St Matthew, Chapter 17, verse: 26, Tribute to the kings of the earth: The Payment.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Paying the Temple tax) Part 4.   

Simon Peter was questioned by the tax collectors about the didrachma and he was angry.  The question opened a wound.  The question made him see red.  The question made him see the injustice of the system and it did not sit well with him.  For many years Simon did not like how the tax collection system was administered and he wanted to do something about it.  But Christ wanted to teach him a lesson.  Christ wanted to show him how to overcome the anger.  He wanted Peter to learn not to let the injustices of the world cause him to open the door to anger, to frustration, to hatred, and not to give evil a foothold into his heart.  

Christ saw how Peter was disturbed.  He knew the turmoil in his heart.  He felt the anger and the frustration in Peter so he wanted to help him to understand how to accept it.  Christ sought to question Simon on the injustice.  He sought to show Simon how to overcome.  And he sought to demonstrate to Simon the trust that he must have in the father to overcome all injustices.  So Christ sent Simon fishing.  He gave him a task that would bring him peace, a task that would take away the pain of injustice and bring calm into his mind and soul. 

Simon was a fisherman and that was the one thing that he knew.  And Christ sent him to fish that he might believe in the providence of God.  He told Simon:  But that we may not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up.  And opening its mouth thou wilt find a stater; take that and give it to them for me and for thee."

What can we learn today from this lesson that Christ gave Simon then?  Simon was disturbed by this injustice.  This injustice had been with him for years and each experience made him feel worse.  He wanted to react.  He wanted to do something.  He wanted to find some solution.  We face the same situations today.  There are many things that would disturb us.  There are injustices that we face that would make us angry, disturb us, frustrate us, make us want to take action into our own hands to find a solution.  But God is our father and it is his to resolve, his to deal with, his to exact wrath and punishment.

How then do we find resolution?  How then do we cope with what we face daily?  How then do we allow ourselves to have peace with the pain and horror in the world?  Christ sent Peter fishing.  He gave him something to do to past the time until the issue would be resolved.  He gave Simon a task that would give him the time to trust in God's justice.  He gave Simon a task that would allow him the opportunity to practice patience.  And so it is with us today.  God's rule will prevail.  God's justice will be upheld and the wrath of God will be exacted upon those who practice injustice.  We must trust in God to fulfill his promise.  We must have faith in God's will for us that we do not open the door to the evil of hatred, fear, frustration, anger, and all manner of wrongs that are against the will of the father.

Christ gave us a commandment that we should love one another as he has loved us.  For we are all created in the image and likeness of our father.  We all have the spiritual life given to us by our father and it is that life within us that is most precious.  For our father loves each and every one of us and if we understood the love that he has for us we would know the truth of who we are in him.  That knowledge of love brings a peace that is not of this world and that peace is the joy of who we are in him.  Let not your peace be disturbed.  Let not your joy be overturned that you loose the inner peace that comes with the truth of who you are. 

For God so loved the world that he sent his only son that we would have life eternal in him.  And it is that precious gift of life that we must strive to protect from the destruction that comes through the open door of the injustices of this world.  Hatred, fear, frustration, anger, all are intended to disturb the peace that Christ has given us through the father.  Practice Perfect Patience and you will know the justice of God.  Practice Perfect Patience and you will see the miracles of the father.  Practice Perfect Patience and you will know the love of the father that will fill your heart and soul completely.  Be at peace.  Be with love.  See the truth of the light of the life that Christ has given you and you will see your brothers and sisters as they truly are in you.  Come!  Follow the path before you.  The truth is before you.  Seek it.  Follow it.  Find it and you will know.  Christ loves you.  The Holy Spirit awaits you.  God the Father be with you. 

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in. 

St Matthew, Chapter 17, verse: 25, Tribute to the kings of the earth: The Exempt.

Our paragraph topic is:  Paying the Temple tax) Part 3.   

  Peter was disturbed by the question asked of him by the tax collector.  When he entered the house, Christ knew that he was disturbed.  So he questioned Peter as to the reason that he was disturbed.  He asked Simon who paid the taxes to the kings of the earth.  Was it the sons of the kings or was it everyone else that bore the tribute to the kings?  And this was the questioned that weighted heavily upon Peter, that everyone else paid the tax while the sons were exempt.

Christ saw the anger and the frustration in Simon and sought to address it.  He knew that Peter was disturbed over this issue.  He knew that the door to anger was being opened in him.  He could see the years of frustration that Peter had experienced with the payment of the tax and he wanted to demonstrate to him the protection and the provision of his heavenly father.  So he questioned Peter on the issue to demonstrate the power of our father.  He asked Peter who paid the tax, was it the sons or others?  Peter responded:  And he said, "From others." Jesus said to him, "The sons then are exempt."

Those that have and those that have not, is a reality that we face each day of our lives.  We all want to be privileged.  We all want to have the things in life that we see others with.  We want to live like movie stars because that is what we are presented with.  We want to live like royalty.  We want to have the things that this world offers to us as things we need to have, things we desire, things that will make us happy.  

