Matthew 17:24-27

When they came down from the transfiguration, they went to Capernaum, where the temple tax collectors approached Peter with a question, “Does your teacher pay the temple tax?”

The question was directed towards Jesus – “your teacher”.

This tax was an annual tax for men over twenty and was a standard amount for both rich and poor as a “ransom unto the Lord” and used originally for the upkeep of the Tabernacle and later for the temple. It was two drachma which was half a shekel and about a day’s wage.

Peter was caught off guard. As a Jewish man over twenty, he would have been liable to pay it. He answered “yes,” but it seems that he did not have any money to pay it for himself or for Jesus and must have been troubled in his mind. 

Jesus already knew of Peter’s predicament, and when Peter arrived at the house where they were staying, Jesus was first to address the incident by asking a question, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” This was not an accusation but a way to resolve Peter’s problems. Peter answered, “From strangers”. Jesus replied, “Then the sons are free”.

What did he mean? He could only have meant that he, as the “Son of God”, was not required to pay the tax. The temple was, in fact, his temple. 

There must have been enough funds in the disciples’ money bag to pay this small amount, but instead of giving him the required money, the Lord gave him specific instructions. He was a fisherman and knew how to catch fish, so the Lord told him exactly what he should do. He was to go to the sea and cast in a hook and take up the first fish. In the mouth of this fish, he would find a coin that would cover the exact amount for both him and Jesus and must give it to the tax collectors so as to not offend them.

Jesus used this situation to do a “little miracle”, which none of the crowds saw and may have gone unnoticed by some of the disciples, for it is only recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. Maybe Matthew, having been a tax collector, took special notice of it. This is the only miracle I know of that Jesus did in order to, in some way, benefit himself, but actually, it was to help Peter, who had unwittingly got caught up in the system of that time. It was not for the crowds or even the disciples but especially for Peter.

Although this miracle is often overlooked, it was an astounding miracle, and Jesus used it to teach certain things so that he could meet Peter’s needs and not cause offence. It also reveals that Jesus knew exactly what Peter had said and exactly what he should do. Jesus knew there was a fish in the sea with the exact amount of money in its mouth, and he also arranged for that fish to be in the exact place where Peter threw his hook. Notice that it was a single hook, not a net. Evidently, Jesus could control anything he wished to, even catching a single fish with a single hook in the entire sea! But he used Peter, a master fisherman, to do it.

Notice how the Lord works. He did a miracle for Peter by using Peter’s own fishing skills. He can still do miracles for us by using us – who we are and what we are able to do.

Remember that when Moses said to God that he had no way to convince the Egyptians that God had sent him, God said to him, “What is that in your hand?” It was his rod that he had walked with for forty years in the wilderness and which he had used to defend his flock. That rod represented forty years of experience and wisdom gained in the wilderness: that was all God needed. (Exodus 4).

Remember when David came against Goliath he had just a sling and five stones. (1 Samuel 17:40). God used just one of them.

Remember when Jesus fed the hungry crowds who followed him by asking, “How many loaves do you have?” (Mark 6:37-38). He fed 5000 from five loaves and two fish and again he fed 7000 from seven loaves and a few small fish. (Mark 8:5).

There are many other examples of how God can do miracles with common people and common things. God can use whoever he wants, whenever he wants, to do whatever he wants.

Sometimes, to receive a miracle, we need to have the faith to give God something to work with. The greatest miracle of all is that he can use us. First and foremost, we need to give ourselves to him, he is interested in us, and to reap a harvest, we need to plant a seed, the seed is in us.

Money is an important issue, and throughout history, there have been times when some churches have fleeced their members and, in some cases, become excessively wealthy. Some “prosperity” pastors are extremely rich when compared to normal people. It is easy for some people to cajole and manipulate others to give excessively to their cause. If it’s a good cause and you give to it, your reward is to be able to share its accomplishments. It is beneficial for us to give to God’s work, but beware of those who may take advantage of others.

This miracle of the tax money is not used as an example by “prosperity teachers” because it cannot be used to teach that God will provide large amounts of money to anyone. The amount of money was negligible, only one coin, just the amount needed! The idea that if one gives a token sum to a minister or a movement one will get back large amounts of money is false. The true blessing in giving is giving not getting. We are encouraged to nurture generosity to others by giving of ourselves and we are promised a great reward. (Luke 6:38). 

Jesus did not talk much about money except on one occasion to comment on the small coin given by a widow, and on another occasion when challenged about paying tax, that one should render to Caesar the things that are his and to God the things that are God’s. (Matthew 22:17-22, Mark 12:32-33). From this, we can safely ascertain that God is not impressed with large amounts of money but sees the motive in which it is given. The temple tax, although compulsory, was very modest and affordable even to the very poor, whereas a tithe illustrates the principle of giving a voluntary offering to the Lord of all we have. Sadly, wealth and possessions can become the biggest hindrance to us knowing God. (Matthew 19:22). 

None of the apostles became wealthy; their reward is in the Kingdom to come. (Matthew 19:28). When Peter, later on, was used to perform a great miracle, he still did not have any personal wealth, for he said to the lame man, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk”. (Acts 2:6). Peter had learnt that Jesus was his source for every need. Being poor is not an aid to holiness, and neither is being wealthy, but trusting the Lord in all things is a great blessing.

The Lord used the miracle of the coin to display three things: to show that he is omniscient, and is omnipotent, and able to control all things even to a single fish in a vast sea, and to teach Peter to trust and obey him as the source for all his need. Many years later, as an older person, Peter wrote about being humble, submissive and respectful of all in authority. (1 Peter 2:13-17).

The miracle of the fish with the coin shows us an important lesson. In the end, it is God who provides for us, even our life and breath. He knows our every need, and miracles come from him. He can use our every skill and ability, even to catching a fish. When Peter went to catch that fish, he had to use his knowledge as a fisherman. God blessed that in him.

Peter, however, had a mindset that reflected the mindset of the world and shortly after this he unwittingly expressed it when Jesus taught about being willing to lose everything to gain the kingdom of heaven. This was clearly a hard teaching for the disciples to understand and in answer to it Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed you. Therefore what shall we have?” (Matthew 19:25-27).

In response to this, Jesus told the parable of the landowner who went out early to hire labourers for his vineyard. (Matthew 20:1-16). Later, he went out yet again, and then still later, he went out once more and hired more labourers, but at the end of the day, he gave them all the same amount. In this parable, Jesus taught that the last will be first, the first will be last and that he has the right to give all those who serve him whatever he chooses.

What is the meaning of the parable? The heart of it is to show that we cannot earn our way into the kingdom. None of us deserve anything, and at the end of the day, God will do what is right. There is no room for boasting or pride but obedience and trust.

Peter had a mindset of earning, which in everyday life is necessary, but we cannot earn God’s favour or demand special privileges; salvation is given through grace alone. Even though we may serve him we do not deserve him. Nevertheless, as his children, we can look to him for our every need and there will be rewards for those who faithfully love and serve him.

How can we use our talents and skills to obey God and bless others? 

In a few words, what can you learn and apply from this?

Can you expect and believe for a miracle in your own life?

Write down one thing that you want to believe for.