Tax-Exempt Status...

Matthew 17:24-26 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple 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 duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered.“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. Jesus paid His taxes, and encouraged his followers to do the same. But there was a spiritual lesson to be learned in this situation. First, Jesus knew Peter's question before he even asked it: "Where are we going to get the money to pay this tax?" But more importantly: "Does Jesus owe the temple tax?" The Jews paid a lot of taxes to Rome and resented it. The Romans taxed heavily for their roads, armies and building projects. They were outsiders. But the Jews did not resent the temple tax; it was not to outsiders. But Jesus did not owe the tax. The Temple was His. He was the heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Heaven. His Father "lived" there. He was tax exempt, yet He would pay it. Just as He was sinless, yet died for our sins.