Win-Win

Would you pay taxes if you didn't have to?

As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.’ And they were greatly distressed. When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, ‘Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?’ He said, ‘Yes, he does.’ And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, ‘What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?’ When Peter said, ‘From others’, Jesus said to him, ‘Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.’ - Matthew 17:22-27

What's so interesting in today's Gospel reading is the response Peter gives to the question about the Temple tax.  He automatically says Jesus does pay the tax, but we are left wondering if that is true, since Jesus comes up with a way to pay that isn't from their common purse.

He says that those who inherit the kingdom are not required to pay tribute to the king, so the children are free, implying that the children of God do not have to pay tax to the Temple.

He knows that will offend the high priests, because it means Jesus claims to be the owner of the Temple, and that will not go well with them.  So he comes up with an alternative.  Extra money will be used to pay, money that they don't need or rely on for themselves.

So, what is the lesson here?

It seems there are two messages that may appear in contradiction to one another.  One is that no payment is owed because of who they are, Jesus and his disciples, but the other is that payment is made to avoid offending the Temple leadership.  

While our position may be valid and our claim correct, sometimes, it appears, we should avoid conflict and take a humble stand.  Jesus did not want to offend, which would have set him at odds with the Temple leadership, something which would eventually come to pass anyway.

Another point is that the tax is paid for both Jesus and Peter, indicating that Jesus places Peter alongside himself.  He may be handing over the reins to Peter to lead the church.

So, maybe the message for us is to pick our battles.  Not every one is worth fighting, at least not at the time.

If there is a way to settle, why not do so?

And Jesus managed to find a way that didn't cause them to lose anything.  Maybe we can find a win-win situation like that in our daily battles.

More to come...