Peter: What Can We Learn From Peter's Life?Näide

“Taxes and Forgiveness”

Peter would have had countless conversations with Jesus during his discipleship, some public and some private. There are few other personal conversations recorded between Jesus and the other disciples, showing us that Peter was likely their unofficial leader, perhaps even acting as their spokesman at times. Today’s readings focus on two different conversations between Peter and Jesus – one about the civil issue of paying tax and the other about the heart issue of forgiveness.

The temple tax that Peter was questioned about was a religious requirement, payable to the Jewish temple. Jesus took the opportunity to answer Peter’s unspoken questions about the tax, pointing out that as the Son of God, He was not required to pay the tax on His Father’s house. However, in order not to stir up unnecessary controversy that could detract from His ministry, Jesus chose to pay the tax. The unique manner in which He provided for the payment – through a coin found in the mouth of a fish! – would have encouraged Peter to continue to trust God to provide for all of his needs.

We don’t know what led Peter to ask Jesus about how often he should forgive someone who sinned against him. It may have come up in conversation among the disciples. Perhaps it was more personal and there was someone in Peter’s life who had wronged him time and again. Jesus’s answer was not meant to be interpreted as an exact amount of times forgiveness was required, but to be seen as an unending number of times. Forgiveness was always to be extended, because Peter himself had been forgiven continuously by God.

Jesus chose to instruct Peter about tax with an object lesson on God’s provision. He then taught Peter about forgiveness through a story. Jesus was constantly intentional in how He communicated truth, doing so in a way that would resonate and stick with His audience. It was incredibly important that they not only hear the teaching, but remember it, live it, and teach it to others. This was a formative time for Peter, teaching him foundational truths that would make him into the powerful, mature apostle and follower of Jesus he would become.

Reflection:

How do you best absorb God’s Word? Through stories? Visuals? Discussion with others?

In what ways might you currently be hearing God’s Word, but not living it?