Bible Study Series: Peter the Apostle
Matthew 17:24-27 The Coin in the Fish's Mouth
by Fraser Gordon
Hello Saints. We've been looking at Peter’s character and how the Lord Jesus Christ took him from a fisherman to a disciple and then to one of the great leaders in the early church. This morning we're going to look at a little incident which is only mentioned in the gospel of Matthew. It is the miracle of the temple tax from the mouth of a fish. It's worth looking at because of what Jesus does with Peter and what we can learn.
Matthew 17:24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?" 26 Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."
The temple tax
This is one of those miracle passages that we can't overlook because the Lord Jesus Christ uses Peter to produce a miracle. Jesus and the disciples had just been up north where Jesus ascended Mount Hermon and transfigured with Moses and Elijah. From there they travelled back to Capernaum. As soon as they got back, it says in verse 24, “those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?”” The tide had changed and the religious leaders had become more hostile towards Jesus as He set his face toward Jerusalem. They challenged Peter trying to entrap the Lord Jesus Christ. The temple tax is different to the taxes they paid the Romans and is found in Exodus 30.
Exodus 30:13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the Lord. 14 Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the Lord.
If you were over the age of 20 you were required to give a shekel for the upkeep of the sanctuary. Now obviously the temple in the time of the exodus was the tent of the tabernacle but the Romans allowed the tradition to continue in Jesus' day with the permanent temple structure. Half a shekel was normally about two days wages for a normal man. It was a one-off offering every year that Jewish people were required to give for the upkeep of the temple. At that time though teachers and rabbis were exempt from paying the tax. Peter came to Jesus’ defense and said “yes”. Now remember Jesus is not part of this conversation. The people who collected the tax approached Peter on his own and accused Jesus of failing His responsibilities. They were trying to trap Him.
What do you think Simon?
Peter has just come back from the Mount of Transfiguration where he saw Jesus, Moses and Elijah in glory. He saw the Lord glorified so much that His face and even His clothes shone. Peter thought that the kingdom had come and asked to make three booths. God had to intervene and say to him, “This is my beloved son, hear Him!”. It wasn’t about Moses and Elijah, or about the kingdom, it was about the beloved Son!
Jesus had a job to do which was the will of the Father. He set His face toward Jerusalem like a flint and became the sin offering for mankind. Peter had this amazing experience where Jesus was fully glorified right before him, and then he came back to his hometown, Capernaum. Instantly Jesus is brought down to the level of every other man and the leaders are accusing Him just like they would anyone else. Peter had obviously forgotten who Jesus was, but Jesus is aware and asks Peter a question.
Matthew 17:25 He said, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?" 26 Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free.
Peter gave the correct answer, “From strangers”. Even though Jesus had been brought down to the level of every other man, all glory is instantly returned to Him because He is the beloved Son of God. God had spoken twice in the hearing of His disciples, “This is my beloved Son”.
The temple is God's house and the Spirit of the Lord had filled the temple. Jesus is the beloved Son of God therefore free from paying the tax. Jesus said to Peter, “Then the sons are free”. Straight away the glory returned to the Lord Jesus Christ. He's back in His rightful place as the Son of God. He was exempt from paying the tax not only because he was a teacher and rabbi, but also because He was the Son of the God of the temple, walking on earth.
Lest we offend
Then in verse 27 we get these words from Jesus
Mat 17:27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them…
The word for offend is scandalizo. It means to entrap, to trip up, to entice, to make to stumble, or offend. Jesus was not going to take offense about what the religious leaders were asking. His presence filled the temple and yet they required Him to pay a tax to God! Not only is Jesus not going to be offended, but He will also not cause offense. Jesus could have claimed His rights and His relationship to God as free from paying the required tax, but He doesn't. As the Son of the Father He has the divine right not to pay it.
The first lesson for Peter is that even though Jesus was free from paying the tax He surrenders His personal rights so as not to cause offense. Peter would have learned a great lesson in this. Here was someone who wasn't obliged and didn't need to pay, but He also did not want to cause offense or cause others to malign His mission or His disciples. At other times Jesus wasn’t afraid to cause offense. In John 6 He reduced His numbers because there were people following him with wrong motives. He gave some really hard teachings and the people were offended. Even His disciples found it hard and Jesus said to them, “Do you also want to go away?”. From that time many walked away and did not follow Him any more. When it came to things about God, about the truth or about the Father, Jesus never compromised and many people were offended at His sayings. In this instance though, He doesn't want people to take offense. We find the same attitude in the Apostle Paul.
