Coming of the King: Week 37

Matthew 17:14-27: The Humanity of the King

• 17:17 "unbelieving and perverse" - perverse because of inappropriate use of a gift, as with the feeding of the multitudes. Unbelieving because of lack of trust in the Father in heaven.
• 17:21 "goeth not out but by prayer and fasting" - the best manuscripts of Matthew do not have this verse, but a similar statement of Jesus is found in Mark on this same occasion. Mark 9:29
• 17:23 "deeply grieved" - not trusting the plan or the Father.
• 17:24 "didrachma" - half a shekel. The census tax of Moses was a half shekel. Exodus 30:13 Amusingly, only Matthew the former tax collector reports this taxation miracle.
• 17:26 "the sons are free" - Jesus counts Peter also as a son of the Kingdom. "That there be no offense" - "Let it be so now" Matthew 3:14-15
• 17:27 The sons were free - they had the tax paid for them. Earthly ambassadors have local taxes and other expenses paid for them.