The Red Letters - Part 90 - Is Your Sin Worth It? by Cornerstone Church

The Red Letters - Part 89 - Let Them Help! by Cornerstone Church

The Red Letters - Part 88 - Who's The Greatest by Cornerstone Church

The Red Letters - Part 87 - Who Does Jesus Think He Is? by Cornerstone Church

The Son Doesn’t Pay - 1/20/2018

It is believed that just Peter and Jesus are involved, and that Jesus takes this opportunity to reveal more of His divinity to Peter.

Matthew 17:24-27

Now, this tax was established back in Exodus when God told Moses to take a census and to collect money for the temple.

Exodus 30:11-16 This was a reminder of the atonement, a ransom for their souls. And so, this “temple tax” that was taken was a reminder of what God had done in their lives.

How does that tie in to today’s passage?

How can one make an atonement… if He is without sin?

How could our atoning sacrifice, the One who paid our ransom, be expected to pay?

So, we have this situation, where Peter is asked by the temple tax collectors, if Jesus pays His taxes, and Peter says… “Yes.”

Peter has this encounter and then walks into the house, presumably to tell Jesus what took place. And Jesus in His omniscience… knowing what just took place, speaks before Peter can get started. Verse 25

Jesus is confirming the confession that His friend had made just a short time ago. Matthew 16:16

Jesus is not obligated to pay anything because He is the Son! And The Son Doesn’t Pay!

Who pays tribute to the king? Not the sons. Who is this temple tax for? The KING! God… the Father… Jesus the Son of God is not obligated to pay taxes or tributes to the temple of God!

Jesus assures his friend… “it’s all good… we are going to pay the tax...” What a better way to pay a divine tribute, a temple tribute, than by doing so in a divine fashion.

Now, Peter could have puffed up and told Jesus… “Don’t tell me how to fish!” But he didn’t. His Lord and His Savior told Him to do something crazy and He did it. That obedience only comes from time spent in the presence of Jesus Christ! Trusting and believing that He is the Son of God!

How would you respond? Do you trust Jesus enough, that you will do whatever He asks you to do? Do you trust Jesus? Do you trust Jesus like Peter did? Do you believe in Jesus like Peter did? Do you receive Jesus like Peter did? John 1:12

The Red Letters - Part 85 - The Need For Faith by Cornerstone Church

The Red Letters - Part 84 - The Transfiguration by Cornerstone Church

The Red Letters - Part 83 - The Way of the Cross by Cornerstone Church

The Red Letters - Part 82 - The Ultimate Christian Confession by Cornerstone Church

The Red Letters - Part 81 - Watch and Beware the Leaven by Cornerstone Church