1Corinthians 9.19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Paul is free in the same way that the Lord Jesus Christ was free from paying the tax. Jesus gave up His personal rights and didn't claim them as the Son of God because He didn't want to cause offense. In the same way Paul, even though he was free, made himself a servant. To the Jews, even though he was delivered from the law, he placed himself back under the law so as not to cause offense. To those that didn't have the law he acted in that light and to the ones that were weak, he became weak. It was always for the benefit of others that he might save some. The Lord Jesus Christ did the very same thing. Peter would have learned that there are times when, even though you are free from something, you give up your rights for the benefit of others.
There is a time to stand your ground; the cross, salvation, God's word, the existence of hell, or the existence of God. All these things bring offense but we don't compromise on that. But if the matter before us doesn't affect our conscience or our standing with God or God's word, then we are free and we should not give needless offense or cause others to curse us and curse God. This is what Paul did and what the Lord Jesus Christ also did in this passage in Matthew.
Rom 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
In this day and age people seem to take offense at pretty much everything. It's all about standing up for your rights, but there's a time to stand your ground and there's a time to give them up. Giving up your rights is for the benefit of others. You can be as free as a bird from something, but if it causes people to stumble and fall or causes a bad repute to come on God or your Christian character, then you are free to not take offence and also free to not claim your rights.
Peter goes fishing
Matthew 17.27…go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."
When the demand for the tax came it seems that Jesus didn't have any money on Him. He didn't go to the money bag and pull some out. In this we learn something about the poverty of Jesus. He said that the Son of Man had no place to lay His head. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and He is the Lord of all creation yet, when money was required to pay a simple tax no one reached into their pockets to pull out a coin. It speaks of the way that Jesus and His disciples lived and that they relied on God for their daily needs.
Jesus had done many creation miracles. He had turned water into wine, walked on water, and stilled the storm. Jesus could have walked down to the waters edge and a fish could have come up and spat out the money! He could have walked out into the deep and picked up a coin. But He had a lesson for the apostle Peter. He used Peter to do the very thing that he loved to do. Jesus used him to be a blessing and pay a debt. I love that. Jesus could have said to Peter, go over by the tree and you'll find a coin that someone has buried there, or go down the street and someone will hand you a coin, or go down the street and you'll find a coin that someone has dropped in the gutter. Jesus' direction to Peter was, “go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first”. He chooses Peter to do the very thing he loves doing, fishing. I love that. God will often use what we love to do to be a blessing.
Peter was obviously a fisherman and as he went down to the sea he probably would have been acquainted with the people there. I wonder whether some of them said, ‘Look at this fellow, he used to have boats and nets and haul in the fish! Look at what’s become of him now that he’s following the Rabbi. He’s now using a stick, a line and one hook! He used to have an abundance, what’s become of him?’ I think though, that this would have been a thrill for Peter because he loved fishing. He had learned that whatever Jesus said he had to do. Peter would have thought ‘I must be obedient, even if it seems ridiculous’. When Jesus told Peter to cast his net on the other side of the boat, they caught such a catch of fish that the other boats were needed to help haul it in. Now he is told to cast out one hook.
Faith and obedience
Peter is getting a lesson in faith and obedience. It doesn’t matter if the direction is to launch out into the deep, try the other side of the boat, or go to the sea and throw in one hook. It’s about our obedience and our faith growing in our Saviour. When Peter obeyed those other times he saw that Jesus was the Lord of all creation. With one word from Jesus they received an abundance of fish. Now He is asking him to go to the sea with one hook, throw it in and see what happens. How did Peter do it? Did he find the juiciest worm for the hook? Or did he trust Jesus literally and walk down with only a line and a hook and throw it in. Whatever he did he was obedient.
There is nothing like fishing and I love it. There’s nothing like throwing a hook in and feeling that first bit of resistance and then a good tug on the line. Then you set the hook in its mouth and you’ve got it, woohoo it’s coming in!! I bet when Peter threw his line in he was feeling all of this. Peter caught the fish and there in the fish’s mouth was the money. I wonder if Peter thought “I’m only a servant of my Master”. As he took the coin out of the fish’s mouth I hope Peter thought that just as I am a servant to my Master so is this fish. The fish had been guided and then caught to serve the Master. I also hope Peter let the fish go free!
Jesus said to take the first fish, does that mean there were other fish willing to be caught? Or was it just the first fish that would provide?
