us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” It seemed very bad to Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” so he prayed to the Lord.
The Lord answered Samuel, “Comply with the people’s request—everything they ask of you—because they haven’t rejected you. No, they’ve rejected me as king over them. They are doing to you only what they’ve been doing to me from the day I brought them out of Egypt to this very minute, abandoning me and worshipping other gods. So comply with their request, but give them a clear warning, telling them how the king will rule over them.”
Then Samuel explained everything the Lord had said to the people who were asking for a king. “This is how the king will rule over you,” Samuel said:
“He will take your sons, and will use them for his chariots and his cavalry and as runners for his chariot. He will use them as his commanders of troops of one thousand and troops of fifty, or to do his plowing and his harvesting, or to make his weapons or parts for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, or bakers. He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his servants. He will give one-tenth of your grain and your vineyards to his officials and servants. He will take your male and female servants, along with the best of your cattle and donkeys, and make them do his work. He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and then you yourselves will become his slaves! When that day comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose for yourselves, but on that day the Lord won’t answer you.”
But the people refused to listen to Samuel and said, “No! There must be a king over us so we can be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.”
Samuel listened to everything the people said and repeated it directly to the Lord. Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Comply with their request. Give them a king.”
Samuel then told the Israelite people, “Go back, each of you, to your own hometown.”
Prayer
God -
That’s a pretty cool trick Jesus did with the coin in the fish’s mouth. But it’s not paying my taxes (or bills). I kid, I kid, Lord. But I would indeed like to ask for your help in having the perspective of Jesus who acknowledged the reality of the world, but did not let it get to him.
I let the world get to me so much, Lord. Taxes are one thing and annoying enough. But speed limits and waiting rooms and lack of health care and just people in general. People! If not for people…if everyone would just listen to me, Lord. All would go well.
I know that’s not true, but I often act like it. Because the ways of the world can be so frustrating.
My prayer again: Give me the perspective of Jesus to live within this world as your beloved.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
Just a little historical note: this tax actually wasn’t a governmental tax levied by Rome, but a temple tax required of all Jews for the upkeep of the Temple. Regardless, it was compulsory, mandatory for everyone.