1. In v. 5, we hear a voice. What does it say? Where else in Matthew's gospel have we heard a voice like this?
2. Jesus tells his 3 friends (Peter, James, and John) not to say anything until when? Any idea why?
3. In v. 20, Jesus tell his disciples, "Nothing will be impossible for you." If you can, explain this statement a little bit, especially in light of the context (vv. 14-20).
4. Why were the disciples "filled with grief" (v. 23)?
5. Few people today are in a rush to pay taxes - no different in Jesus' day. Here, Jesus pays for himself and for Peter - albeit through extraordinary means. Curiously, Jesus says, "so that we may not cause offence" (v. 27). This is interesting because, often, Jesus was offending people - at least their religious expectations, requirements, etc. This was in love, of course, but as he revealed truth to them, this was often threatening to human systems (themselves, not showing love or giving life).
The key to this story, though, is how Jesus' uses the tax collection as an illustration - in particular, as he says, "children are exempt." What does he mean by this?
The episode of the transfiguration is a remarkable account. It sort of pulls back the curtain, to see something of Jesus' bodily glory. Also, it anticipates his resurrected body, which is our hope as well - we too will be raised.
The healing account is similar to some of the other stories we have read to this point. It is unique, however, because the situation arose from the disciples inability to do the healing themselves (we presume they were successful on many other occasions - which made this case noteworthy).
Another famous and worth-memorizing statement is made by Jesus: "Nothing will be impossible for you." What an important promise to hang on to.
The coin in the mouth of a fish is, in a word, cool. Who else could do something like that? It was deliberate. Who could organize circumstances like that?
The point, however, is the exemption for children. I think, Jesus was pointing to the temple as property, so to speak, of his Father. We still have, ringing in our ears, the declaration from the bright could in v. 5, "This is my Son."
If we know Jesus, and have found forgiveness and new life in him, then we too are children of God.
Paul spells this out in Romans 8:17, "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
So, we too are exempt from paying. Not an earthly tax, unfortunately. But, deeper and broader, we do not have to pay anything in order to have right-standing with God. That has been paid for us - fully. By the shed blood of Christ.
Therefore, we have been forgiven, redeemed, restored, and welcomed into the family of God. We do not have to earn or pay - only believe. This, the most impossible thing, has been made possible, because of Jesus.
Hmm. Wow. Praise God!