Something Fishy About The Tax...

²⁴ On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”

²⁵ “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house.

But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?”
²⁶ “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied.

“Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! ²⁷ However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”
Matthew 17:24-27

Taxes.....always seem to be going up or new ones being added.  We aren't fond of paying taxes even though we do get some benefit from paying them.  The Temple Tax was half a shekel (around 15 cents today) and was paid by the Jews for the upkeep of the Temple.  The priests, however, were exempt from the tax.  In today's passage, Jesus and Peter go to the Temple, and while Jesus goes on in, Peter is cornered by the collectors of the Temple Tax demanding to know if Jesus doesn't pay.  Peter's response is that Jesus does pay the Temple Tax and goes to find Jesus inside.  

After some discussion, Jesus tells Peter to go throw a line in the water and to look in the mouth of the FIRST fish he catches and he find the amount for the tax.  The point I got from this miracle is that Jesus already knew how much was needed, and He provided EXACTLY the amount needed.  He's good about that. 

You see, Jesus knows exactly what we need even, and especially, when we don't.  Yet Jesus provides exactly what we need when it is needed.  Perhaps we need to learn a lesson, so Jesus allows us to face the consequences of our decisions so we will learn.  Perhaps we need encouragement, so Jesus sends someone to encourage us just when we need it most.  So why should we pray and let Jesus know what we need?  Because prayer requests aren't telling Him anything He doesn't already know, as it is for US to understand what we truly need so when He provides we will recognize it and give Him praise.

Think about that!