Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 17:27

"But, lest we cause them to stumble, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a shekel: that take, and give unto them for me and thee." — Matthew 17:27 (ASV)

Our Savior would not willingly give cause for offense. He was not bound to pay, but rather than cause a scandal, He would pay both for Himself and for Peter. How gracious were His words, “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them”!

If the question had remained by itself, clear from other circumstances, our Lord might, on principle, have declined to pay the tribute money. But Peter’s rash declaration had compromised his Lord, and He would not appear false to the promise made by His follower. Besides, Peter would be involved in a dispute, and Jesus would much rather pay than leave His servant in a difficulty.

When the pocket is involved in a matter of principle, we must be careful that we do not even seem to be saving our money by a pretense. Usually, it will be wisest to pay under protest, lest it appear that we are especially careful of conscience when we can also be careful of our cash.

The manner of payment prevented the act from compromising our Lord. Very interesting was the hooking of the fish which brought the silver in its mouth. “Take up the fish that first cometh up and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money.” Very remarkable the providence which caused the shekel to fall into the sea and made the fish first to swallow it, and then to rise to the hook as soon as Peter began his angling. Thus the great Son pays the tax levied for His Father’s house, but He exercises His royal prerogative in the act and takes the shekel out of the royal treasury. As man He pays, but first as God He causes the fish to bring Him the shekel in its mouth.

The piece of money was enough to pay for Peter as well as for his Lord. Thus did our Lord submit to be treated as one who had forfeited life and must have a half-shekel paid as redemption money for Him. This He has done for our sake and in association with us, and we are redeemed by His act and in union with Him, for He said of the piece of money, “That take, and go unto them for me and thee.” There were not two half-shekels, but one piece of money, paid for Jesus and Peter. Thus we see that His people are joined with Him in the one redemption.

“He bore on the tree the sentence for me,
And now both the Surety and sinner are free.”

The obvious moral lesson is—Pay rather than cause offense. But far greater and deeper truths lie slumbering down below. They are such as these: the glorious freedom of the Son, His coming under tribute for our sakes, and the clearance of Himself and us by the one payment which He Himself provided.