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Matthew 17

Kevin Colvin
08/06/23 - Podcast

And now, a minute with the Word…

Peter, James, and John get to see a transfigured, glorified Jesus, face shining like the Sun, garments as white as light. It takes God’s awesome and terrifying voice to impress upon them the preeminence of Jesus. Moses and the prophets, from the original Elijah to the first century Elijah, had an important role to play in preparing the way for the king, but now the King is here and it is time to listen to Him. Jesus rebukes His disciples for the littleness of their faith after they are unable to cast out the boy’s demon. Is my faith little? Where have I failed from a lack of faith? On a separate note, hat’s the significance of this tax story? There was a Tax first described in Exodus 30 where everyone 20 and older had to pay half a shekel for the purpose of atonement, and the money was directly used to fund the tabernacle. It seems this one time tax was then revived without God’s consent in the First century to fund Herrods temple renovation project. Peter is questioned as to whether Jesus pays this tax or not and possibly history answers yes. Although he was not with him for that question, Jesus is aware of what just happened, and as Peter walks into the house, Jesus asks him a question. Do kings collect taxes from their children or from strangers? The answer is strangers and here’s the point. The tabernacle tax, now turned by the people into a temple tax, was supposed to be applied to strangers, that is people who needed atonement, people who needed help to be brought into God’s house/kingdom. If the tabernacle, now, in the first century, the temple, represents God’s house, then, Jesus, God’s son, would not be subject to the temple tax, nor does Jesus need atonement. Jesus is already a part of his Father's house. Jesus does not need to pay taxes and his Father’s house. In an effort, however, to not offend the people, Jesus tells Peter to pay the tax for both of them with the shekel he finds in a fish.