A Hook and A Fish

Peter had been approached by tax collectors (in our day, tax collectors would represent creditors). The creditors questioned Peter about monies that they collected from the people on a regular basis. However, Jesus had not paid them and they wanted to know why. Peter hastily answered the tax collectors by telling them that Jesus did pay this stipulated amount. The tax collectors considered Jesus to be a teacher (in our day this would mean a person in business, and/or an entrepreneur). Therefore, the tax collectors wanted their share of monies earned.

Peter panicked and gave them an answer before talking to Jesus. Then when Peter did finally talk to Jesus about the discussion he had with the tax collectors, Jesus asked Peter the following question; “What do you think Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll tax, from their sons or strangers?” When Peter said, “from strangers,” Jesus said to him, “then the sons are exempt. However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea, and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and me.”

When Jesus asked Peter this question Jesus called Peter, “Simon”, which means flaky, not stable, because Peter was in a state of doubt about how they would come up with the money that the tax collectors wanted. Peter also lied when the tax collectors asked him if his teacher, Jesus, paid the stipulated amount. Peter was also worried about what to do to come up with the money. One thing that Peter did not do was go back to his normal way of living to try to come up with the money himself. He went to Jesus for direction, and Jesus told him exactly what to do. Jesus gave him specific instructions on: where, what, how, when and why, so that Peter’s faith would be increase, and the bill would be paid. There would be more than enough to take care of what was needed for the both of them.

The instructions that Jesus gave Peter, was to go to the sea, and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that came up, open it’s mouth and find a shekel, and take it to the tax collectors. Therefore, the financial needs would be taken care of through a miracle specifically designed to increase the faith of Simon, better known as Peter (the rock).

I’m sure that Peter’s faith was built up when he did what Jesus told him to, when Jesus produced a miracle in the most unusual way.

Certain fees that we feel are unnecessary, and/or excessive, or fees that are put into place by governmental authorities; or bills incurred from living, are required to be paid; however, we do not have to worry about these obligations, because as children of God, He will make a way for us to fulfill our responsibilities. Oftentimes, the instructions that He gives us to follow, will build our faith through the working of miracles.

Sometimes we get so locked into what we think we should do, and how we should do it, that we miss the miracle that God wants to manifest in our lives. But, in order for God to manifest miracles in our lives, we have to be willing to do exactly what He says; even if we do not understand it, or we think it doesn’t make sense. The key is to trust Him, and not question Him.

When Jesus told Peter to go fishing, he didn’t tell him to fish (work) like a dog all day long so that he could get a lot of fish, and go down to the market and sell the fish like he normally did; in order to pay the tax collectors the money they wanted. Jesus told him the very FIRST fish that came up would be sufficient to meet the need.

Jesus knew Peter had a tendency to overwork out of fear of man. The fear that was in Peter needed to be handled through the building up of his faith, to believe and trust Jesus for everything. Therefore, Peter's energy would not be spent on working on things that would distract him from learning how to build the Kingdom of God.

• Do you see yourself in this story? If so how?
• What responsibilities are overwhelming you?
• What can we learn from Peter’s example?
• How can we learn to continually depend on God?

Definitions: (Matthew 17:27)

Offend
1) to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend
a) to entice to sin
b) to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey

1) to cause to fall away
2) to be offended in one, i.e. to see in another what I disapprove of and what hinders me from acknowledging his authority

3) to cause one to judge unfavourably or unjustly of another
c) since one who stumbles or whose foot gets entangled feels annoyed

1) to cause one displeasure at a thing
2) to make indignant
3) to be displeased, indignant

Go
1) to lead over, carry over, transfer
a) to pursue the journey on which one has entered, to continue on one's journey
b) to depart from life
c) to follow one, that is: become his adherent
1) to lead or order one's life

Sea
1) the sea
a) used of the sea in general
b) used specifically of the Mediterranean Sea or the Red Sea

Throw
1) to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls
a) to scatter, to throw, cast into
b) to give over to one's care uncertain about the result
c) of fluids

1) to pour, pour into of rivers
2) to pour out
3) to put into, insert

Take
1) to raise up, elevate, lift up
a) to raise from the ground, take up: stones
b) to raise upwards, elevate, lift up: the hand
c) to draw up: a fish
2) to take upon one's self and carry what has been raised up, to bear
3) to bear away what has been raised, carry off
a) to move from its place
b) to take off or away what is attached to anything
c) to remove
d) to carry off, carry away with one
e) to appropriate what is taken
f) to take away from another what is his or what is committed to him, to take by force
g) to take and apply to any use
h) to take from among the living, either by a natural death, or by violence
i) cause to cease

First
1) first in time or place
a) in any succession of things or persons
2) first in rank
a) influence, honour
b) chief

Come
1) ascend
a) to go up
b) to rise, mount, be borne up, spring up

Find 2147
1) to come upon, hit upon, to meet with
a) after searching, to find a thing sought
b) without previous search, to find (by chance), to fall in with
c) those who come or return to a place

Shekel
1) a stater, a coin
a) in the NT a silver stater equal to four Attic or two Alexandrian drachmas, a Jewish shekel

Take
1) to take
a) to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it

1) to take up a thing to be carried
2) to take upon one's self
b) to take in order to carry away

Give
1) to give
2) to give something to someone
a) of one's own accord to give one something, to his advantage

1) to bestow a gift
b) to grant, give to one asking, let have
c) to supply, furnish, necessary things
d) to give over, deliver

1) to reach out, extend, present
2) of a writing

3) to give over to one's care, intrust, commit
a) something to be administered
b) to give or commit to some one something to be religiously observed
e) to give what is due or obligatory, to pay: wages or reward
f) to furnish, endue

Reflection:
It is so important for us to trust God to take care of us and to not get distracted by the cares of this world to the point that we are immobilized by debt, and the fear of man. God performed miracles to provide for the means and care of his disciples in when he walked the earth; how much more will He provide for us by our faith and trust in Him.


Reference Scriptures
Matthew 17:24-27

Definitions:
Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of Matthew 17 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2009. 24 Nov 2009. < http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=17&t=NASB >

Higgins, S. (2009). A Hook and A Fish. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing.