Overview
Vs 1-8 Transfiguration
Vs 9-13 Elijah - John the Baptist
Vs 14-21 Healing of Demon possessed boy
Vs 22-23 Prophecy of death and betrayal of Jesus
Vs 24-27 Tax payment and miracle of fishing
In reviewing this chapter in preparation to write something today I find 5 very important and relevant topics that could be written on at length. As has been enumerated these are some very important times for the ministry of Jesus. Jesus is wrapping up his time in flesh on the earth he is making preparations to empower the church that is about to be birthed.
He shows that he is intimately acquainted with Elijah and Moses. He understands the ministry that John the Baptist was assigned to do. Jesus tells his disciples what is required to pray for those who are beyond just being sick in body. He further foretells what he is facing in regard to his death and what his end will be.
Then we come to a place where Jesus is planning to have a little fun at the IRS's expense. Please understand that this is the "Israel Revenue Service." Have you ever known how government loves to take action that will make you look bad?
The tax man asked Peter if his master paid taxes. Peter responded yes he did, when he came to Jesus he was asked a strong question. Vs 25-26 NIV "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes-from their own sons or from others?" "From others," Peter answered. Jesus then said to him "Then the sons are exempt."
This is yet another example of a truth that Jesus did not come to be a king of this earthly world, if He did then Peter and the disciples would be exempt.
Now for the fun;
NIV Vs 27 "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw in your line. Take the first fish you catch, open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin, Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."
Peter was a professional, commercial fisherman. He knew exactly how and where to go to catch fish. Can you imagine what Peter thought with this current assignment from the Lord? Peter has seen thousands fed with a small boy's lunch, the dead were called back to life, leprosy was healed, and demons cast out of one and of many. He saw his mother-in-law healed, and he personally had walked on the water.
So here Peter goes walking down to the lake, maybe remembering all of those miracles, or maybe he was feeling rebuked at the words of the Lord regarding the payment of taxes. As you saw in chapter 16 Peter knew what it was to be recognized as someone of importance in the sight of Jesus. He also experienced the feeling of being rebuked, by being told to get behind me.
Not to make this a longer writing then necessary but let me digress slightly. My father-in-law was an avid fisherman. One time he went fishing at the river and was approached by a gentleman to inquire as to his success asking "caught anything yet?" So Pop reels in his line, toward the end of the line there is a bobber, a leader, a sinker; and that was all, no bait or even a hook. He turned and grinned at the man and said not yet. Then threw his line back in the water, set back down on the grass pulled his hat over his head and rested some more. My thought is if you are going to catch something you have to use a hook and some bait.
Is that what Peter did, did he use bait or just a hook? Was Peter surprised to find a coin in the fish mouth, probably not? I am not sure, I was not there; yes I'm old but not that old.
Peter pulled the fish out of the river, opened his mouth and took out a coin worth 4 drachma. He then took it to the temple as he was instructed to pay the Lord's tax and Peter's also.
I could go on to write a long dissertation as to the history and worth of a "drachma." I could explain about the temple and the Roman taxing principles, or I could tell a longer story about my father-in-law. Suffice to say that I can see in my very fertile imagination the Lord Jesus smiling as he saw Peter open up the mouth of the fish and pulled out that coin. Kind of makes you want to go fishing doesn't it?
In closing I would remind you of one scripture, Philippians 4:19 (KJV) "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Even if we have to go fishing to do it!
David DeTar
Friday
Matthew 17
