The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

344 THE COIN IN THE FISH'S MOUTH
And, accordingly, no sooner had they come into
the
house than Jesus, anticipating any question which
His disciples
might put to Him on the matter, asked,
" What thinkest thou, Simon the kings of the earth
from whom do they receive toll or tribute
from their
sons or from strangers" There could be but one
answer, "From strangers." And no sooner had
Jesus received this admission from Peter than at
once He pressed home the inevitable conclusion,
" Therefore the sons are free." Or to apply the
parable. If, in the case of earthly rule, the sons of
royalty from their very position go untaxed, how
much more does this apply in the case of the onlybegotten
Son of the King of Heaven
Surely Peter
cannot have forgotten his own great confession. Or
how can he imagine that "the Christ, the Son of the
living God," who has come to redeem all
souls by the
ransom of His own life, shall be required to pay this
money-ransom for His own
But, as Jesus went on to show, there were many
occasions when what was not obligatory might be
expedient. And He who had already veiled His
divine glory by coming in human form was ready
now to give further proof of His humility and selfeffacement
by paying this tax for the sake of others.
" But, lest we cause them to stumble " —lest we put any
difficulty in the way of those who are not yet prepared
to admit My full claims— " 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." It was a marvellous act of submission when we
think of Him who made it, and better than any more