A reminder to consider others Please: Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate only Turn off sound to all electronic devices Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early)

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

Death and Taxes Matthew 17:22-27; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45 “Taxation without representation is nothing, you should see what it is like with it!” “I'm putting all my money in taxes - it is the only thing sure to go up!”

Death and Taxes Matthew 17:22-27; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45 Death and taxes are inevitable – except for Christians who escape death when the Lord returns 4

Death and Taxes Matthew 17:22-27; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45 Jesus and the disciples had been in the area of Caesarea Philippi and to the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus cast out a demon from a boy and taught the disciples a lesson on faith 5

Prophecy of Death Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45 As they returned south to Galilee, Jesus told them again He would suffer, be killed and then rise again They needed to know this prophecy so that they would remember it when it was fulfilled

Prophecy of Death Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45 Jesus looked beyond the coming suffering and death to the joy of the resurrection and return to the Father Death brings grief which can overwhelm you if you are not careful 7

Prophecy of Death Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45 We believe and trust God for the future on the basis of faith, not personal experience Jesus is trustworthy by virtue of His divine attributes and fulfillment of promises for the present 8

Prophecy of Death Matthew 17:22-23; Mark 9:30-32; Luke 9:43-45 Like Jesus, you can look beyond present circumstances and even death by trusting God for your future 9

The Tax Matthew 17:24-25 The word “tax” is added to clarify the meaning of “the two-drachma” This tax was based in Exodus 30 and used to support the maintenance and operation of the Temple

Peter assumed Jesus would pay the tax - Matthew 17:25 It was collected by Jewish representatives of the Temple without any Roman interest The exceptions to the tax were the priests and their families - what would Jesus do? Peter assumed Jesus would pay the tax - Matthew 17:25 11

The Obligation Matthew 17:25-26 Jesus spoke to Peter about taxes before Peter said anything - a display of Jesus’ omniscience Custom = tax on goods and services Poll-tax = tax on individuals

The Obligation Matthew 17:25-26 Kings collect taxes from their subjects, but not from their own family they support Jesus was not obligated because He was Lord of the Sabbath and the Temple was His Father’s house 13

The Obligation Matthew 17:25-26 Jesus’ followers were not obligated as adopted sons of God, joint heirs with Jesus Jesus was not obligated for any tax because He is King of Kings, and all kings are subject to Him 14

The Principle Matthew 17:27 Jesus had Peter pay the two-drachma tax for both of them because He did not want to cause them offense Jesus did not want them “trapped” in a false conclusion that would anger them & harden them to the gospel

The Principle Matthew 17:27 God will hold responsible those who do evil, not those who are taxed to pay for the evil Jesus’ concern was for eternal matters, not material things - Matthew 22:15-22 16

The Supply Matthew 17:27 Jesus tells Peter how he would miraculously get the money to pay the tax for both of them God will provide for our needs - Matthew 6:33 He may supply your needs by unexpected and surprising ways or though more conventional means

Peter learned the lesson Jesus taught - 1 Peter 3:13 The Supply Matthew 17:27 Righteousness and stewardship compels us to speak against taxes being used for evil or wastefully Peter learned the lesson Jesus taught - 1 Peter 3:13 18

Conclusions We comply with government demands that are not contrary to Scripture for the Lord’s sake We trust Christ who conquered death and gives us eternal life to also supply our needs in the present

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