Jesus instructs Peter beside a stone terrace overlooking the Sea of Galilee

FREEDOM: THE SONS ARE FREE

Big Idea: Jesus, God’s Son, willingly pays what He does not owe to avoid unnecessary offense.

The Father has declared who Jesus is. Now Jesus teaches Peter what His identity means. The Son is free. Yet Jesus voluntarily pays.

READ THE TEXT

MATTHEW 17:24–27 | NASB95

24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?”

25 He *said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?”

26 When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt.

27 However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in 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 you and Me.”

Teaching Outline

Jesus Reveals His Freedom as God’s Son. — Matthew 17:24–26
Jesus Voluntarily Restrains His Freedom to Avoid Offense. — Matthew 17:27a
Jesus Demonstrates His Authority Through Extraordinary Provision. — Matthew 17:27b

What We Covered

I. Jesus Reveals His Freedom as God’s Son.

Matthew 17:24–26

Jesus is God’s unique Son.
His freedom flows from His identity, not from His circumstances.
His identity establishes His exemption.
Peter’s “Yes” is not necessarily wrong or impulsive.
The plural “sons” belongs naturally to the royal analogy.
Matthew does not establish that Peter shares Jesus’ exemption.

II. Jesus Voluntarily Restrains His Freedom to Avoid Offense.

Matthew 17:27a

Jesus does not surrender His exemption.
He voluntarily chooses not to insist upon it.
The glorious Son is also the humble Son.
Faithfulness sometimes requires standing firm, even when others take offense.
Not every preference is a principle worth defending.
Not every legitimate freedom must be exercised.

III. Jesus Demonstrates His Authority Through Extraordinary Provision.

Matthew 17:27b

Jesus specifies where to go, what to do, which fish to take, and what Peter will find.
Matthew records the instruction.
He does not narrate Peter carrying it out.
The coin covers Jesus and Peter.
Their inclusion in the payment does not establish identical exemptions.
His humility does not diminish His authority.
This account is not a universal promise of miraculous financial supply.
Its purpose is to reveal Jesus’ extraordinary authority.

The glorious Son is also the humble Son.

Peter’s Formation

FREEDOM — Jesus teaches Peter that freedom does not require insisting on one’s rights.

Reflection & Response

When am I justified in exercising a freedom but wiser not to insist upon it?
Can I distinguish a biblical conviction that must be defended from a personal preference that may be relinquished?
Are we more concerned about asserting our rights or faithfully representing Christ?

Choose the resource you need

Use the participant handout during class. Review the completed notes afterward, or open the teaching slides for a visual summary of the lesson.

Participant Handout (PDF)Completed Notes (PDF)Teaching Slides (PDF)