When Jesus Paid the Temple Tax

Opening Scripture

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, 'Does your teacher not pay the tax?' He said, 'Yes.' And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, 'What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?' And when he said, 'From others,' Jesus said to him, 'Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.' (Matthew 17:24-27)

Leader Note: Read this passage aloud slowly. Explain that a 'two-drachma tax' was money people paid to help take care of God's temple. Peter is one of Jesus' disciples (his friends who followed him).

Question 1: Why didn't Jesus have to pay the temple tax?

Time estimate: 3 minutes

Expected answers: - Because he is God's Son - Because the temple was God's house and Jesus is part of God's family - Because kings don't make their own children pay taxes

Leader guidance: Jesus explained that kings collect taxes from other people, not from their own sons. Since the temple was God's house and Jesus is God's Son, he didn't really have to pay. But he chose to pay anyway!

Redirect if off-topic: That's an interesting thought! But let's look back at what Jesus said to Peter about kings and their sons. What did Jesus say about who has to pay?

Question 2: Even though Jesus didn't have to pay, why did he pay the tax anyway?

Time estimate: 3 minutes

Expected answers: - So he wouldn't upset people - So people wouldn't get confused or angry - To be kind and not cause problems - Because he didn't want to offend them

Leader guidance: Jesus said 'not to give offense to them' — that means he didn't want to make them stumble or get upset. Sometimes it's more loving to do something even when we don't have to, just to help others and keep peace.

Redirect if off-topic: Good thinking! But remember, Jesus specifically said he was paying so he wouldn't offend them. What does that tell us about how Jesus treated other people?

Question 3: Can you think of a time when you did something kind for someone else, even when you didn't have to?

Time estimate: 4 minutes

Expected answers: - Sharing a toy with a brother or sister - Helping clean up even when it wasn't my mess - Letting someone else go first in line - Being quiet when someone else needed to concentrate

Leader guidance: Affirm every example! Connect it back to Jesus: 'That's just like what Jesus did! He put someone else's feelings first, even though he had the right not to.' Emphasize that Jesus showed us how to think about others, not just ourselves.

Redirect if off-topic: That's a neat story! But let's think specifically about times when you gave up something you had a right to, just to be kind. Maybe a time you shared or let someone else choose first?

Activity: Draw the Miracle Fish!

Time estimate: 5 minutes

Instructions for leader: Give each child paper and crayons. Ask them to draw the fish that had the coin in its mouth! As they draw, remind them:

• Jesus told Peter to go fishing
• The first fish Peter caught had a coin inside its mouth
• That coin was exactly enough to pay the tax for Jesus AND Peter
• This was a miracle — God provided what they needed!

Discussion while drawing: Ask, 'How do you think Peter felt when he found that coin inside the fish? What does this show us about how God takes care of us?'

Wrap-up: Jesus didn't have to pay the tax, but he chose to anyway so he wouldn't upset people. And God provided exactly what was needed in a surprising way! Jesus shows us that sometimes being kind and thinking about others is more important than insisting we're right.

Closing Thought for Leaders

This passage teaches children an early lesson in Christian liberty and self-denial. At this age, kids are very focused on fairness ('That's not fair!'). Jesus models something counter-intuitive: sometimes we give up our rights for the sake of peace and love. Reinforce that Jesus always thought about others first, and we can too. The miracle of the coin in the fish also reinforces God's provision and care.

Key takeaway for kids: Jesus chose to be kind and think about others, even when he didn't have to. We can do the same!