Avoiding Offense in Love

Megan Bryant • June 30, 2021

Summary of sermon on Matthew 17:24-27 from Pastor Ky Martin.

Jesus and the disciples have come to Capernaum. Most of them are inside the home of someone who offered them hospitality, but Peter is out. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees two men approaching. He turns to face them, and they ask him whether or not his rabbi, Jesus, will be paying the temple tax.


This was a tax that Moses instituted about 1500 years before and applied to every male over 20-years-old. 


2 Drachma = ½ Shekel = approximately $180.00 per person today. 


This was not a Roman tax. It was a Jewish tax taken for the needs of the temple. It was expected but not enforced and would be similar to the offering plate today. 


The tax collectors were not the Pharisees and were not trying to trap Jesus the way that the Pharisees did. They were likely just doing their job. 


Peter automatically says yes that they will pay the tax and goes back and tells Jesus. Jesus’ response is saying that because he is the son of God, he does not have to pay the tax, but he does pay the tax in order to not be offensive. 


Jesus is being a true participant. Up until now, Jesus has not been concerned about being offensive. We can see examples of this in Matthew 10 and 12. So, what makes this situation different? 


The audience and the situation. 


Compliance to pay the tax will do no harm and shows Jesus not wanting to offend people unnecessarily. 


Why did Jesus choose to pay the temple tax? 


To avoid offending people


Jesus paid the temple tax in order to avoid offending people. Sometimes as Christians it may be necessary to offend people but not in every case. 


We see Paul reflect on this idea in Corinthians. “But take care that this right of yours does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” 1 Corinthians 8:9


In this section of Corinthians, Paul is discussing making sacrifices to avoid offending people (such as not eating meat) based on their cultural practices. 


Paul is demonstrating that the relationship is more important than the practice. We can lay aside our right to avoid unnecessary offense. 


An example of this might be choosing to not drink alcohol if you do not know someone else’s feelings about alcohol consumption. 


Ultimately, how we approach a disagreement on an issue is often more important than the issue itself. We see Christians dividing over political, social issues. Is it worth it? 


An example might be having political signs or barriers in our yard or on our car. While it is okay to have an opinion, it is also worth considering that displaying our opinions in this way may create serious barriers between ourselves and other people. 


Another example might be not engaging in polarizing situations on social media. Is it worth it to divide a wedge between ourselves and others? 


Because he was one of us


In this situation, the tax collectors were asking God to pay a tax. 


Jesus laid his right aside to become one of us. God sent Jesus to fix what sin had broken. Sin was man’s problem and man had to fix it. Jesus became a man to save us - to be 100% God and 100% man. 


Jesus learned obedience through what he suffered. See Hebrews 5:5-9. 


Jesus is God + being human. He became the perfect savior that we needed. 


Jesus also says the “sons” are free - meaning this includes Peter and by extension us. We are co-heirs with Christ because of the Gospel. 


“Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him”


— Hebrews 5:8-9

Arm Yourselves

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Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 4:1-6 Prepare to suffer Is. 50:6-8a I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. The martial language indicates that discipline and grit are needed to live the Christian life, particularly in view of the suffering believers encounter. -Thomas R. Schreiner Some people won’t like you if you follow Jesus When a culture abandons biblical standards, when extramarital sex, cohabitation, and birth outside of marriage become normal, people attack the church for its moral snobbery and judgmentalism. Peter warns us that if we do take a stand, we need to expect slander, not applause. -Daniel M. Dorian This is one of the hardest things a new Christian has to face. Your friends liked you because you shared in “the same flood of debauchery.” It seemed great fun at times, but then you came to embrace Christ… But your friends have not… They will be surprised when you say “No.” -Juan Sanchez. Keep an eternal perspective Our outcome is glorious Suffering is good for us Let’s remember that suffering accomplishes God’s purposes. It exposes what or whom we are trusting (1 Peter 1:6–7). - Juan Sanchez Ecc. 7:2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Discipleship Questions: Verse 1 tell us to arm ourselves by thinking as Christ did about suffering. How did Christ arm himself for and against sufferings? What does it look like for us to do that? Have you ever lost friendships (or had them change) because you were following Jesus? Do you fear that we (or our kids) will experience greater persecution in the future? If yes, how should we handle that fear?

