Necessary Things
  by Rev. David McKinley

Scripture: Matthew 17:22-27, “Necessary Things”

INTRODUCTION
Benjamin Franklin is known for saying said that there are two unavoidables in this life: death and taxes.  Of course, all of us know that there are more things in life that are necessary than just the end of our existence on this earth, and that lowly day in April when we have to send a check to Uncle Sam. 
         
You will notice that Benjamin Franklin did not mention God as one of those necessary things in this life.  I believe that was not necessarily intentional by him.  But a recent study revealed that leaving God out of one’s life is intentional by a growing number of Americans.  A recent report from the Program on Public Values at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, surveyed almost 55,000 people during 2008.  The study found an increase of those who claimed no religion; and a decrease in the number of mainline Protestants.  In the last seven years, this latter group has dropped from 17 percent to below 13 percent, an alarming figure. In one state, the number of people who claimed no religion stood at a shocking 34 percent. And since 1990, the number of Christians in our country has decreased from 86 to 76 percent.  

What does this say?  I believe it says that less people are finding God to be necessary in their lives.  How necessary is God?  Is He a part of life’s most needful things?  Let’s consider that question, as we study Jesus words from Matthew 17. 

We see in verse 22 that Jesus saw His death as necessary: “And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; 23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day." And they were deeply grieved.”   Jesus uses the title “Son of Man,” a designation He would often use.  This is a title given to the Promised One, the one who was equal to God, coming from God (John 1:1).  It references Daniel 7:13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”  Jesus was this person.
Jesus thought it was necessary to go to Jerusalem.  It is not that he had some business transaction there.  It’s not that there was a good time waiting for him.  Rather, Jerusalem posed one probability for Him.  That would be the place where He would die.  And die by Roman crucifixion after betrayal.  It was necessary for Jesus to make this trip. It had to be done.  Tremendous glory surrounded the Son of man, as we learned a few weeks ago in the Transfiguration.  But suffering was a necessary part of that glory. 

Such necessity Jesus discussed in places like Matthew 17:9 "As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." And Luke 18:31: “ Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.  And after His resurrection in Luke 24:46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day… .” 
         

Why was it necessary for Jesus to die?  Our answer comes from the book of Romans 5:18, where we are told that through Adam’s disobedience, condemnation came to all people; but through Jesus’ act of obedience on the cross, justification is given through faith.  “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.” And in 2 Corinthians 5: 14 Paul writes: “For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”  In other words, through the death of Jesus, we, who are worthy of death, are made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.  There is no other way to be justified, or declared righteous in the holy eyes of God, than through the death of His perfect Son on the cross.  Christ’s death had purpose!

But the disciples did not understand this, as Luke and Mark tell us.  Their confusion at this announcement of Jesus’ death overshadowed His statement about the resurrection.  This is why they were “deeply grieved.”  Another translation states that they were “exceedingly sorrowful.”  Think about it.  These 12 men have spent the better part of three years together, learning and ministering to others in the name of God and His kingdom.  Now they must face life without Him.  Their grief overshadowed the statement He made about rising from the dead. 

There are some things that you and I must go through, if our faith is to ever grow.  There are special, individually-tailored, unique events and circumstances for us that we must experience if we are to make spiritual headway in our lives.  God brings them to us.  He gives us the grace to go through them and come out better on the other side.  The death of Christ, and His resurrection from the dead, was the starting point for this.  It was necessary for Jesus to suffer and die, if you and I would ever be reconciled to God the Father, who we’ve offended through our sin. 

But Jesus displays His authority as the Son of God in two instances in the following account.  Notice verse 24: "And when they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter, and said, "Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." Capernaum was a type of base for Jesus’ operations.  Many things took place there; so much that Capernaum was one of the select cities privy to many of Jesus’ miracles, as noted earlier in Matthew 11:23.  This incidence is not found in the other gospels.  Only Matthew, a former tax collector, gives us the account.  Yet it shows us Jesus willingness to avoid offense and uphold the Old Testament precepts.  How common was it for tax officials to seek out their debtors?  Thomas and Gundry state: “The regular time for paying this tax was the spring, but it was now early autumn.  The Lord and his disciples had been out of the area at the normal time, so the collectors made a special point of approaching them, either to make up the deficit in their quota or to seek yet another avenue for building a case against Jesus.”   What the official came looking for was the temple tax.  Instructions about this tax are given to us in Exodus 30:13 which was a tax to contribute to the upkeep of the tabernacle, and later the temple, mandatory for all males over 20. 

