Gospels (24) - Matthew 17:24 – 18:14, Mark 9:33-50 & Luke 9:46-50

Teacher: Rusty Kennedy
​Series: Gospels

Rusty's Notes

Matthew 17:24-27

• Matthew is the only letter that includes this story
• Matthew was a former tax collector

24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the double-drachma tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the double-drachma tax?”
25 “Yes,” he said.

• The temple tax was paid by all Jews at the time of the Passover.
• This is now 6 months later (Festival of Booths)
• Jesus and Peter were overdue on their taxes

When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, “What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from? From their sons or from strangers?”
26 “From strangers,” he said.
“Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him. 27 “But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to them for Me and you.”[1]

• The only miracle we recorded that dealt with money.
• The only miracle that is not confirmed that it actually happened. Jesus only told Peter what to do. No recorded results.
• This miracle seems like it was for the benefit of Jesus which would be the first.
• The payment of the temple tax was actually for the benefit of the Jews (so they would not be offended).
• While Jesus did not hesitate to break the man-made traditions of the Pharisees, He was careful to obey the Law of God.[2]
• How the other disciples paid their taxes, we are not told.
• This was one of many miracles that Jesus performed for Peter. He healed Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:29–34), helped Peter to catch fish (Luke 5:1–11), enabled him to walk on the water (Matt. 14:22–33), healed Malchus’ ear (Matt. 26:47–56), and delivered Peter from prison (Acts 12:1ff). No wonder Peter wrote, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).[3]
• Son of the King yet was so poor he didn’t even have a half a shekel (double drachma)
• Adam and Eve once had dominion over the animals (until the fall)
• Jesus displays dominion over a fish in this miracle.
• Adam and Eve lost their dominion over animals because of their disobedience.
• Jesus has dominion over the animals because of His obedience.
• First, someone had to lose a coin in the water. Then, a fish had to take that coin in its mouth and retain it. That same fish then had to bite on Peter’s hook—with an impediment in its mouth—and be caught.
• You cannot explain all of this in a natural way. It is too complex for an accident, and too difficult for human management.[4]

 
Matthew 18:1-5
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
2 Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. 3 “I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me. [5]
 
Mark 9:33-37

• This story took place after the transfiguration where Peter, James & John got to do see something the other disciples did not.
• There was a pride issue going on here.

33 Then they came to Capernaum. When He was in the house, He asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, because on the way they had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest.

• There is dissention in the ranks.
• Still thinking of themselves.
• When Christians are living for themselves and not for others, then there is bound to be conflict and division[6]
• This is just how kids respond to parents.

 
Matthew 18:2-5
2 Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. 3 “I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me. [7]

• Children were without status in the ancient world and at the mercy of adults.[8]
• An unspoiled child has the characteristics that make for humility: trust (Matt. 18:6), dependence, the desire to make others happy, an absence of boasting or selfish desire to be greater than others. [9]

 
Mark 9:35
35 Sitting down, He called the Twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent Me.” [10]
 
Luke 9:46-48
46 Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them. 47 But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, took a little child and had him stand next to Him. 48 He told them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me. For whoever is least among you—this one is great.”[11]
 
Matthew 18:6-14
6 “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea! 7 Woe to the world because of offenses. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes. 8 If your hand or your foot causes your downfall, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, rather than to have two eyes and be thrown into hellfire!
 
10 “See that you don’t look down on one of these little ones, because I tell you that in heaven their angels continually view the face of My Father in heaven.  [11 For the Son of Man has come to save the lost.] 12 What do you think? If a man has 100 sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the 99 on the hillside and go and search for the stray? 13 And if he finds it, I assure you: He rejoices over that sheep more than over the 99 that did not go astray. 14 In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones perish.[12]
 
Mark 9:38-50
38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”

• This man was not one of the 12 (or the elite 3)
• Think about it… he said this on the heals of the 9 not being able to cast out the mute demon.

39 “Don’t stop him,” said Jesus, “because there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, since you belong to the Messiah —I assure you: He will never lose his reward.

• Theology should not divide
• Virgin birth of Jesus
• Jesus came to earth in human form but was still God.
• Jesus died on the cross.
• Jesus was resurrected.
• But who do I want to align with? Broken… humble men.
• We are on the same team.
• There should be no competition in the body of Christ.

42 “But whoever causes the downfall of one of these little ones who believe in Me —it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to hell—the unquenchable fire, [44 where
Their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.]
45 And if your foot causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell— [the unquenchable fire, 46 where
Their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.]
47 And if your eye causes your downfall, gouge it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where
Their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.

• Jesus is saying that sin is like cancer.
• It would be better to get rid of it.

49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another.”[13]

• The Jews were not allowed to put leaven or honey on their sacrifices, but they were required to use salt (Lev. 2:11, 13).
• Salt speaks of purity and preservation.
• Salt was a symbol for the incorruptible.
• It was used in Old Testament days in the establishing of covenants.
• The disciples were God’s salt (Matt. 5:13), but they were in danger of losing their flavor and becoming worthless.[14]

 
Luke 9:49-50
49 John responded, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.”
50 “Don’t stop him,” Jesus told him, “because whoever is not against you is for you.”[15]

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 17:24–27). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 63). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 63–64). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 63). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 18:1–5). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 64). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 18:1–5). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Mt 18:2). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 64). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mk 9:33–37). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[11] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 9:46–48). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[12] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 18:6–14). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[13] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mk 9:38–50). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[14] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 143). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[15] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Lk 9:49–50). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.