The sons of kings are exempt.  They are given the luxuries of this world.  They are provided the joys and happiness that comes with wealth.  They do not have to suffer the trials and tribulation that we all face in our daily lives.  We are given the opportunity to achieve all through our hard work, through our intelligence, through our ingenuity, through what ever means are available to us, even if that means transgressing the natural laws or the spiritual laws of heaven.  We want what we want and this is what we live with daily.

Christ has given us a choice.  He has provided us with an opportunity.   He has opened a door that will lead us to the riches of the universe if we just believe in him.  For our treasure is in heaven and not on this earth.  Our provisions are with him and not with this physical realm that we are faced with daily.  And with our treasure our hearts are filled with his love, his peace, his joy.  And this is a joy that nothing on this earth can compare with, a joy that fills us, a joy that completes us, a joy that is everlasting and not fleeting.  

Fret not upon the things of this world that you see.  Desire not the passions of this life that will lead astray and possess.  Our goal is Christ.  Our passion is his love.   Our desires are his will.  Our peace is his provision.  Our knowledge is his wisdom that comes through the Holy Spirit.  Our truth is our Father in heaven who loves us, protects us, and provides for us.  He calls to you.  He waits for you.  He holds you in his arms.  He will fill you with his love.  Open your heart and see the truth of who you are in him.  See the truth of your light and your life in Christ and you too will know.    

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in. 

St Matthew, Chapter 17, verse: 23-24a, Tribute to the kings of the earth: The Question?

Our paragraph topic is:  (Paying the Temple tax) Part 1.   

Christ and his disciples traveled on until they reached Capharnaum.  And in Capharnaum the collectors of the tax were waiting.  It was their job to make sure that the taxes were paid.  It was their job to make sure that the taxes were collected from all who entered the city.  It was there job to make sure that according to the law that the levy was paid to the temple so that all would bear responsibility.  The Law stated that the taxes would be paid by all.  The Law stated that all would support the maintenance and upkeep of the temple.  And the Law must be exacted upon all.

But there were those who did not pay.  There were those who had special privilege.  There were those who were above the law.  And the payment of the tax was looked upon with disdain.  So many were forced to pay the tax or suffer the consequences of the Law.  Support the temple.  Support the high priest.  Support the Pharisees and the Sadducees so that they were able to continue to live the lifestyle that their positions afforded.  All must pay.  All must give.  All must pay their fair share.  And those who were exempt would receive the benefits of the income that came from the tax.

So when the disciples entered the city and Christ did not pay the tax, Peter was questioned.  He was questioned concerning an answer that he did not know how to reply.  Does the Son of Man pay tribute others?  Does the Son of God give support to pay for the continuation of an unjust system?  Peter was confused.  Peter was concerned.  So in order to not cause alarm with the tax collectors he answered what they wanted to hear, even though he was still at odds with the system.  And when they had come to Capharnaum, those who were collecting the didrachma came to Peter, and said, "Does your Master not pay the didrachma?"  He said, "Yes." 


There were things that raised the ire of people in the time of Christ and there are things that raised the ire of people today.  There are many opportunities for us to get mad about the injustices that we experience today.  Why does the cost of gasoline continue to go up?  Why do we experience high electric and high gas bills, where the per unit costs is not fixed but fluctuate?  Why are food prices increasing but our income decreasing?  Why do we have to pay increasing taxes to the government and then hear about government waste? 

There are many things in the world that would cause us to be mad and angry, but where does it get us?  Why do we get angry?  Why do we get mad?  Why are we frustrated with the system?  We want more and we do not want to suffer the consequences of what the world forces upon us.  We want more money.  We want more food.  We want more clothes, cars, boats, women, drinks, good times.  We want to live in high places, we want all that this life has to offer, just like the others that we see having the good life.  Yet we do not realize that this world is dying, this world is decaying right before our eyes and we cannot see it. 

For those who believe, they already have their rewards.  For those who are in Christ, he provides for all our needs.  For those who abide with the Holy Spirit, there is no greater reward than what has already been given.  We do not need to get mad.  We do not need to be angry.  Christ provides all.  Christ cares for all.  Christ is all to those who know and believe.  He fulfills all our needs and all our desires.  His fulfillment is not temporary but permanent.  His fulfillment is everlasting.  His provisions are more than this world could ever offer.  Patience is the key.  Practice "perfect patience" and witness the miracles of God, for he will provide.  He will come through.  He will protect.  And he will fulfill all of the promises he has given to those who love him. 

Seek the kingdom of heaven and all else will be provided to you.  Have faith in the Lord and practice the patience that comes with the knowledge of truth.  Trust in the creator of the universe and you will be rewarded with the riches of the universe.  For material riches have nothing of value compared to the riches of heaven.  Crave not for the dirt of the earth but crave the kingdom of God.  I sought to know.  I sought to find.  I knocked on the door and asked God to know his love.  I was touched by his love and now I know.  This is the path I traveled.  This is the road I walked.  It is before you.  Come!  Walk the road with me and we will share a life of joy and happiness in the love of Christ and the love of God our Father.

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you. Open the door and let him in.