An Atheistic Bible Study Of The Gospels The Fish Coin Tax Payment

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A rarely discussed and troubling miracle that is only described in one of the four Gospels, that of Matthew (17:24-27) Jesus and some of the Apostles preach in Capernaum, where it is a legal ruling to pay a tax on donations received from the congregations, in effect, a fee for being granted permission to evangelize. Peter is asked whether Jesus pays such taxes and he says Jesus does pay before telling Jesus what happened. Simon is also present for the discussion. Jesus points out that sons do not pay taxes owed by their fathers suggesting that the tax-collectors ought to ask God for the tax payment directly. Joseph is not considered in this passage and it is never stated when Joseph died. Obviouslythe tax collectors would find such an excuse insulting and even offensive. (Try such a statement as 'get the money off God on your next tax statement, see how far you get with it). Jesus tells Peter to go to the sea, cast in an unbaited line and pull in the first fish to bite the hook. He tells Peter the fish belly will contain enough coin to pay the tax for Jesus and for Peter. It isn't stated whether Peter tries this, catches a fish or finds the coin or makes the payment. It is implied that the miracle occurs. If so, who owns the coin given to the tax collectors? If Jesus / God created an unminted coin miraculously, Jesus is committing fraud with counterfeit coin, or with stolen coin. If he is going to pay tax why not just pay honestly? That the tax man has had roi remind Peter and Jesus of the payments to be made Jesus is guilty of tax-evasion. Hardly very honest for the example setting Son Of God. Youtube The Beatles - Taxman Arthur Chappell