Tru$t I$$ues

God’s Provision In Unexpected Places
December 10, 2023
Chris Seidman, Lead Minister, The Branch

Matthew 17:24-27 (NIV)
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. “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Matthew 17:25b-26 (NIV)
… 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.

Matthew 17:26b-27 (NIV)
“Then the children are exempt … . ”

“But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Takeaways …

• It reminds us of our true wealth in the midst of all of our obligations and preoccupations concerning money.

Matthew 17:26b-27 (NIV)
“Then the children are exempt … . ”

“But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

Matthew 17:26b (NIV)
“Then the children are exempt … . ”

• It reminds us that when He works miracles with money, it’s for the sake of our witness more than even our portfolio.

Matthew 17:27 (NIV)
“But so that we may not offend them … . ”

• It reminds us that when it comes to money or anything else, receiving His miraculous provision has more to do with walking by His instruction than with our reason.