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Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Jesus suffered and died in order to bring us to God Jesus conquered death by his resurrection “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.” —Martin Luther Problem #1 - he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison —Jesus preached through Noah to those who lived at that time (1 Peter 1:10–12) —Jesus proclaimed His victory to evil angels (see Genesis 6:1-4) Problem #2 - baptism now saves you —Scripture is clear - we are saved by grace not works —baptism pictures our salvation from God’s judgment through the resurrection of Christ “The waters of baptism, like the waters of the flood, demonstrate that destruction is at hand, but believers are rescued from these waters in that they are baptized with Christ, who has also emerged from the waters of death through his resurrection. Just as Noah was delivered through the stormy waters of the flood, believers have been saved through the stormy waters of baptism by virtue of Christ’s triumph over death.” —Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude —in baptism we are appealing to God for a good conscience "This appeal is an act of the heart looking away from itself and from all human instruments and calling on God, appealing to God, for grace to save.” —John Piper —in baptism we are pledging to God to live in a manner worthy of the gospel Jesus ascended to heaven and now reigns over everything “We can face suffering as Christians with confidence rather than panic, and hope rather than despair, because the road marked with Christian suffering is, no matter what its twists and turns are, the road to vindication and glory. The God who vindicated Jesus will vindicate you, and he will sustain your faith until that day.” –Juan R. Sanchez, 1 Peter For You Discipleship Questions: How does Jesus’ death and resurrection encourage us when we suffer? Why did we need Jesus to suffer and die to bring us to God? How does Jesus’ victory over death give us eternal hope? What are your thoughts regarding some of the problems in this passage? How does what Peter says about baptism elevate the importance of baptism? When were you baptized and how does this passage inform your understanding of baptism? How does knowing our victory is secured help us with all the things this life throws at us?

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Notes from Ky Martin's sermon on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Sermon text: 1 Peter 3:13-17 Nobody can (truly) hurt Christians Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? The train of thought is as follows: “No one will be able to harm believers on the future day if they are zealous for good” (v. 13). Indeed, even present suffering is not a sign of punishment but of blessing both now and especially in the future, on the day when God rewards his people with eternal life. -Thomas R. Schreiner Honoring Christ Erases Fear Share your faith with strength and gentleness Embrace balance Be prepared to share The truth of the gospel is a public truth that can be defended in the public arena. This does not mean, of course, that every Christian is to be a highly skilled apologist for the faith. It does mean that every believer should grasp the essentials of the faith and should have the ability to explain to others why they think the Christian faith is true. -Thomas R. Schreiner Be prepared to suffer “I’ve spent a number of years in India and Africa where I found much righteous endeavor undertaken by Christians of all denominations; but I never, as it happens, came across a hospital or orphanage run by the Fabian Society [a British socialist organization], or a humanist leper colony.” -Malcolm Muggeridge Be bold! We will likely suffer as Christians in this world, but that suffering is slight and temporary compared to the eternal inheritance that awaits us. The worst thing that can happen to us is that we die and receive our promised inheritance. Can you imagine how emboldened Christians would be if we only believed what Peter is saying? -Juan R. Sanchez Discipleship Questions: Does the fact that nobody can (truly) harm us comfort you? What would change if we lived like we really believe that? Are you a more confident person as someone who knows Christ? Does your security in Christ embolden you to take some risks in life, knowing that the worst that could happen is death? How equipped / prepared are you to give a reason for the hope that you have? What would grow your confidence and competence in that? Have you considered joining Michael Clark one day for evangelism at the harbor? Well….you should….
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