Mat. 17:27 ... "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."
The operation of the temple in Jerusalem was exceedingly expensive, and the Law provided that it was the duty of every Jewish male to help pay for it. Therefore it was stipulated that every male over the age of twenty had to pay an annual tax of half a shekel for this purpose, (Exo. 30:13). This was in the Jewish monetary system. In the Greek system prevailing in Jesus' day the coin equivalent to the half-shekel was the didrachma. When Jesus reached Capernaum on this particular occasion, those who were collecting the tax asked Peter if Jesus would pay it. They probably hoped that He would refuse so that they would have grounds for bringing charges against Him.
Peter really did not know whether Jesus would pay the tax or not, but in his characteristic impetuosity he blurted out on the spot that He would. When he came into the house where Jesus was, Jesus asked him, "From whom do the kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?" When Peter correctly answered, "From others," Jesus said, "Then the sons are free." Tribute was charged of people entering the country, not from those who were its own citizens living within. The native people were free from the tax.
Jesus' point was that, since the tax was for the support of the temple, which was the house of God, He Himself, as the Son of God, was free from its imposition. Jesus did not contest the legitimacy of the tax, nor the duty of Jewish men to pay it. He only pointed out (evidently to Peter privately) that it did not apply to Him. Then He gave Peter directions about how to obtain the money necessary for the tax, not only for himself, but for Peter also. His reason for paying when He did not owe was "not to give offense to them."
In this case Jesus set an example for His disciples in all ages to observe and follow. There are times when it happens that our "rights" are challenged. We assess the situation and come to the conclusion that we should be permitted either to do something or (as in Jesus' case here) be exempted from doing it. We are then faced with a very important decision: either claim the right and tenaciously defend it, or forfeit the right and cope with the situation involved. Your choice should depend on the temperament of the people involved. If your exercise of the right will not offend them, then you may claim it. But if doing so will offend them and cause a conflict, it is better to deny yourself of that right.
It must be understood in this context that "right" means privilege rather than duty. A privilege may either be used or denied, but a Christian cannot make a choice between doing his duty or not doing it. To choose not to do one's Christian duty in order to avoid offending others would be sin. It was not Jesus' duty to pay the tax, or He would have paid it without a word. It was His right (i.e., His privilege) not to pay it, but He chose to forfeit that right rather than offend those whose understanding was too shallow to grasp the reality involved. In this choice our Lord has set for His American disciples a splendid example for making decisions in similar situations to avoid giving offense and thus live among unregenerate associates as "wise as serpents and innocent as doves," (Mat. 10:16). Going this "second mile" in human affairs may well result in making a better impression for the glory of our Lord.
