Read: Matthew 17:19-27
Take the first fish you catch . . . and you will find a four-drachma coin. (v. 27 NIV)
Some commentators think this text contains the strangest of all Jesus’s miracles. At worst, it seems self-serving; at best, a puzzling object lesson. It’s very possible, though, that when that time of the year came for every adult Jewish male to pay the half-shekel (or two-drachma) temple tax, Jesus’s and the disciples’ money was running quite low. The coin in the fish’s mouth, equivalent to four days’ minimum wages and enough to pay the tax for both Jesus and Peter (v. 27), may have been quite welcome.
There’s more, however. When Christ unfolded the principles for new covenant living, there would be no literal temple (24:2), and so no temple tax (17:25-26). Yet Jesus never broke the Mosaic law, which had established this tax (Exod. 30:11-16), even though things would soon change after his death and resurrection. So he confirms Peter’s assurance to the Jewish leaders that he obeyed the law in this matter.
The most important lesson to learn here, though, may be not to cause unnecessary offense (v. 27). So much of the gospel necessarily scandalizes those not in tune with God’s will that his people should avoid making it even harder for others to accept Jesus by not fitting in with them wherever they can. In our socially and politically polarized world today, we desperately need to work harder to avoid as much unnecessary offense as possible.
As you pray, ask God to show you how to make amends if you have needlessly offended others.
Craig L. Blomberg is the Distinguished Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Denver Seminary. He has written or edited more than 30 books, including a recently revised and expanded commentary on Matthew. He teaches regularly in churches, including his home church of Centennial Covenant in Littleton, CO. He and his wife Fran have two daughters and three grandchildren.
