Matthew 17:14-27

The healing of the demon possessed boy is covered elsewhere so let’s focus on a story that only Matthew (the Tax Collector) relates.

Peter is asked if Jesus pays the Temple Tax. This was a tax for the upkeep of the Temple which was also known as the atonement tax. Each adult male Jew was to pay this tax so the Temple would stay well supplied with sacrifices to make atonement for sin.

Peter answers, “Yes.” Why did Peter answer, “Yes?” Had he ever seen Jesus pay this tax? No. If he really thought about it (an unusual activity for Peter in those days) he might have considered just to whom the Temple belonged. That would be God. And who was Jesus? Well, according to Peter’s own confession Jesus was God’s Son. Furthermore, though this might have been a bit much to ask Peter to consider at the time, Jesus was the one person living who had no need of atonement because He never sinned, nor was He born into sin.

OK, so where are we going here? Very simple point. We tend to make assumptions about what God does or doesn’t like and does or doesn’t do. But often these assumptions are just a reflection of what we like or what we would do. Without the authority of God’s Word we are just flapping in the wind.

Let us be careful to not project ourselves onto the All Mighty and then weigh down others with our misrepresentation of God.