Tax Time

In Mt. 17:24-27, the tax collectors asked Peter if Jesus was going to pay the Temple Tax. Peter replied “yes he will”. Before Peter could ask Jesus about this Jesus posed a question to Peter, “Do the Kings of the earth collect taxes from their own sons or from their subjects”. Peter correctly replied, “From their subjects, not their own sons.” Jesus then informed Peter that he was exempt, the implication being that Jesus was the Son of God who created Kings and kingdoms. Peter answered the tax collectors incorrectly. He should have said, “My master does not pay the tax… he is the son of God”. Jesus should have been collecting the tax not paying it.