NOTES for Mat 17:22-27

It is striking how the account of Christ warning the disciples about everything He was about to suffer stands next to a scene that shows one episode in Christ's relationship with the disciples. Christ's words about His sufferings saddened the disciples, but they do not appear to have been received by them as they should have been. It cannot be ruled out that some of the disciples tried to throw such unpleasant information out of their heads. The very composition of the narrative appears to emphasize this: a brief account quickly gives way to a story told in detail.

Why did the collectors of the temple tax turn to Peter, and not directly to Jesus? By this time He must already have become so respected among the people that the collectors found it awkward to approach Him casually. And so Peter, in the Teacher's absence, speaks on His behalf. But in this way an ambiguous situation arises: although Peter has been placed at the head of the apostles, he still has not been placed in the Teacher's position. Peter, however, answers without consulting Christ, even though He is nearby.

Christ does not repudiate what Peter has said and does not put him in an awkward position before the collectors of donations. But to Peter himself He opens another mysterious facet of the disciples' calling: those who follow Christ are called sons of the Heavenly Father, for the collection of offerings for the temple is likened to the collection of taxes from which royal children are exempt.

But shirking obligations should not cause anyone to stumble. The fact that the sons are free and are not obligated to do many of the things that are obligatory for others still does not mean that they should fail to take those around them into account.