Matthew 17

Clarias Macracanthus (2009) (9" x 12")

collage on paper

Matthew 17:24-27 records the miracle of Peter finding a coin in a fish's mouth. However, the main thrust of the story is Jesus' teaching regarding the need to pay the annual temple tax in order not to give offense to the Jews in Jerusalem. This is one of two teachings in Matthew on the subject of taxation, the other being in Matthew 22 regarding the question of paying taxes to Caesar.

These two issues were combined somewhat after a Jewish revolt in 66 AD when Rome demanded that Jews pay a tax to support the temple of Jupiter in Rome.