In the Mouth of a Fish

~~~ Deuteronomy 10:12-22 ~~~ Psalm 147 ~~~ Matthew 17:22-27 ~~~

 

Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and be no longer stiff-necked.

 

Overwhelmed with grief at hearing that Jesus must die,

now they must deal with a civil issue.

There is a long standing saying that paying taxes and dying are the only

two things you cannot get away from doing.

 

So here we have Jesus speaking about how he must die and the temple

tax collector jumps right in.

 

Jesus does not want to offend, but he also does not encourage

blindly following the letter of the law.

 

Jesus performs one of his most unusual miracles...

He pays his taxes with a coin from out of the mouth of a fish.

How odd is that?

He fed large crowds with a small handful of fish.

His first disciples were fishermen.

In a way it is almost ironic that they should get the money to pay their

temple taxes from a fish.

They were certainly familiar with catching fish...

it was their livelihood.

 

 

Jesus told Peter and the others that he would make them fishers of men.

In spreading the gospel message there are gold coins to be found.

There are treasured stories of how God

 works in the life of each person.

You may have your own treasured story of how

you came to realize the presence of God.

 

go to the sea, drop in a hook,
and take the first fish that comes up.
Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax.

 

Whatever you owe to Cesar does not compare to what

God has in store for you.

Jesus pays the ultimate 'tax' paying with his life for us.

 

Peter was to take the first fish...he was to open its mouth.

The fish did not just jump out of the water a spit up the coin.

Peter was to approach the sea with his fishing gear

 as any other normal day of fishing.

 

If you have ever been fishing you will know

that you may be waiting for that first fish for quite a while.

You must exercise patience to be a fisherman.

 

Jesus pays the expected taxes in a very unconventional way.

Jesus wants us to cut open our hearts,

even to circumcise them.

 

Jesus says give to God what is God's and to Cesar what is Cesar's.

He never says something he does not support with his actions.

Remember he did not come to abolish the law,

but rather to fulfill it as had never previously been done.

 

In the middle of their grief Jesus performs a miracle

right in the mouth of a fish.

 

When was the last time you looked in the mouth of a fish for God's blessings?

I can honestly say I have never

considered a fish as a source for tax money.

God never ceases to amaze!

He will always provide.