MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
March 11, 2026
God’s Purposes Revealed
GOD’S PURPOSE IN NATIONS
(WHY JESUS PAID ‘UNJUST’ TEMPLE TRIBUTE: A VITAL LESSON FOR CHRISTIANS IN THESE LAST DAYS
MAIN TEXT: “Does not your Master pay tribute?” Matt. 17: 24. See verses 22-27, KJV.
Now follows extract from The Desire of Ages, by E. G. White, pp. 433-4 (all emphasis and notes provided):
“Soon after they [Jesus with His first Twelve] reached the town [of Capernaum], the collector of the TEMPLE REVENUE came to Peter with the question, ‘Doth not your Master pay tribute?’
“This tribute was NOT a civil tax, but a RELIGIOUS CONTRIBUTION, which every JEW was required to pay annually for the support of the temple. [It was essentially a clerical state!]. A refusal to pay the tribute would be regarded as DISLOYALTY TO THE TEMPLE,—in the estimation to the Rabbis a MOST GRIEVOUS SIN.
“The Savior’s attitude toward the RABBINICAL LAWS, and His plain REPROOFS to the defenders of TRADITION, afforded a PRETEXT for the charge that He was seeking to OVERTHROW THE TEMPLE SERVICE. Now His enemies [from His own, the chosen people!] saw an opportunity of casting DISCREDIT upon Him. In the collector of the tribute they found a READY ALLY.
“Peter saw in the collector’s question an INSINUATION touching on Christ’s LOYALTY TO THE TEMPLE. Zealous for his Master’s honor [per usual compulsive-impulsive Peter], he hastily answered, WITHOUT CONSULTING Him, that Jesus would pay the tribute.
“But Peter only PARTIALLY comprehended the PURPOSE of his questioner. There were some classes who were held to be exempt from the payment of the tribute.
“In the time of Moses, when the Levites were set apart for the service of the sanctuary, they were given NO INHERITANCE among the people. The Lord said, ‘Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance.’ Deut. 10:9.
“In the days of Christ the priests and Levites were STILL regarded as especially devoted to the temple, and were not required to make the ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION for its support.
“PROPHETS also were exempt from this payment. In requiring this payment, the rabbis were SETTING ASIDE His claim as a PROPHET OR TEACHER, and were dealing with Him as with any COMMONPLACE PERSON. A refusal on His part would be represented as DISLOYALTY TO THE TEMPLE; while, on the other hand, the payment of it would be taken as JUSTIFYING THEIR REJECTION OF HIM as a Prophet.
“Only a little before, Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God; but he now MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY on setting for the CHARACTER of His Master. [result of impulsive-compulsive self-confidence he was known for among the Twelve]. By his answer to the collector, that Jesus would pay the tribute, he had VIRTUALLY SANCTIONED THE FALSE CONCEPTION of Him do which the priests and rulers were trying to give currency. [another occasion of Peter’s ‘denials’ of Christ].
“When Peter entered the house, the Savior made no reference to what had taken place, but inquired, ‘What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children, or of strangers?’ Peter answered, ‘Of strangers.’ And Jesus said, ‘Then are the children free.’
“While the people of a country are taxed for the maintenance of their king, the MONARCH’S OWN CHILDREN ARE EXEMPT.
“So Israel [as a nation], the professed people of God, were REQUIRED to maintain His service; but Jesus, THE SON OF GOD, was under no such obligation [!]. If priests and Levites were exempt because of their connection with the temple, HOW MUCH MORE He to whom the temple was His Father’s house.
“If Jesus had paid the tribute WITHOUT A PROTEST, He would virtually have acknowledged the JUSTICE OF THE CLAIM, and would have thus DENIED HIS DIVINITY.
“But while He SAW GOOD to meet the demand, He DENIED THE CLAIM upon which it was based. In PROVIDING FOR the payment of the tribute He gave EVIDENCE OF HIS DIVINE CHARACTER. It was manifest that He was ONE WITH GOD, and therefore was not under tribute as a mere subject of the kingdom.
THE WAY JESUS PROVIDED FOR THE TRIBUTE PROVED HIS DIVINITY
“Go thou into the sea,” He directed Peter, ‘and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a PIECE OF MONEY: and take, and give unto them FOR ME AND THEE.’
“Though He had clothed His divinity with humanity [in the great mystery of godliness of His incarnation], IN THIS MIRACLE HE REVEALED HIS GLORY. It was evident that this was He who through David had declared, [Ps. 50: 10-12 quoted]. While Jesus made it plain that He was under NO OBLIGATION to pay the tribute, HE ENTERED INTO NO CONTROVERSY WITH THE JEWS IN REGARD TO THE MATTER; for they would have MISREPRESENTED His words, and turned them AGAINST Him.
“Lest He should give OFFENSE by withholding the tribute, HE DID THAT WHICH HE COULD NOT BE JUSTLY BE REQUIRED TO DO.
“This lesson would be of GREAT VALUE to His disciples. [Why?] Marked changes were soon to take place IN THEIR RELATION TO THE TEMPLE SERVICE, and Christ taught them not to place themselves NEEDLESSLY IN ANTAGONISM TO ESTABLISHED ORDER. So far as possible, they were to AVOID giving occasion for MISREPRESENTATION OF THEIR FAITH.
Lesson for today as Present Truth:
“While Christians are not to sacrifice ONE PRINCIPLE OF TRUTH, they should AVOID CONTROVERSY whenever it is POSSIBLE to do so [without compromising the truth].” (End of extract from Desire of Ages, pp. 433, 434.
Let all true followers of Christ keep this vital, timely, and all-encompassing principle in mind and heart when facing and dealing with the prophesied controversies over the testing truths of these last days.
To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.