GOD’S WORD FOR DECEMBER 15

Our  book this month  is a continuation of “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand ~ Lessons From the Life of Peter,” by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

ONE WITH THE SOVEREIGN MASTER

(Matthew 17:24-27)

CHRIST’S SOVEREIGN KINGSHIP

When Peter was asked whether his Master paid the temple tax, he responded, “Yes.”  But notice carefully Christ’s follow-up question:  “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs, from their sons or from strangers?’

The answer, of course, is that kings and their families do not pay taxes.   Taxes are paid only by the subjects of the kingdom.  No king would think of levying a tax on his own family.  No son would be obligated to pay a tax in his father’s house.

Christ is under no obligation to pay a tax, because He is Lord of the earth and of the universe.  Why should He pay a temple tax if he is the Lord of the temple and the One they are (supposedly) worshiping?  He owns all the shekels in the universe and much more besides.  He owes not so much as a single drachma to any of His subjects.

Let us never forget God’s ownership of the world and more particularly, His ownership of us.  We belong to God by virtue of creation, but we also belong to Him because of redemption, (if we have repented of our sins and acknowledged His Kingship over our lives).”Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price:  therefore, glorify God in your body.”(1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

God owns us and all of the possessions we so jealously guard for ourselves.  To acknowledge God’s ownership is to give up our petty insistence that we are owners of what He has give to us.  We must take the title deeds and transfer them to His sovereign hands.

Why then did Christ pay the tax?  He said He would pay the tax so that He would not give “offense.”  The Greek word is “Skandalon” and may be translated “stumbling block.”  Though Christ would not have had to pay the tax, He did it so that He would not be needlessly giving anyone an excuse to criticize Him.  He wanted Peter and the disciples to learn that we should pay our share of taxes; we should do all we can to discharge our duty to even the questionable worship in the temple.

Though He owns all and owes nothing, Jesus gives that we might see His grace.

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Revelation 19:16

And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND

LORD OF LORDS.

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John 18:37

 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

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Luke 1:32-33

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.

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Philippians 2:9-11

 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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Isaiah 9:6-7

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;  and the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,  upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

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Hebrews 1:8

But to the Son He says:

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;

A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.”

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Jeremiah 23:5

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,

“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;

A King shall reign and prosper,

And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

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Revelation 5:13

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power

Be to Him who sits on the throne,

And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

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