In Matthew 17 Jesus, knew Peter’s question before he had asked Jesus about it. It was about taxes! Peter had been apprehended by the tax collectors earlier that day. Jesus knew Peter’s apprehension by the tax men was not by accident. He knew the stress provoking question to Peter was in fact a precursor to the revelation of Peter’s spiritual status.
This is what had happened earlier in Matt 17:24-27
…..And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the half-shekel came to Peter, and said, Doth not your teacher pay the half-shekel? 25 He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers? 26 And when he said, From strangers, Jesus said unto him, Therefore the sons are free. 27 But, lest we cause them to stumble, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a shekel: that take, and give unto them for me and thee
As you can see from the above dialogue between Jesus and Peter, Jesus said to Peter….the sons are free….
He was inferring that the children of a king do not pay tributes to their own parents, but the king expects others to pay tributes.
Jesus was revealing to Peter…..there is only one king!!!!!! and you’re looking at Him…. Me!!! Jesus!!!! You are free!!! You are a son!!!
Jesus gave the heads up even before He had died on the cross that you are no longer sons of Abraham, but children of God. You are sons!!!!
So we today obey all earthy authorities in order not to offend such authorities but we know who we really are.
WE ARE THE SONS OF GOD!!!!!!
Whoo hoo!!!!