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Who Is the Greatest?
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When Peter entered the house, the Savior made no reference to
what had taken place, but inquired, “What do you think, Simon?
From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from
their sons or from strangers?” Peter answered, “From strangers.”
And Jesus said, “Then the sons are free.” While the people are taxed
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for the maintenance of their king, the monarch’s own children are
exempt. So Israel, the people of God, were required to maintain His
service, but Jesus, the Son of God, was under no such obligation.
If Jesus had paid the tax without a protest, in effect He would
have acknowledged the justice of the claim and thus denied His
divinity. But He denied the claim on which the demand was based. In
providing for the payment, He gave evidence of His divine character,
and therefore He was not under obligation as a mere subject of the
kingdom.
“Go to the sea,” He directed Peter, “cast in a hook, and take the
fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you
will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and
you.”
While Jesus made it plain that He was under no obligation to
pay the tax, He entered into no controversy over the matter. So
that He would not give offense by withholding the tax, He did what
He could not justly be required to do. This lesson would be of
great value to His disciples. They were not to place themselves
needlessly in opposition to established order. Christians are not to
sacrifice one principle of truth, but they should avoid controversy
whenever possible. While Peter was gone to the sea, Jesus called the
other disciples to Him and asked, “What was it you disputed among
yourselves on the road?” Shame and self-condemnation kept them
silent. Jesus had told them that He was going to die for their sake,
and their selfish ambition made a painful contrast with His unselfish
love. But although He had spoken so plainly of what awaited Him,
His mention of the fact that He was soon to go to Jerusalem kindled
their hopes again that He was about to set up His kingdom. This
had led to their dispute about who would fill the highest offices. At
last one of them dared to ask Jesus, “Who then is greatest in the
kingdom of heaven?”