IT IS DIFFICULT to put the story of the fish and the gold coin into the flow of other events in Matthew, or any of the gospels, for that matter. It stands alone—the story is told nowhere else, nor are there any O.T. verses to shine light on this except for the historical basis of the Temple tax. “Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the Lord.” (Ex. 30:13) In later centuries, as currencies changed, the Temple tax was still paid in shekel equivalencies. “We assume the responsibility for carrying out the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God.” (Neh. 10:32) There is no good explanation for how the one-third shekel of Nehemiah’s time became the half shekel of Jesus’ time. But due to the influence of Greek culture, the tax could also be paid in drachmas. The value of what was given, however, did not change; the tax remained roughly equal to a half-day’s wages for the average laborer. As always, there were stipulations as to who had to pay and those who were excluded.
Jesus and Peter, in the previous chapter of Matthew’s gospel, had an interaction that may give a hint of why this story appears. Jesus had just predicted his death, and Peter attempts to dissuade him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” (Matt. 16:22) Jesus strongly rebukes him immediately. “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matt. 16:23) We immediately understand how crushing this must have been for Peter. He is one of Jesus’ strongest supporters, and only desires to please and protect him. But Jesus doesn’t need Peter to make him feel good, he needs him to encourage him and strengthen him for the great trial of the cross that lies before him. And, for the sake of that extraordinary and unique mission, Peter needs also to be made to grow spiritually. Tough love was needed, and tough love he received.
But now, there is a great shift in tone. It is not immediately on the heels of the previous event, for some time and some towns have gone by. They left the area of the Mt. of Transfiguration, somewhat south of the Sea of Galilee, and proceeded through the lower region to the upper region of Galilee. There they arrived in Capernaum, on the west side of the lake. And there, “the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, ‘Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?’” (Matt. 17:24) Perhaps this was a legitimate question; this may have been the locale in which they normally paid, and had been absent. In any case, Jesus would not have intentionally avoided the payment; it was an ordinance established by God, and Jesus was a faithful Jew. Peter immediately upholds Jesus’ integrity. “Yes, he does.” (Matt. 17:25a)
Peter returned to the house in which they stayed, and here scripture says that Jesus initiated a dialogue with him, without recording any statements by Peter as the setting opens. Jesus clearly appears to have foreknowledge of Peter’s conversation with the ‘didrachma’—the Temple tax collectors. He asks, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?” (Matt. 17:25b) It’s not a hard question, so quickly Peter answers, “From others.” (Matt. 17:26a) This fact is true not only of the kings of the earth, it is certainly true of the kings of Israel, especially the Herod tetrarchy, and it is equally true of the priesthood. These are merely accepted facts of life, and presupposed in the minds of all who have been born into and raised in the culture of this time. In principle, it is equally true in all time, and so it is true in our time. “‘Then the sons are exempt,’ Jesus said.” (Matt. 17:26b)
And then an interaction, a transaction in trust-building, or perhaps trust restoration, occurs between Jesus and Peter. It is not the last time such an effort will be needed. “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out 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.” (Matt. 17:27) Are Peter and Jesus alone? We can’t tell, but that Jesus says that the amount will be sufficient ‘my tax and yours’ indicates this is a personal moment .
There is no thunder and lightning here—this will be a ‘small-scale” miracle, if there is such a thing. This fits with the intimacy of the moment, and is necessary for Peter at several levels. It occurs in his area of expertise; he is an experienced fisherman, and this is a practiced task for him. This is something he understands at a gut level and that will tie his life experience to a deeper trust in God. And, it will be the ‘first fish’ he catches; he will be immediately rewarded for his obedience. There are those that believe that the fish was a form of Tilapia, which has a pouch in its mouth to harbor its young, and which is certainly of a sufficient size to hold a four-drachma coin, which was the equivalent of two half-shekels. This is the same fish that is served as a meal to tourists in Israel during our present time as “St. Peter’s Fish.”
What are we to make of this singular story? Perhaps it is just what is suggested here, the tender care that Jesus exhibits in his development of disciples. Peter seems a very uneven character throughout the gospels, but in the Book of Acts and forward he is a heroic figure and a champion of the nascent Church of Jesus Christ. Anecdotally, he dies a martyr’s death under Emperor Nero’s hand, unwavering in his convictions through his last breath, nailed upside down to a cross.
If we reflect carefully, we certainly see times when Jesus has exhibited tough love as a change agent in our growth spiritually, just as we are equally aware of times in which his tender care has loved us through some times when our strength, or our strength of character, has been insufficient. We are all familiar with John 3;16, but we should equally memorize the following verse. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)
Q. When is the last time a difficult trial has grown me past a place of arrested spiritual development?
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