Jesus Heals an Epileptic Boy

Topic: Faith

Passage: Matthew 17:14–27

July 26, 2022

Commentary

As Jesus came down from the mountain to the crowd, He found embarrassed disciples and a needy father and son. The father had brought his epileptic, demon possessed son to the disciples begging them to deliver him, but they couldn’t (vv. 14-16). Jesus rebuked the crowd (which included the disciples) (v. 17) before casting the demon out of the boy (v. 18). Jesus expected more from His disciples. He had already given them authority to heal and to cast out demons (Matthew 10:8), but they had failed to believe. When the disciples asked Him why they had not been able to heal the boy, Jesus said it was because of their little faith (vv. 19-20). Again, Jesus told His disciples that He would be betrayed and killed (v. 22). He told them the grave would not hold Him. He would rise on the third day (v. 23). Not able to understand fully what He was saying, they were filled with grief.

When Jesus and His disciples arrived back at Capernaum, the tax collectors were waiting for them (v. 24). Every Jew older than 20 years was required to pay a half shekel temple tax (Exodus 20:13-24). Peter and Jesus had not yet paid their tax for that year. If Peter failed to pay the tax, then he was a “lawbreaker” in the collector’s eyes. Peter was concerned about his and Jesus’s reputations in this moment. Jesus being either a mind reader or simply being observant already knew that Peter was coming to him concerning the tax. He used an analogy to get a spiritual truth across (vv. 25b-26). Sons of the king do not pay taxes. Jesus is a Son of the King; therefore, He is exempt from the temple tax. Freedom is one of the greatest gifts Jesus has bestowed on us. Paul says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not get entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal. 5:1). Not wishing to offend (in this instance), Jesus made other arrangements (v. 27). He sent Peter to catch a fish from whose mouth Peter would obtain a shekel, enough money to pay for both of them.

Application

Technically Jesus did not have to pay the tax; but for practical reasons, He paid it. As a Christian, I must never use my freedom in Christ to hurt my testimony or diminish my influence with others.

Matthew 17:14– 27 (NET)

¹⁴ When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, ¹⁵ and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly, for he often falls into the fire and into the water. ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but they were not able to heal him.” ¹⁷ Jesus answered, “You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him here to me.” ¹⁸ Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that moment. ¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” ²⁰ He told them, “It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.”

²² When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. ²³ They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And they became greatly distressed.

²⁴ After they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Your teacher pays the double drachma tax, doesn’t he?” ²⁵ He said, “Yes.” When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes—from their sons or from foreigners?” ²⁶ After he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. ²⁷ But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and throw out a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a four drachma coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you.”