After Peter has this confrontation with the official, verse 25 tells us: “And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?" 26 And upon his saying, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Consequently the sons are exempt. 27 "But, lest we give them offense, go to the sea, and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a stater. Take that and give it to them for you and Me." Jesus knew that Peter had been confronted by the tax man.  So he anticipated his arrival at the house.  Many times Jesus knew the thoughts of those around Him.  He also knew their hearts. Matthew 9:4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? Matthew 12:25: “But Jesus knew their thoughts… .”  Christ was omniscient.  He was all-knowing. 

This should have an astonishing application in our lives.  God knows everything about us, even the motivations of the heart.  I saw a church sign recently which said: “Man sees what we do; God sees why.”  I’m sure that when Bernard Madoff made his appeal to his investors, he did not say: “Give me your money.  I’m going to swindle $50 billion before I’m through.”  Nevertheless, God knew!  Only God can read the motivations of our hearts!  J.C. Ryle puts it this way: “There is something unspeakably solemn in the thought that the Lord Jesus knows all things.  There is an eye that sees all our daily conduct; there is an earth that hears all our daily words.  All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do concealment is impossible; hypocrisy is useless.  We may deceive ministers; we may impose upon our relations and neighbors; but the Lord sees us through and through.  We cannot deceive Christ.”

The mention of kings and customs brings up the subject of obligation.  Kings of the earth- is a term for human rulers.  Sons here are those who are free, Christians, the disciples.  In essence, the disciples would be free from this tax.  H.L. Ellison tells us of this tax: “Refusal to pay would have been regarded as an act of apostasy.”

Jesus’ point, as one commentator states: “…is that the Christ and His disciples enjoy a relationship with God that frees them from the obligations imposed upon “strangers.”  Yet Jesus is willing to conform to previous requirements in order to avoid giving offense.”  
Christ also displays His authority over creation.  Not everyone can predict a fishing trip as Jesus can.    How many fish have you caught without a lure or bait?  Not very many!  Notice that the amount of money in the fish’s mouth.  There is a fish in the Sea of Galilee called St. Peter’s fish, which can easily hold a coin in its mouth.  Maybe something like a large mouth bass.  The Greek term is a stater- enough to pay the temple tax for two people- Peter and Jesus.  Jesus picks up the tab for both he and Peter.  By doing so, he essentially says that Peter is a “son.”  This reminds us of the privilege it is to be a Christian. God has general benevolence for mankind, but His particular love rests on those who follow Him. As believers, we must try to avoid offense, except when truth is sacrificed.

CONCLUSION
What are the necessary things?  We must have a deep appreciation for the death Jesus faced and endured, especially during this season of Lent.  Secondly, we must avoid offense, when necessary.  As I mentioned earlier, some things, although outwardly painful, are necessary for our spiritual health.  That’s why we must live our lives in submission to God’s rule, whatever He might bring our way. 

The following story may help.  “Farmers in southern Alabama were accustomed to planting one crop every year- cotton.  They would plow as much ground as they could and plant their crop.  Year after year they lived by cotton. 

Then one year the dreaded boll weevil devastated the whole area.  So the next year the farmers mortgaged their homes and planted cotton again, hoping for a good harvest.  But as the cotton began to grow, the insect came back and destroyed the crop, wiping out most of the farms.
         

The few who survived those two years of the boll weevil decided to experiment the third year, so they planted something they’d never planted before- peanuts.  And peanuts proved so hardy and the market proved so ravenous for that product that the farmers who survived the first two years reaped profits that third year that enabled them to pay off all their debts.  They planted peanuts from then on and prospered greatly.
         

Then you know what those farmers did?  They spent some of their new wealth to erect in the town square a monument- to the boll weevil.  If it hadn’t been for the boll weevil, they never would have discovered peanuts.  They learned that even out of disaster there can be great delight.”   Could it be that God has something to teach us, out of the adversity we encounter in this life?