24 When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the half shekel [the temple tax] went up to Peter and said, Does not your Teacher pay the half shekel? [Exod. 30:13; 38:26.]25 He answered, Yes. And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him [about it] first, saying, What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly rulers collect duties or tribute–from their own sons or from others not of their own family?26 And when Peter said, From other people not of their own family, Jesus said to him, Then the sons are exempt.27 However, in order not to give offense and cause them to stumble [that is, to cause them to judge unfavorably and unjustly] go down to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find there a shekel. Take it and give it to them to pay the temple tax for Me and for yourself. Matthew 17:24-27 AMPC
This passage follows a series of events that Jesus had experienced over a very busy day. He begins it on a mountain with Peter, James, and John in an event now known as the mountain of transfiguration, and follows it up by healing a possessed boy whom the other 9 disciples were unable to deliver from demonic possession. Now to Jesus this was a normal day’s work, but to his disciples, Peter specifically, this had become a spiritually, mentally, and physically taxing day. Peter after witnessing the moment of transfiguration on the mountain had been overcome by fear until Jesus reassured him. He then was told by Jesus to not tell anyone what he had seen, before walking down the mountain and being confronted by the crowd and father of the possessed boy. I’d imagine he stood dumbfounded trying to figure out the commotion until Jesus stepped up and immediately healed the boy. After these experiences, Jesus again tells he and the others that he would be killed, yet he would be resurrected. I can only imagine the emotional and mental pain from hearing the person whom you’ve given up everything to follow and believe in, tell you that he would soon die. At the end of all of this, Peter is returning home with Jesus and the others just to be confronted by the temple tax collectors that they needed to pay the temple tax. Have you ever experienced the saying, “when it rains it pours?” Peter was experiencing this now because after being taken through the previously mentioned events, he was now being tested or worried by some more “religious gatekeepers.” Why do people seem to try or test you when you are already down or tired? The best part of this passage is that upon walking into the house (most likely his own), before he is able to speak, Jesus addresses him and gives him a solution to his “problem.” I like this passage because it shows that Jesus already knows our situation/problem before we even bring it to him, and he has the solution to it IF we are willing to follow his guidance. When Jesus was talking to Peter about the temple tax I got the feeling that he was really saying, “I know what you’re going through, I understand your dilemma, AND I have THE solution to your problem.”
14So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT
I use the above verses mainly for v15 in that just like the Matthew 17 passage this post is on, Jesus can personally and directly identify/relate to all the struggles and temptations that we are confronted with. Just like in the passage, Jesus is subject to the temple tax the same as Peter and the others. Because he is aware of man’s rules and chooses to operate within them while on Earth, he decides to meet Peter’s need while also displaying his power. The directions to go out and fish, and retrieve the amount to pay the tax from the fish is important for two reasons. He gives Peter the directions to do something where he must follow his exact words in order to receive it, because there are no shortcuts for blessings. Secondly he asks Peter to do something that he knows that he is capable of doing. Peter was a fisherman before following Jesus, as a matter of fact he met Jesus while fishing. Jesus’ direction to catch a fish would have been a familiar task for him to do, which would cause him to do something easy or familiar to him after the day’s challenging experiences. Everything that Jesus said and did in Peter’s home gave off that reassuring vibe that, “if you will trust me, then I got you too.”
Reflection Time
Do you believe that Jesus can meet your needs? Do you believe that Jesus is aware of your struggles or dilemma? If so, do you believe that he cares? Do you trust Jesus enough to follow his directions with the assurance that he will do what he promised? Take a moment and write down what you need Jesus to do for you, or what you are believing that he will do for you, and be open to what his response/directions is.
