When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“Yes,” he said.
When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers?”
“From strangers,” he said.
“Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him. 27 “But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to them for me and you.”
Matthew 17:24-26
Peter seems to be the only of Jesus’ disciples to be in his 20s (and thus responsible for the temple tax). And Jesus takes the moment to give him an object lesson. (1) people who tax you are not your loving parents who are going to take care of you and (2) this is why Jesus doesn’t make you pay to be his child, because he loves us. There are no “dues” to be a Christian, our way has already been paid. Don’t put your faith in those who take from you, trust in Jesus.
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