King Jesus stands with me!!!

Rev. Enoch Thompson | June 11, 2023 | Matthew 17:24-27

KEY VERSE:

After 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?" "Yes, he does," he replied. Matthew 17:24-25 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

The question of the payment of taxes came up in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ on several occasions. Some of those instances had to do with the tax that was imposed by the Roman colonial administration. The tax in our text today was different. It was a Jewish tax on Jewish people, and it was in fulfilment of the demands of the Law of Moses as God gave in Exodus 30:11-16. It was the tax for the atonement of the individual Jewish soul (Exodus 30:15), and it was used for the maintenance of the Temple.

The Lord’s question in Matthew 17:25 was loaded; "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?" (NIV). Jesus Christ did not need to pay this tax because He was sinless. He did not need to pay the tax because the Temple belonged to Him (Malachi 3:1; John 2:16; Heb. 3:6). As the King of Israel which He really was, He did not have to pay any taxes. The Lord knew His position and His rights, and He established this before Peter so that His next action is not misunderstood but better understood.

The Lord directed Peter nonetheless to go and get the miracle money to pay the tax for them. In doing this the Lord affirmed His self-identification with sinful Israel, like the rest of humanity, who needed reconciliation, forgiveness of sin and atonement with God. Just like when He was baptized by John, He did it to fulfil all righteousness and to be seen as a man, the Man who would replace all humans when eventually He suffers on the cross.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

You are not alone in your judgment before the throne of God. Christ our Brother (for that is what He became for us in His self-humiliation) stands with us when our names are brought before the judgment seat of God. In the same way, Christ identifies with our pains and struggles as we work our way through this world. You are not alone! Link up with Jesus Christ who identified with you and wants to always be on your side.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, how you worked out my salvation so perfectly beats my imagination. Thank you that you identified with me, a mere sinful creation, and as my Creator died in my place. Please help me to identify with you, and to spread the Good News that God in Christ has identified with the weaknesses of His creatures and has won the victory for us.

For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!