This is an amazing story where the tax collectors asked Peter if his master (Jesus) pay the temple tax. This was a religious tax that was used for maintaining and sevicing the temple. Although Jesus did not need to pay this tax because he was already the Kings son (God's) and foreknowing that exchange, Jesus asks Peter whether Kings collect tax from their own sons or from others? Peter answered that they collect from others. Jesus replied "then the sons are free."
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?” 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 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.”
So Jesus was basically saying that if you are the Kings son, then you are exempt from paying this religous tax as it was only required to be paid by those who were not sons of the King.
However, not to give offense, Jesus instructs Peter on where to find the shekel needed to pay for both of them.
I thought about the fish in this story and wondered if a fisherman had dropped the shekel into the sea when he was out fishing and it was eaten. It may be that this fish had that coin lodged in his mouth for a long time but most likely, it was a miraculous move from God. Every detail was worked out beforehand as Jesus gave Peter instructions on how and where to find this specific fish with the shekel in it's mouth. Enough for Peter and Jesus to pay the required temple tax.
Amazing little gem from the book of 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?” 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 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.”
So Jesus was basically saying that if you are the Kings son, then you are exempt from paying this religous tax as it was only required to be paid by those who were not sons of the King.
However, not to give offense, Jesus instructs Peter on where to find the shekel needed to pay for both of them.
I thought about the fish in this story and wondered if a fisherman had dropped the shekel into the sea when he was out fishing and it was eaten. It may be that this fish had that coin lodged in his mouth for a long time but most likely, it was a miraculous move from God. Every detail was worked out beforehand as Jesus gave Peter instructions on how and where to find this specific fish with the shekel in it's mouth. Enough for Peter and Jesus to pay the required temple tax.
Amazing little gem from the book of Matthew 17:24-27
