Voice: Kae Chee
Today is Thursday, 18th of December. Whatever you are planning to do today, take a moment to commit your plans to the Lord.
We pray in this Season of Advent:
O Lord our God,
make us watchful and keep us faithful
as we await the coming of your Son our Lord;
that, when he shall appear,
he may not find us sleeping in sin
but active in his service
and joyful in his praise;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Psalm 97:1-7
The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and burns up his adversaries all around.
4 His lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning, is
now, and shall be forever. Amen.
Matthew 17:24-27
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?”
25He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?”
26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.
27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast 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 me and for yourself.”
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Should Jesus pay taxes?
When Jesus and His disciples arrived in Capernaum, tax collectors approached Peter to ask whether Jesus paid the two-drachma tax. This tax was not a Roman tax but the annual temple tax, used for the upkeep of the temple (cf. Exodus 30:13–16).
Peter instinctively answered, “Yes.”
But when he returned home, Jesus asked Peter a simple question:
“From whom do the kings of the earth collect tax? From their sons or from others?” Peter rightly answered, “From others.”
Jesus then made the point: “Then the sons are free.”
In other words, if earthly kings do not tax their own children, how much more is Jesus—God’s own Son—exempt from the temple tax that supports His Father’s house?
But Jesus immediately added: “However, not to give offense…”
Even though He had every right to be exempt, He chose not to cause unnecessary stumbling or misunderstanding. Instead, He sent Peter to catch a fish, in whose mouth Peter would miraculously find a shekel—the exact amount needed for both of them.
As another year draws to a close, in this unusual incident, Jesus models for us a live lived for the sake of others. In our society, we are very conscious about the law, what is legal or what is not. As long as we stay within these boundaries, we feel we have done well.
However, the Christian life is also about living in a way which avoid stumbling others or leading them down the wrong path. We go the extra mile because we want to bless others. As Paul puts it in Colossians 1:10
“Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work.”
As another year comes to an end….
You may think you have a right to live in a certain way at home but is that affecting your family members negatively?
How about your behavior at work and how your colleagues are being affected? Perhaps you can take some time to show some kindness?
You may have been faithful in your tithing but is there a missionary you can bless?
Let the Holy Spirit speak to you.
We end with this collect for the third Sunday of Advent:
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen
As Christmas draws near, let us adore Him.
Link to today’s Morning Office
About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.
Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.
For feedback, please write to us at info@mpcc.org.sg
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