01.19. God's Fishy Bank

God’s Fishy Bank Matthew 17:24-27

    Much of the life of Jesus was focused in and around the Sea of Galilee. In our text today we see this again play out. He comes to Capernaum, which is located at the north end of the Sea. This was the hometown of Peter. It is important to note that these events did not take place in Jerusalem at the temple but at Capernaum many miles to the north. It is possible that the one collecting the tribute money knew Peter personally.

    Many kids have saved money in what we know as a piggy bank. It is called this because it is in the shape of a pig. The money in this story was in what we might call a "fishy bank."

I- The Tribute Money:

    Only Matthew, who had been the tax collector before the call to follow Jesus, records this event. The man asks Peter, "…Doth not your master pay tribute?" Matthew 17:24 . This was not a tax that was hated as the tax exacted by the Romans on the citizens. It was a tax that had a biblical basis and was paid by every male of Israel above the age of 20. Exodus 30:11-16 gives this tribute to be paid.

Exodus 30:11-16 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, ¹² When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. ¹³ This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. ¹⁴ Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD. ¹⁵ The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. ¹⁶ And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls." The purpose was to support the work of the temple. This tribute was even collected from the Jews in a foreign country and sent to support the work in the temple. The word for tribute in Matthew 17:24 is didrachmon (did’-rakh-mon) and is only used in this verse alone. It is found in no other place in the New Testament.

II- The Miracle Before the Miracle:

    Certainly the miracle of this was that Jesus knew about the coin the mouth of the fish. However the miracle before the miracle catches our attention as well. Peter answers the question of when ask, However the miracle before the miracle catches our attention as well. Peter answers the question when ask, "Yes." He then goes into the house where Jesus was. Jesus had not heard the conversation that Peter had. However, Jesus speaks first concerning the matter. The miracle before the miracle was that Jesus knew the conversation without hearing it.

    KJV says, "Jesus prevented him" This word, prophthano (prof-than’-o), means, "to get an earlier start of, i.e. anticipate." The ASV says, "Jesus spake first to him." One more of the subtle proofs that Jesus was God.

III- Should a King’s Family Pay Tax to the King?

Matthew 17:25

Matthew’s gospel was written to show Jesus was King of the Jews. It should not surprise us that this miracle is recorded.

Jesus was simply stating to Matthew that the purpose of the tribute was to support the work of "HIS" temple. After all it was in the temple that they worshipped God and He was God. Jesus was saying that He did not have any obligation to pay the tribute to Himself. In fact this tribute was not compulsive but was paid by most devout Jews.

Another subtle thing in this conversation with Peter was the fact that Jesus was also teaching that Peter was the son of the King of the temple. Jesus told him to pay for both of them.

    The question might arise if this was compulsive and Jesus, as God certainly did not have to pay it why did He do what He did. Notice the words of our Lord, "Lest we should offend." Jesus knew His enemies were seeking to find anything they could to accuse Him. Jesus was simply saying that He would not allow this simple matter to be a stumbling block for faith. The ASV says, "But, lest we cause them to stumble…"

Paul used this word for "offend" in 1 Corinthians 8:13 concerning him being at liberty to eat meat. "Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."

Jesus was willing laying aside His right to not pay the tribute in order to not offend and cause them to stumble and not come to faith. Jesus gave us His right to be right.

IV- Peter’s Fish:

Jesus tells Peter to go get his fishing pole and go fishing. Of special note is that Jesus did not even possess enough money to pay this tribute. It was only a few cents that even the poorest had enough to pay. 2 Corinthians 8:9 "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." This is the only fish recorded that was caught with a hook. It is also the only time a single fish is caught. Peter goes and catches the fish and though it is not stated pays the tribute as instructed by Jesus for himself and Jesus.

Grant Jeffrey gives some interesting facts concerning this particular kind of fish that Peter caught in this text. He says that in Tiberias there is a restaurant called St. Peter’s Restaurant whose specialty is St. Peter’s fish. This fish is of the Cichlidae family and is found in only three places in the world, the Nile River of Egypt, Lake Victoria of Uganda and the Sea of Galilee. It is occasionly called the "mouth breeder."

Grant says the following concerning this fish:

"Dr. Jim Fleming, a professor of archaeology and historical geography at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, has taught about the unusual nature of this fish in connection with Matthew 17:24-27 . The female St. Peter’s fish carries her eggs in her mouth to protect them against predators until they hatch. As the brood of minnows begin to grow, she opens her mouth to let them out to swim around her from time to time. However, the mother fish opens here mouth again and quickly scoops them up whenever danger is present. The mother will fast almost to the point of starvation to avoid the danger of inadvertently swallowing her young offspring. On account of her well-know maternal habit s, the fishermen of Galilee call the female St. Peter’s fish by the Hebrew name, "The Mother-Fish." After the young mature to the point where they can survive independently, they swim away. However, the mother fish often keeps a substitute in her mouth to perpetuate her habit of carrying her young. St. Peter’s fish are sometime caught by fishermen and when they examine their mouths they find pebbles or coke bottle caps inside…This habit of the fish to pick up items from the lake bottom in no way minimizes the miracle of our Lord. Only the Son of God could have known that this particular fish would be carrying a shekel coin in its mouth." (Grant R. Jeffrey, The Handwriting of God, p 217-218.)

What a creator we have. First to create such a fish and next for Christ to have known the coin was there. Praise Him!!!!!!

V- Lessons for Me!

    Allow me to give a few simple lessons that God intended for me from this. God many have intended other lessons for you.

Lay aside my right to be right.

Attempt to not be a stumbling block.

Rest in the provision of Christ. Be moved to worship because of the amazing creation.