Sticking Your Foot in Your Mouth

Sticking Your Foot in Your Mouth!

Matthew 17: 24 - 27

24 When they had come to [a]Capernaum, those who received the [b]temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

25 He said, “Yes.”

And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”

26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a [c]piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

Have you ever stuck your foot in your mouth?  I think we all have at one time or another.  

Here Peter answers a question about taxes before talking to Jesus.  Jesus, always the gentle teacher, challenges Peter with a question. “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”  Peter answers, “From strangers.” Jesus responds, “Then the sons are free.”

Jesus knows that Peter has, in a since, promised that Jesus would pay taxes, so He does the miraculous. “Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first.  And when you have opened its mouth you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

How many times has God provided for you, even when you stuck your foot in your mouth?