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Christians must demonstrate our humility towards the weakest among us, while we appreciate our responsibility to guide all people - young & old, weak & strong - to the feet of Jesus.
The temple tax was a carry over from the half-shekel offering for the tabernacle commanded for every person over the age of 20 (Ex 30:11-16). The half- shekel was equivalent to the Greek two-drachma silver coin.
The children of kings were typically exempt from taxes. So, the answer is obvious - they collect taxes from others, but not from their own children. The Temple is the house of Yahweh, the true King of Israel. Jesus is His Son. Remember when He called the temple “my Father’s house” (Lk 2:49; Jn 2:16)?
- As the Son, Jesus doesn’t HAVE to pay a temple tax. Neither does Peter, as he is now a child of God by faith in Jesus (Jn 1:12). In the not too distant future, the disciples of Jesus would not need to pay a temple tax because the temple would be destroyed.
We’re not told what happens next, but it’s implied that this is exactly what occurred. Simon Peter, a fisherman by trade, goes fishing and comes home with the temple tax for him and Jesus.
THE NECESSITY OF HUMILITY
Why were they asking this? Mark gives us a little more information, and evidently the disciples weren’t the ones who prompted this question - Jesus was.
Mark 9:33–34 (NIV)
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
This jockeying for position doesn’t work in our homes and this isn’t going to work in the Kingdom of Jesus, so it’s time for a practical lesson in HUMILITY & RESPONSIBILITY.
- First we see the necessity of humility before God, coming to Him like little children - trusting Him to do what we can’t do, as a child trusts his/her parents. Those who want to enter the Kingdom must turn from their own self-righteousness and trust God’s mercy. Those who do NOT, will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- Next we see the importance of demonstrating HUMILITY to other people, a willingness to take the lowly position AND a willingness to welcome a child - showing kindness and gentleness to those who can’t do anything for YOU - in the name of Jesus, because the way we treat them is the way we treat JESUS.
- This isn’t just about how we treat young folks - it’s about how we are to treat each other - with genuine care and value!
- Does MY life demonstrate the way Jesus values all people?
THE GRAVITY OF RESPONSIBILITY
Jesus is willing to forgive Christians who fall momentarily into sin, but Jesus will not put up with those who cause others to stumble - those who lead others AWAY from Jesus instead of leading them to HIM. To them Jesus declares WOE - a warning of future judgment.
Tying a large millstone around your neck and being thrown off a boat in deep water would be more inviting than the punishment God will give to the people who lead others away from allegiance to Jesus! Every Christian should feel the GRAVITY of RESPONSIBILITY that is upon us.
- Teachers in the church will face stricter judgment (James 3:1) because a teacher’s lessons & life will either clarify or confuse their students regarding WHO God is and WHAT God says. So while teaching is a great privilege it is also a great responsibility.
- Teachers in the church aren’t the only ones who should be concerned. If you are leading someone - your spouse, friends, children & grandchildren - then YOU are accountable for your LIFE and the LESSONS you teach too.
- Does MY life demonstrate CLARITY or CONFUSION to those who are watching me?
Ask God and those you love to reveal whether your life is bringing CLARITY or causing CONFUSION. Be ready to change gears if someone honestly shares a concern they see in your life.
Just as Matthew previously quotes Jesus saying the same thing in Mt 5:27-30, so Jesus uses this hyperbole (an exaggeration to make a point). The reality of the OTHER SIDE of eternity should cause us to make holy decisions on THIS SIDE of eternity.
Does your hand or foot - what you touch or where you go - Does your eye - what you look at - cause you to stumble?
Why remove temptation to sin from your life? A Just Judge who will condemn those who disobey Him to the eternal fire of hell.
- Jesus says that hell is a place of eternal fire - a place of forever punishment for disobeying the Creator of the Universe.
Disciples of Jesus follow His Example
This is where many people get the idea of guarding angels. Hebrews 1:14 refers to angels as “ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.” (see Gen 48:16; Ps 34:7 , 91:11). God cares about the people that some see as insignificant and sends His angels to minister to their needs.
No verse 11 in most contemporary translations because it is not found in the earliest manuscripts of Matthew. The phrase “For the Son of Man came to save the lost” seems to be inserted into later Matthew manuscripts from Lk 19:10.
* The NET Bible (Second Edition) - The most important MSS (א B L* Θ* f1, 13 33 892* pc e ff1 sys sa) do not include 18:11 “For the Son of Man came to save the lost.” The verse is included in D Lmg W Θc 078vid 𝔐 lat syc,p,h, but is almost certainly not original, being borrowed, as it were, from the parallel in Luke 19:10. The present translation follows NA27 in omitting the verse number as well, a procedure also followed by a number of other modern translations.
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Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.
Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.
- 1.What challenged or encouraged you most from today’s teaching?
- 2.Read Matthew 17:24-27. Take some time to explain why Jesus did not have to pay the Temple tax, but chose to anyway. What does Jesus knowledge about where to find the coin tell you about who he is?
- 3.Read Matthew 18:1-5, 10. According to Jesus, why is humility necessary? Name some ways that we can choose to be: a) prideful in how we treat others, b) humble in how we treat others.
- 4.Read Philippians 2:1-14. How did Jesus model the mindset that we are to have in our relationships with one another? Take time to discuss the characteristics of Christ that we are to share in following His example.
- 5.Read Matthew 18:6-9. What is the punishment for those who lead people away from Jesus instead of to him? Share some characteristics of those who demonstrate clarity to those who are watching versus those who cause confusion to those who are watching. What is the disciple of Jesus to do about the actions, words, or thoughts that cause themselves or others to stumble? Give an example of what that might look like.
- 6.What is the heart of the Father toward people who are perishing and how should that impact the way we view those who are currently lost?
- 7.What does God want YOU to do with what we studied today?
- Share prayer needs and pray for one another.
