PETER’S BIG FISH STORY
Mt. 17:24-27
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: Tax Jokes from Reader’s Digest
1. “It’s time to pay my income tax. And, brother, that’s no joke. For after paying IRS, I find that I R broke!” —Jerry Henderson in the Lubbock, Texas, Avalanche-Journal.
2. “As April 15 draweth nigh, My spirits start to droop. A poor, downtrodden slave am I, In short, an income poop” —Fred Meyers, quoted by Jack Rosenbaum in the San Francisco Examiner.
3. “Income tax is almost due, And this makes me today, Another shaking member of, The I.O.U.S.A.” —Martin Buxbaum in Table Talk.
B. TEXT
24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” 25 “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?” 26 “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “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.”
C. THESIS
1. Life with Jesus is never boring! There were a lot of unusual things that happened around Jesus. This is certainly one of them.
2. We’re going to see how the tribute was demanded, how Jesus gave up His rights and paid it, and the strange method He used to do it.
3. The title of this message is, “Peter’s Big Fish Story.”
I. THE TRIBUTE DEMANDED
A. A TEMPLE TAX
1. Shortly after Jesus and His disciples arrived at Capernaum, Peter received a visit from the collectors of the temple tax. They asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” Matt. 17:24.
2. This kind of tax was first imposed on the Israelites by Moses (the half-shekel for redemption, which equals 2 drachmas; Exod. 30:11-15) for every male Israelite over twenty years of age. The money was used for the upkeep of the Tabernacle, and later, the Temple.
3. It was customary for all Jews and due on the 15th of Adar, which was six months before these tax collectors arrived. It was regarded as a patriotic, as well as a religious duty.
4. It’s quite probable that the prompt appearance of the tax-collectors was due to a plan of the alert enemies to involve Jesus and Peter in a breach of a recognized obligation.
5. This tax was, undoubtedly, in addition to the tithes that were sacred to God.
6. IMPORTANT POINT: Church Always HAS and Always Will Cost Something.
a. It would be really nice to think that God’s church would never have to worry about money. But that’s not the way it is.
b. As long as the church is on this earth there will be expenses -- the light bill, trash, gas, water, sewer, lawn mowing, janitorial, nursery, preschool, youth, secretarial, internet, phones, licensing, salaries, etc, etc.
c. Thank you for contributing to the church – we must have it to keep operating.
B. CHRIST SET US AN EXAMPLE
1. Peter's answer, "Yes, it is Christ's principle and practice." We should "render to all their due, tribute to whom tribute is due" Romans 13:7.
2. Though the Temple leadership was corrupt, and though Christ styled it "a den of thieves" and it's priests opposed Christ -- He still upheld the principle of supporting the work of God.
3. If the Church should be amply supported when at its worst, how much more does it deserve support when it’s at its best!
4. Also, if Christ will Himself pay tribute, who can claim exemption?
II. JESUS GAVE UP HIS RIGHTS
A. ANTICIPATES PETER’S THOUGHTS
1. The Omniscience of Jesus. Jesus, like Elisha (2 Kgs. 5:26) knew what had transpired between the tax collectors and Peter.
2. If Jesus, in His earthly body, could read the hearts of men and women, how much more now that He has filled the universe (Heb. 4:14) and been enthroned at the right hand of the Father?
3. We should stay aware that Jesus constantly knows our deepest secrets; nothing is hidden from Him. So we shouldn’t deceive ourselves into thinking He doesn’t know every detail about our lives.
B. WHY JESUS WAS EXEMPT FROM THE TAX
1. He appeals to the ways of Kings of the earth. Parents and children held all their goods together. It would be absurd for parents to levy taxes on their children.
2. The official website of the Royal Family read, “In 1992, The Queen volunteered to pay income tax and capital gains tax, and since 1993 her personal income has been taxable as for any other taxpayer.” (Denn Guptil)
3. Why could Jesus have justly refused to pay the Tax? For two reasons:
4. First, because JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.
a. The angels are called “Sons of God” because of their special creation (Job 1:6; 2:1; Ps. 148:1-5), we are called the “sons of God” because of our adoption (Rom. 8:15), but Jesus is called “The Son” (87X) because of his eternal coexistence with the Father!
b. He is called “Son” five times in the Old Testament (Psalm 2:7, 12; Prov. 30:4; Dan. 3:25; Zech. 12:10). His pre-existence is without question (John 17:5, 24).
c. Hebrews 1:2 says that God created the universe through his “Son.” The Scripture says “God sent His Son into the world” (1 John 4:9; John 1:17; Rom. 8:3).
