Did Jesus Pay Taxes?

Day 26: Matthew 17:10-27

“Jesus said to him, ‘Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.’” - Matthew 17:26-27

There were so many reasons why Jesus could have shirked this Temple tax. Here are three (and a bonus fourth):

First, there were some Jewish groups who already refused to pay it.

Second, they usually took in more than they needed for operations. So much so that one year they built a golden vine with the excess.

Third, the Temple is about to be destroyed in 70 AD (Jesus will prophesy later about this in Matthew 24).

A fourth reason could have been that the men who were running the Temple were the very ones who would later orchestrate Jesus' crucifixion.

So, since Jesus had legitimate grounds for not paying it, why did He go ahead and pay the tax from the fish's mouth? Couldn't that shekel have been used more wisely?

Can you go ahead and try to stiff the IRS this year?

I love what Craig Keener writes about these verses: “Jesus cares about his disciples’ social obligations (17:24–26). Disciples need to be ready to surrender their privileges and 'rights' for the sake of the gospel (17:25–26). Jesus supplies needs like these as well as other needs (17:27).”

Believe it or not, Jesus cares about your tax life. He actually cares about your entire life. He cares so much that He died on the cross to restore us to who we were really meant to be.

May we trust Him to provide for all that we need. For taxes, generosity, groceries, and more.