FRIDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2019 MORNING MATTHEW 17:24-27
Matthew 17:24-27 New International Version (NIV)
24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
26 “From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
The Temple tax was paid for the forgiveness of sins (Exodus 30:13-20), so that Israelis could enter the Temple pardoned and accepted by God; a new, fresh start. But here God pays the price for our sins. The coin is a representation of what Jesus would do in dying for our sins.
Sometimes we think we are greater than we are. If Jesus could act selflessly and even act submissively to something clearly beneath him, how much more can or should we?
IJUMAA TAREHE 27 SEPTEMBA 2019 ASUBUHI MATHAYO 17:24-27
Mathayo 17:24-27
24 Hata walipofika Kapernaumu, wale watozao nusu-shekeli walimwendea Petro, wakasema, Je! Mwalimu wenu hatoi nusu-shekeli? Akasema, Hutoa.
25 Naye alipoingia nyumbani, Yesu alitangulia kumwuliza, akisema, Waonaje, Simoni? Wafalme wa dunia hutwaa kodi ama ushuru kwa watu gani? Kwa wana wao au kwa wageni?
26 Naye aliposema, Kwa wageni, Yesu alimwambia, Basi, kama ni hivyo, wana ni mahuru.
27 Lakini tusije tukawakwaza, enenda baharini ukatupe ndoana, ukatwae samaki yule azukaye kwanza; na ukifumbua mdomo wake utaona shekeli ichukue hiyo ukawape kwa ajili yangu na kwa ajili yako.
Wana wa Israeli walitoa kodi ya hekalu kwa ajili ya upatanisho wa roho zao na Mungu (Exodus 30:13-20), na hivyo waliweza kuingia kwenye hema ya kukutania (hekaluni) wakiwa wamesamehewa na kukubaliwa na Mungu; na hivyo kuanza maisha mapya. Hapa tunamwona Yesu asiye na dhambi akilipa deni kwa ajili ya dhambi zetu. Sarafu hii anayoitoa ni mfano wa kile alichofanya baadaye, kufa kwa ajili yetu.
Wakati mwingine tunajidhania kuwa wakuu kuliko uhalisia wetu wa kibinadamu. Ikiwa Yesu hakuwa mbinafsi kwa kujiangalia mwenyewe; na hata akajishusha kwa namna hii, je, sisi tunapaswa kuenenda kwa jinsi gani?
