when jesus sent forth the twelve as described in the tenth chapter they were to proclaim the kingdom of heaven, to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to cleanse the lepers and cast out demons, a remarkable program, which they were to carry out with no gold or silver or brass in their purses. they were to preach without pay, serve without salary, minister without money. they were to outclass money, the medium of exchange, which bears the stamp of some established government. they were to take rank among men by doing benevolent work under divine direction and with divine assistance.
they were instructed to rely upon the people for the supply of their ordinary needs. no one was permitted to burden himself with two coats and thus belie his message and his master. their moral earnestness was to be maintained under all circumstances 10 and in case any refused to receive them or hear their words they were to shake off the dust of their feet for a testimony against them.
“if god’s truth is to succeed,” says dr. gregg, “it must incarnate itself: if god’s cause is to win a victory it must embody itself in a person.” men must be the truth in order to preach the truth in its purity and power. ministers must be sent by christ, receive authority from him, follow his program, outclass money and take rank among men as his representatives.
a teacher taught
peter’s mistake with reference to payment of the temple tax which is recorded in the seventeenth of matthew was not the only mistake peter made. there were others and all were corrected, the correction in this case being memorable if not also unforgettable.
peter promised payment without consulting jesus. he thought he knew what jesus would do in the case and to confess ignorance would lower him in the estimation of those who received the tax. but peter had failed to consider the fact that as the son in the house of his father jesus was free. jesus points out peter’s error as a friend who will not allow his mistake to be incorporated in his 11 thought and life only to vitiate both.
jesus takes account also of those who received the tax for they were not prepared to receive his explanation. his miraculous power is called into service to relieve the situation. and why not? is not his sonship called in question? he directs peter where and how to get the required shekel. for a little while peter returns to his former occupation but his skill as a fisherman is supplemented by the superior knowledge and power of christ and so when he makes payment it is “for me and thee” because peter’s position is not the same as that of the master.
our lord is careful where men are inclined to be careless. trifles may make the sum of life but life is no trifle. “you may be too superb to pay attention to the small debt due your neighbor,” says dr. deems, “but god is so great that he can pay attention to the least of things.” matthew’s four verses concerning a matter of thirty-three cents have their place and their use in scripture. we soon lose sight of the half shekel and center our thoughts upon christ, who corrects peter so faithfully, who respects the feelings of those who receive the tax and who even takes account of us at this distance by giving us this minute view of himself. little things like this reveal the 12 greatness of our lord and just such touches confirm prof. stalker’s statement that “the pagan world not only never produced one holy man but never drew the picture of one.”
