Coin in the fish's mouth
The coin in the fish's mouth is one of the miracles of Jesus, recounted in the Gospel of Matthew 17:24–27.[1][2][3]
Biblical account
In Matthew's account, in
For the
Analysis
Heinrich Meyer suggests that Peter's assertion "Yes" makes it "clear that Jesus had hitherto been in the habit of paying the tax".[6]
The story ends without stating that Peter caught the fish as Jesus predicted,[7] nor does the text specify the species of the fish involved, but tilapia is sometimes referred to as "St. Peter's fish".[citation needed]
Jesus performed this miracle in order to not offend those who collected the two-drachma temple tax. This is the only miracle that Jesus performed in order to avoid offending people. Jesus typically performed miracles as well as made statements that were offensive to his audience, particularly the Jewish priesthood. Jesus' statement "the children are exempt" is one of many statements where Jesus describes his followers and himself as being part of a spiritual family. Some interpretations of this passage indicate that Christians should not pay the traditional church tithe. Some interpretations of Peter's reply "from others" indicate that the church tithe should not come from Christians, but rather from non-Christian visitors attending church.
The four-drachma (or shekel) coin would be exactly enough to pay the temple tax (two-drachma coin) for two people.[8] It is usually thought to be a Tyrian shekel.[9][10]
Jesus' reluctance to pay the temple tax is consistent with his teachings regarding the physical temple. The Gospels record five times when he either says "destroy this temple, and in three days I will rebuild it", or is quoted as saying this. Jesus may have said this to emphasize a spiritual temple over the physical temple.
The coin in the fish's mouth is generally seen as a symbolic act or sign, but there is little agreement concerning what it signifies.[7]
History of the didrachma tribute
This tribute was a civil tax, which was given either to the Romans, or to
See also
- Render unto Caesar
- Life of Jesus in the New Testament
- Miracles of Jesus
- The Tribute Money (Masaccio)
References
- ISBN 0-88489-955-1p. 86
- ISBN 0-8054-9444-8p. 349
- ^ Herbert Lockyer, All the Miracles of the Bible (Zondervan, 1988) p. 219.
- BibleGateway.com, Matthew 17:25, accessed 7 December 2022
- ^ Barnes, A. (1834), Barnes' Notes on Matthew 17, accessed 7 December 2022
- ^ Meyer, H. A. W. (1880), Meyer's NT Commentary on Matthew 17, translated from the German sixth edition, accessed 7 December 2022
- ^ a b Graham H. Twelftree, 1999, Jesus the Miracle Worker: A Historical and Theological Study, InterVarsity Press, p. 137.
- ISBN 0-8028-6498-8, p. 445.
- ^ Hendin, David. "The coin in the fish's mouth". Coins Weekly. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-86254562-5. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
- à Lapide, Cornelius (1889). The great commentary of Cornelius à Lapide. Translated by Thomas Wimberly Mossman. London..
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