Dominion over creation
J Vernon McGee said about this passage that “Our Lord demonstrates that He has recovered all that Adam lost”. Remember the Lord Jesus Christ is called the second Adam. McGee means that Jesus demonstrates in this passage that He recovered all that Adam lost when he fell. Creatures are obedient to Him and the fish as well as Peter followed His command. I believe that God gave to Adam the same dominion over all creation but lost it at the fall. In Genesis 1.26 God said, “Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and every creeping thing on the earth”. Man was supposed to have dominion over creation. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of all creation has dominion as the second Adam. Mankind and creatures are obedient to Him. The fish is like Balam's donkey, they are both servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Transfiguration passage is a picture of man in glory restored to His original purpose. In this passage in Matthew, we see man restored to His original calling; to be obedient to God. Peter is obedient and the fish is obedient, all under Christ's command. In the millennium this will be different. When Christ comes to rule and reign the lion will lie down with the lamb and there will no longer be hostility between creation and mankind. God's intention from the beginning was that man would have dominion over everything that lived under the command of God Himself. In Matthew 17 we see this fulfilled. Jesus puts out the command, Peter goes and does what He says, and the fish is obedient to the Lord's command. It doesn't mean you will go down to the sea and fish will bring you all the coins ever dropped in the ocean though!
The debt of sin
Matthew 17.27…you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."
Remember Jesus is free from the debt, but He didn’t stand up for His rights, instead He chose to pay it. “Give it to them for me and you”. Isn't this a wonderful picture of the gospel saints? It's the central thrust of the gospel that a debt was paid by one who didn't owe it. Jesus didn't have to pay it, but He lowered Himself and paid it for you and me. Hebrews 2.9 says,”But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone”.
He lowered himself, gave up his rights, and took on humanity. There was a debt of sin that was owed by mankind. The hostility between God and man was met in the person of Jesus Christ. The debt was toward God, but Jesus, even though He didn't have to pay it, gave up His rights and became a man for you and me. God is so holy and righteous that no sin can be in His presence or ever be acceptable. But the Son, the beloved Son, was willing to give up His rights and pay a debt He did not owe for you and me. The just for the unjust, the righteous for the unrighteous so that you and I would be accepted and free.
Christ on the cross cried out, “It is finished”. This was for Him and for us. We see Him resurrected by the Father and I see him crying out, this is for Me and for you. We see the risen Christ seated in the heavenly's, which is our new position in Him. He says, this is done for Me and for you.
Four lessons
What can we learn from this great little passage in Matthew? What were the lessons for Peter?
- The first lesson is that Jesus did not take offence or resent the demand and neither should we. We are free from all things as sons and daughters of the living God and should not take offence or resent demands put upon us. Christ was willing to lower His rights so that others would not be offended and say bad words about His mission or His disciples. Jesus had the freedom to make Himself a servant and there's a wonderful truth in that. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. You and I are free. Because we are free there are times when we can lower our rights because it doesn't matter. Being obedient and living for the glory of the Father, that is what matters. As free we choose to lower ourselves and put ourselves second.
- The second lesson is that the Lord Jesus Christ has resources available to Him. Even though He didn't have any money, He knew where it was, and provision for the need was supplied. Jesus will provide for all our needs. The provision was not in a money bag and there wasn't an abundance of coins. The provision was for the need itself. He gives us enough for our daily bread. The needs we have will be met by Him and He knows where all the resources are to make that available.
- The third lesson is that God loves to use His servants in what they love doing. He used Peter in an act he loved. My daughter-in-law loves surfing. She works for Christian Surfers and God is using her to be a blessing. God will sometimes do that with us. The things we love He will use to be a blessing for others.
- The fourth is that our needs are met by Christ and it's our responsibility to obey His word and do what we're instructed. Peter may have felt ridiculous about what he was doing because he used to have boats and nets. Here he is walking to the water's edge with a stick, a line and one hook. He probably hoped people weren't watching him. As silly as it was, Jesus knew where the provision would come from and had instructed the little fish to swim towards Peter’s hook. The coin was stuck in the back of its mouth and all Peter had to do was to be responsible and obey the command of the Lord Jesus Christ to do what was instructed. That is a lesson for you and I too, saints, whatever the Lord Jesus Christ says, however silly it may seem or how insignificant it may be, He is the Lord of all creation and we need to be obedient to His word.
I couldn't go past this little passage in Matthew because of the lessons that Peter, I believe, gleaned from it. It's interesting that the Bible doesn't explain to us how Peter went about it. It just tells you Jesus' commands to Peter and doesn't go on with the story. It's a story of obedience and how God wants to use His disciple to increase his faith and obedience to the things that God instructs.
God bless and we'll continue on with Peter next time. We're getting close to some of his failings in the garden. I pray you would see more in this passage and may the Lord bless you all. Amen.