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The Desire of Ages
an opportunity of casting discredit upon Him. In the collector of the
tribute they found a ready ally.
Peter saw in the collector’s question an insinuation touching
Christ’s loyalty to the temple. Zealous for his Master’s honor, he
hastily answered, without consulting Him, that Jesus would pay the
tribute.
But Peter only partially comprehended the purpose of his ques-
tioner. There were some classes who were held to be exempt from the
payment of the tribute. In the time of Moses, when the Levites were set
apart for the service of the sanctuary, they were given no inheritance
among the people. The Lord said, “Levi hath no part nor inheritance
with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance.”
Deuteronomy 10:9
. In
the days of Christ the priests and Levites were still regarded as espe-
cially devoted to the temple, and were not required to make the annual
contribution for its support. Prophets also were exempted from this
payment. In requiring the tribute from Jesus, the rabbis were setting
aside His claim as a prophet or teacher, and were dealing with Him as
with any commonplace person. A refusal on His part to pay the tribute
would be represented as disloyalty to the temple; while, on the other
hand, the payment of it would be taken as justifying their rejection of
Him as a prophet.
Only a little before, Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Son of
God; but he now missed an opportunity of setting forth the character
of his Master. By his answer to the collector, that Jesus would pay
the tribute, he had virtually sanctioned the false conception of Him to
which the priests and rulers were trying to give currency.
When Peter entered the house, the Saviour made no reference to
what had taken place, but inquired, “What thinkest thou, Simon? of
whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own
children, or of strangers?” Peter answered, “Of strangers.” And Jesus
said, “Then are the children free.” While the people of a country are
taxed for the maintenance of their king, the monarch’s own children
are exempt. So Israel, the professed people of God, were required
to maintain His service; but Jesus, the Son of God, was under no
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such obligation. If priests and Levites were exempt because of their
connection with the temple, how much more He to whom the temple
was His Father’s house.