Sections 71-72

Summary of Events:

• Return to Galilee, Jesus shares the upcoming events of the Passion with his disciples.
• Jesus pays temple taxes with a coin from a fish's mouth.

"But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying." Luke 9:45

"Not so much from any awe with which they regarded him, as from the delicacy of the subject itself, and their own sorrow, which shrank from knowing it more fully."-Fourfold Gospel

The disciples did not relish the thought of Christ's passion anymore than I look forward to reading about it---two thousand years removed, it still bothers.  They must have felt unmoored after being under his care and provision--the thought of losing him must have been sharp.

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With the story of the temple tax, I find it interesting that Jesus took pains to clarify the underlying principle--that neither Jesus nor Peter were obligated to pay the tax because of their position. Regardless, he paid it, "not to give offense to them," a surprising point as Jesus took no pains to avoid offending the establishment at other times.

Silver Shekel Coins

"While Matthew did not record the rest of the story, it may be assumed Peter did as he was commanded, caught the fish, found the money, and paid the tax. The Lord thereby demonstrated His submission to ruling authority."-Fourfold Gospel

"Not to put an occasion of stumbling in the way of others. How unwilling we are to withdraw pretensions. It requires Christian discretion to know when to give way. Christ surrendered no principle; He did not say that He was not the Son of God. He forbore from asserting it." -Biblical Illustrator

Jesus had Peter "fish" for the tax:
Christ put honour on this honest occupation. We are not to neglect means because we seem to need miracles. -H. Melvill, B. D.