Corona Devo 1482

The tax man cometh, and we all know that.  For Americans, he comes around April 15th each year, but no matter what country you reside in, he comes all the same.

Taxes were due one day when Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum.  Every male 20-years and older owed two-drachma (approximately two days wages), which went towards the upkeep of the Temple.  The rule was that priests and people associated with the Temple (doing the work of God) did not have to pay those taxes.  

But although Jesus was God's Son, had performed miracles and spoke of dying and being resurrected, the church and government of Jesus' day did not consider Him to be exempt from the taxes.

Would you consider Jesus and His disciples to be doing the work of God?

I would too.

But the question that was asked of Jesus on that (tax) day in Capernaum wasn't about Heaven or how to please God.  Instead the tax collectors came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” (Matthew 17:24). 

The government, the "law", and even the temple leaders were blind to the deity of Jesus.  

So what did Jesus do when they asked for his tax?  

Did He begin to speak and preach to anyone passing by about who He was, and what a farce it was to pay Temple tax when the Temple was His House.

Did He whine?

Did He get angry?

Did He avoid/ignore/blatantly refuse to pay the two-drachma temple tax?

No, He did none of these things.  Paying the temple tax was required, and so He would do it.  Jesus did everything He needed to do in order to follow the law, even though the law was blind to His deity.  

However, Jesus and His disciples were constantly traveling, and their work was sharing the Good News and the Truth of God with others.  They were not earning an income, so they did not have the two-drachma temple tax.  But (whether the officials wanted to acknowledge and accept it or not), Jesus was (is!) the Messiah, and He can do whatever He wants.

The fun part of this account is where Jesus and Peter got their drachma from.  When you are the Son of God, you can be creative (because You are one with The Creator).  

~~~

After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple 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 children or from others?”  

(26) “From others,” Peter answered.  

“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 

(27) “But so that we may not cause offense, 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.”  ~Matthew 17:24-27  

Jesus did everything He needed to do in order to follow the law, even though the law was blind to His deity.  

He towed the line.

We must tow the line too.

Are we doing the work of God today?  We must complete the expectations (and laws) of what is required of us.  Jesus did not take short cuts, and His children should not either.

Is there something that we know we must do today?  Taxes, bills, work, school, apology, forgiveness, repentance...

We shouldn't speak and preach to anyone passing by about our side of the story.  

We shouldn't whine.

We shouldn't get angry.

We shouldn't avoid/ignore/blatantly refuse to do it.

We should just do what we know we need to do. 

Jesus did.

He did everything he needed to do to obey the law, even though the law was blind to His deity.  

Let's tow the line today.

Addendum: That last line WAS my last line today, but when I (finally) knelt in prayer and talked to God about my day, He and I both knew that I had run around too much, and sat-still with Him too little.  I got a lot done, but (I fear), that it was all my plans and none of His.  

He just brought a (painful) new understanding to my heart about the Scriptures above.  The tax men told Jesus to "get in line" and pay His taxes like everyone else.  They "were blind to His deity" (as I wrote multiple times earlier), and they treated Jesus like anyone else.

He is not like any one else.  Why do we...why do I...often tell Jesus (with our pace/schedule/missed priorities/and LACK of honor) to "get in line" in terms of desiring time and attention from us?  

We are blind to his deity sometimes.

Forgive us Father, forgive me, for "asking you to pay the Temple tax" like everyone else.  You are holy.  You are worthy.  Forgive me for treating you with apathy and dishonor.  O God, You are my God.  Earnestly I seek you.  ~Psalm 63:1.  Amen. 

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com