The events, as recorded in the 17th chapter of Matthew, did not happen on the same day. In fact, there could be a number of days between each occasion. For the significance of this chapter, we should first view its entirety. As we do so, we can detect that there is a great distance between the mind of Jesus from his disciples. Jesus had positive things recorded here. The disciples reflect all the negative things recorded here. We have the Transfiguration of Jesus before Peter, James, and John. In verse four, the impulsivity of Peter is displayed by suggesting that they built three tabernacles for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Notice that Jesus paid no attention to this idea. The understanding of the disciples demonstrates their confusion about the purpose of Jesus coming to earth.
A very sad situation had been occurring while Jesus was on the Mount. A father came to the disciples requesting that they heal his son from what he called lunacy or what some people today call epilepsy. The father had more faith in the disciples than what the disciples had for the healing of the son. After returning from the mountain, twice Jesus rebukes the disciples in front of the crowd before the healing. Sometime later, Jesus asserted to the disciples a prophecy of his murder and resurrection. Verse 23 says, “And they were exceeding sorry.” My reaction when I first read this was to ask myself why the disciples had sorrow. Apparently, they only heard the first part of this statement about being murdered. At that point, they could not relate to his teaching about being resurrected. When we are searching for God’s leadership, we must take in the whole Scripture or the whole circumstance or the whole guidance of the Holy Spirit. We cannot just hear half of what God wants to tell us. Likely, the joy comes in the second half of what he will share to us.
Now we come to the crux of the matter as reported in our text today. Once again, big mouth and impetuous Peter, without thinking, without consulting Christ, agrees that Jesus should be paying a tax for the temple. As a rabbi, Jesus was in no way obligated to pay such a fee. In the twirling about of Peter’s brain, he neglected to consider Jesus as a rabbi. Those who asked the question to Peter did not see Jesus as a rabbi, either. It was a lesson that Peter could have offered them about the identity of Christ, but he missed the point again. This was a tax that all men over the age of 20 were expected to pay, except those of the religious leadership such as rabbis and Pharisees and Sadducees. Maybe it was Peter’s spiritual immaturity at the time that caused him to want recognition and approval from those who asked the question. By the way, they did not ask Peter if he paid tax nor was that the question in any way. Peter’s concern was for Jesus to comply with certain standards when he himself had not.
Recall that Judas was the one who carried the money for the group. If Jesus wanted to pay such a tax, he would’ve instructed Judas to do it for him. Fortunately, Peter did not go to Judas seeking money to pay the tax. He went to Jesus himself. Here we see from the impetuous mouth of Peter again. Jesus directs him to take a hook line and sinker and catch a fish so that from his mouth will be paid the tax needed. From Peter’s mouth to the fish’s mouth was the problem and the solution. As a professional fisherman, Peter would normally use a net to catch fish but, had he done so, he would’ve caught many fish. This time Jesus obligated Peter to solve his own problem by using a hook to catch the fish. Maybe there are times that we get ourselves in trouble and dilute our witness to the world when Jesus directs us to solve the problem ourselves whether it be an apology to a sinner or a testimony to the unsaved or a donation to the needy.
In the mouth of the fish was a coin of such value that it would be sufficient to pay for Peter and Jesus. Once again, Jesus holds Peter to his accountability for the mess he created and that Peter also was obligated to pay the tax. Actually, Peter did not consult Jesus about the problem he created. It was the divine knowledge of Jesus that caused him to create a question for Peter to answer about money. When double checking with this passage of Scripture, Peter never confessed anything to Jesus, did he?
As believers, we must be careful how we interact with those in the world. We must be careful what we say and do before them because we are representing Jesus. Carefully, our obligation to the Lord would be to avoid any obligation to the world whether it be to gain their approval or to show a camaraderie. Jesus told Peter that the predicament he created was one in which they did not want to offend those asking the question. Likewise, even if we make a mistake while interacting with the world, we must not offend them. We must be careful not to alienate people away from the Lord.
It is our responsibility as believers to present God in the best light possible. What is not our responsibility is to defend God from the world. He can take care of himself. While being the most positive example to others for God, we can have an improved relationship with Christ, not one of questionable value.
Christian Writer 