I’ve never really been politically correct or good at being non offensive. In fact, to my shame it mostly seems like I spend lots of time going out of my way to be offensive. I want you to think about who offends you and when they do, what is your reaction towards that offense? Is it to return the offense or is it to go work at being nonoffensive? 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 17:27 ESV In this story we find Jesus and Peter alone owing the Temple tax. Jesus knowing he is the Son of God, to whom the tax is paid, knows he shouldn’t be obligated to pay it– the logic being that the tax is an offering to his kingdom. This, however, does not offend him even though it should. After all, how can you demand payment of taxes in a kingdom to the heir of the throne? In fact, quite the opposite, in Jesus’ love for wretched people, he sees that he should not offend the very people he should be offended by. The second part of this passage is Jesus telling Peter to go and work to satisfy the requirements so as not to offend. Being nonoffensive is pretty much a miracle according to this story; however unlike other miracle stories in the gospels, this miracle requires something other than faith and obedience: it requires elbow grease and work. Peter had to actually go and work for it. Offending is easy. Jesus, however, commands us not to offend in our freedom. It is going to take some work but it is what we are called to do as his followers.
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