5. Secondly, because THE TEMPLE IS HIS TEMPLE (Mal. 3:1).
a. When He was 12, He told Mary & Joseph, “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Lk. 2:49.
b. When He drove out the merchants and money changers from the Temple courts, He said, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” Jn. 2:16.
c. So did Jesus really need to pay taxes to Himself? No!
6. We should recognize who WE are -- the sons of God! In reference to our adoption, Jesus made the saying plural – “the sons are exempt.” We are so much a part of the family of the King that we are exempt too!
C. REASON JESUS WAIVED HIS PRIVILEGE
1. "Lest we should offend them." This is an important principle that all Christians are bound to follow in dealing with lost people and the body of Christ.
2. We should be careful not to offend people unnecessarily. Sometimes we have to, but many times it’s unnecessary.
3. It’s amazing that Jesus rescinded His rights rather than to give offenses.
III. STRANGE METHOD OF PAYMENT
A. COURSE CHRIST TOOK TO PAY: Out of a fish's mouth. It teaches us:
1. The Poverty of Christ – He didn’t even have the small amount of money that was asked for! “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” 2 Cor. 8:9.
2. The Power of Christ
a. Maybe His omnipotence put the fish there (in the exact place at the lake that Peter walked down to and threw in his hook), or;
b. His omniscience knew ahead of time that Peter and the fish would intersect.
3. Regardless, it’s evidence of His divinity. He is Lord! Over demons, sickness, sin, the Sabbath, over nature, whatever!
B. PETER’S WALK OF FAITH
1. Imagine Peter walking down toward the lake. He runs into an old friend, "Where are you going Peter?" "Ah, nowhere really."
2. "Yeah but you're carrying a fishing pole. What are you planning on catching? What kind of bait do you have?" "I didn't bring any bait."
3. "What? How can you catch a fish without any bait? What kind of fish are you trying to catch?" "I don't know! You wouldn't believe me if I told you; the Master, Jesus, sent me to catch our taxes!"
4. "What? We've both been fishing all of our lives, and our fathers before us, yet I've never heard of anyone catching taxes. No wonder you were sneaking along! Next time I need some taxes, I’ll come have you catch me some! Ha Ha! See you later Peter!"
5. I've talked to a lot of professional fisherman and none of them has ever caught a fish with money in it. It had to be a miracle!
C. LESSONS OF THIS MIRACLE
1. Fact: Peter must catch it -- this encourages industry and endeavor. God doesn't hand everything to us on a silver platter!
2. The fish came up with money in its mouth:
a. There’s a Reward for Obedience.
b. Tax for two. Because Peter did the work of fishing, he therefore got his part/shared in it. God provides for the needs of those who work for Him.
3. Christ could have commanded a BAG of money to be in the fish’s mouth, as easily as a coin of it. This teaches us not to covet, but to be content with our present condition.
D. ILLUSTRATION: Gratitude
1. In regions of Mexico, hot springs and cold springs are found side by side, and because of the convenience of this natural phenomenon the women often bring their laundry.
2. They boil their clothes in the hot springs, and then rinse them in the cold springs.
3. A tourist watching this procedure commented to his Mexican guide: "They must think Mother Nature is generous to freely supply such ample, clean hot and cold water."
4. The guide replied, "No, Senor, there is much grumbling because she supplies no soap!"
5. Let’s be grateful for God’s blessings, whether great or small. God’s methods of provision may be mysterious, but they’re not accidental!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: Big Fish Story
1. Jimmy Smith developed an interest in foreign missions while attending Houston Baptist University. After learning of his interest, 2 missionaries invited him to visit their work in Guatemala.
2. Money was very tight, so Jimmy and his wife knew the trip would be impossible unless God intervened. Several weeks later, Jimmy went fishing with a deacon in his church named Gene Alexander.
3. They talked about an upcoming fishing tournament and the $20,000 prize for a particular fish. The deacon knew of Smith's (Jimmy’s) desire to visit Guatemala and promised him $5000 for the trip if he caught the fish.
4. Upon learning of the contest and promise, Mrs. Smith logged it in her prayer journal and began talking to God.
5. Then on the day of the tournament, Gene Alexander reeled in the $20,000 fish as his first catch of the day. Officials speculated the odds of landing that fish as his first catch were one in 6.8 billion.
6. Jimmy Smith and his wife made the trip and God confirmed His call on their lives. They later returned to Guatemala and served there as foreign missionaries!
7. What God can do with one fish!
B. THE CALL
1. Don't limit God's ways of providing.
2. We can expect God to take care of our needs.
3. We should be careful not to offend.
4. Recognize that you’re a Son of God. Walk by faith.
5. Blessings come with obedience. Be content.
