Some Fishy Finance

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A real life event with a story written about it seems feasible to me. But the question remains why would Matthew write such a story at all?

He wanted to explain that Jesus was the Son of God? Maybe. But why was he so oblique about it?

He wanted to ascribe supernatural powers to Jesus? Possibly. Jesus not only predicted the future (the coin) he knew about the conversation between Peter and the tax collectors without being present.

What is the takeaway for you? I am not sure what it is for myself but the story appeals to me quite a bit.
 
And another thing. Jesus did not want to offend the collectors of the temple tax. Was this a timing thing?

He didn't always worry a great deal about causing offence.
 
paradox3 said:
And another thing. Jesus did not want to offend the collectors of the temple tax. Was this a timing thing?
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Or does it point to Jesus as a "good Jew"? One who followed the rules? Not someone trying to start a whole new religion?

For me, the most intriguing part of this passage is the question about who the rulers ask for money? Not their own children, or kin, but someone else's. (And it reminds me of who the rulers send to fight their wars - not their own children, but others'.)
 
I've often wondered if Jesus had lots of money while on earth, without a parable, where does the tax money come from?
One coin was enough to pay the taxes?
I remember reading that the reason his killers clamored for his robe after his arrest, was because he wore the robe of a wealthy man.
 
Waterfall said:
I've often wondered if Jesus had lots of money while on earth, without a parable, where does the tax money come from?
One coin was enough to pay the taxes?
I remember reading that the reason his killers clamored for his robe after his arrest, was because he wore the robe of a wealthy man.
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Jesus often emphasized relying on the hospitality of strangers. He accepted invitations others might turn down.

And didn't he invite himself to stay at the house of the guy in the sycamore tree?

There was also Peter's mother-in-law and the women who provided for him "out of their resources.'
 
paradox3 said:
Jesus often emphasized relying on the hospitality of strangers. He accepted invitations others might turn down.

And didn't he invite himself to stay at the house of the guy in the sycamore tree?

There was also Peter's mother-in-law and the women who provided for him "out of their resources.'
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I do remember that, but theres also the fact that Joseph may not have been a carpenter but a stone Mason and was paid well.
Also, why worry about his taxes if he lived off donations?
 
When this story arises I often think of Grumpy Old Men and chaos in marriage ... and the fish was freed ...

Imagine the old goats debating over whose rite it was to catch it ? Then they freed it ...
 
The key to the story is that Jesus does not pay the Temple tax out of His own resources and indeed insists that He and His followers should be "free" of the Temple tax. Why? The story needs to be understood together with Jesus' violent cleansing of the Temple, overturning commercial tables, using a whip, etc.
40% of the income of Jewish peasants was supposed to be paid as Roman and Temple taxes. Peasants who had a poor crop year could not afford this. So the Temple police (a kind of first century Mafia) would pay them an unwelcome visit, assault them, and take whatever possessions they wanted in payment of the Temple tax. This oppression is a primary reason for Jesus' Temple "cleansing" which is a key reason why the Temple establishment wanted Him dead.
 
Luce NDs said:
When this story arises I often think of Grumpy Old Men and chaos in marriage ... and the fish was freed ...

Imagine the old goats debating over whose rite it was to catch it ? Then they freed it ...
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This reminds me. If we assume that Peter went ahead and caught the fish with the coin in its mouth, what do we think he did with the fish?

He could have sold it for money, thrown it back or grilled it for dinner.
 
paradox3 said:
@Mystic There is no suggestion in today's text that the temple tax is corrupt. Where are you getting the oppression by the collectors of the temple tax?
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From scholarly books on ancient rabbinic complaints about the temple police. Tax collection required enforcement due to tax dodgers. Taxation required a fixed address and, as itinerants, Jesus and His disciples had forfeited their fixed addresses. Suspicions of tax dodging by wandering shepherds were raised for the same reasons. This is the cultural background of Matthew's "fishy" story.
 
Mystic said:
From scholarly books on ancient rabbinic complaints about the temple police. Tax collection required enforcement due to tax dodgers. Taxation required a fixed address and, as itinerants, Jesus and His disciples had forfeited their fixed addresses. Suspicions of tax dodging by wandering shepherds were raised for the same reasons. This is the cultural background of Matthew's "fishy" story.
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Okay not biblical then. I know the temple tax was described in the Hebrew Scriptures.

From what you are saying the collectors of the temple tax would have been suspicious of Jesus and Peter. This story has Jesus changing the dynamic by giving them what they want. It's almost another "turning the other cheek" story.

So interesting
 
But they did have a fixed address. Peter had a house and a mother in law. Not sure about his wife.
 
From a public perspective, the disciples left everything to become itinerants following Jesus, and so, nosy Jewish leaders would naturally wonder if Jesus paid His taxes. I have visited the ruins of Peter's house in Capernaum. There is no indication that the rest of the 12 maintained their former residences.
We don't know how often Peter was there.
 
paradox3 said:
Fixed address is more of a contemporary concept maybe
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"Address" is more of a contemporary concept, I think. I don't recall that even the Romans hit on the idea of sequentially numbering buildings to help with finding your location. Though I should check into that.
 
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