Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax

 Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax

 

Matthew 17:24-27 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. 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 duties and taxes—from their own sons or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, 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."』

The kings of the world collect taxes from their subjects. But Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Does the king of the world collect taxes from his son or from others?” Of course, “others” means the people. Does that mean that the king’s son is not a person, but is in the same position as the king of the world? But Peter said that he collects taxes from others, not from his son, and Jesus also said that the sons are exempt from taxes.

A man who owned a vineyard rented it out to farmers and went to a distant land. The farmers did not pay the rent to the owner, so the owner sent his servant to the farmers, but the farmers beat and killed the servant, and even sent his son to them, who was killed. The servant represents the prophets. Many prophets, including Isaiah and Jeremiah, were persecuted by kings and even killed. The dead son represents Jesus Christ who died on the cross. The farmer says that he will take over the vineyard. So the owner destroys them all.

The vineyard symbolizes the temple in people's hearts, and when farmers pay taxes to the owner (God), it means that they are paying a portion of the fruits of the vineyard. In other words, it is a word that says that we should live under the law, find Christ, sow the seeds of the gospel, harvest them, and offer the fruits of resurrection to God. All believers must offer the fruits of resurrection to God. Since Jesus completely revealed himself on the cross and is the first fruit of the resurrection, Jesus, the Son, is exempt from taxes. Since Jesus' disciples freely received the life of resurrection, they again create the fruits of the life of resurrection and offer taxes. However, the Jewish leaders, who are farmers, are not interested in the life of resurrection and are obsessed with legalism, so Jesus metaphorically points this out.

『"But so that we may not offend(skandalisomen) them, go to the lake and throw out your line』Skandalisomen means to stumble, to fall into sin. Why is it a sin for Jesus and his disciples not to pay taxes to the tax collector? Jesus is the King of kings. The people of the world should pay taxes to Jesus, who is the King, but people do not pay taxes. In particular, it is said that the tax collectors are the worst of sinners because they do not pay taxes.

The reason why tax collectors are sinners is not because they extort money from people, but because they force people to pay taxes, but they are not interested in the kingdom of God at all. That is why the Pharisees treated prostitutes and tax collectors as criminals in the same category. If Jesus and his disciples did not pay taxes and were criticized by tax collectors, this is a spiritual story that the tax collectors will be judged by God for not paying taxes to the Son, the King of kings.

However, we hear from the Pharisees that Jesus is a friend of sinners and tax collectors. Matthew 9:10-13『While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher? eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who needs a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."』

The tax collectors and sinners are those who realize that they are sinners who have turned away from God, repent, and turn to God. Jesus accepted their repentance and even ate with them. However, the Pharisees were obsessed with the idea that they were the chosen people of God, and instead of repenting, they were stuck in legalism.

"Go out to the sea and cast a line." Fishing is often used as a metaphor for spreading the gospel. Matthew 4:18-20 "As he walked by the Sea of ​​Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Immediately they left their nets and followed him."

『Bring the fish (ichthus) that rises first (proton)』 On the surface, it will be one of the great miracles. However, spiritually, the fruit of the gospel is likened to a fish caught in a hook. Proton means first. The fish that rises first signifies Christ, the first fruit of the resurrection. In the early church, Jesus was symbolized as a fish, and Christians expressed Christ as ichthus.

Ichthus, meaning fish, is an acronym made up of the first letters of the Greek words Ιησους Χριστος Θεου Υιος Σωτηρ (Iesous Christos Theou Huios Soter), meaning Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.

『open(anoikas) its mouth(stoma) and you will find a four-drachma(statera) coin.』Opening is expressed symbolically, and opening the mouth symbolizes the opening of the gates of heaven. In Luke 13:25, 『When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open(anoikson) unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are.』

The Greek word statera is translated into English as a piece of money (KJV), a four-drachma coin (NIV). This word comes from the word kauchesis, which means to boast, to give glory to. Romans 3:27 says, "Where then is boasting (kauchesis)? Not at all. By what law? By works? No, but by the law of faith." What could be more proud than the fact that the gates of heaven are opened to the saints through Christ? That is why we give glory to God.