Image from ChristArt
What? Really?
After all this time you’re finally going to tell me another Bible story with fish in it?
Hallelujah!
Did I say that word? What does it mean?
It means Praise the Lord?
Well, hallelujah then. You’d think with all those disciples who are fishermen, that every story would have fish in it.
Okay, I’ll listen. I hope there’s a lot of fish in this story. Some for me and enough for me to share too.
***
Jesus and His disciples went back to Capernaum and the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
***
Okay, I’m confused. What’s a drachma? Is it some kind of fish?
A coin? Worth about a day’s wages?
What does that have to do with fish?
Could you buy fish with it?
I am listening.
***
Peter assured the tax collectors that Jesus does pay the tax.
When Peter came into the house Jesus spoke first. He asked Peter if he thought the kings of the earth collected taxes from their own sons, or from others.
***
If those kings collected taxes from their own sons, would that be like you making me pay taxes to you?
You’d better not do that. I’m not giving up any of my treats.
***
Peter answered, “From others.”
And Jesus said, “Then the sons are exempt.”
***
Whew! That means I don’t have to give up my treats.
Wait. That means that Jesus doesn’t have to pay tax either since He’s the Son of God and the temple is God’s house.
So Jesus can just walk away from that tax collector, and Peter with him since he’s in God’s family too.
***
Jesus said to Peter, “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line.”
***
Now we’re getting somewhere.
Yes, I’ll listen.
***
Jesus told Peter to take the first fish he catches and open its mouth. He’ll find a four-drachma coin inside. Jesus said to take that coin and use it to pay both their taxes.
***
A fish and a coin!
I’m in dog heaven. Fish for dinner and money to buy treats for dessert.
bongodogblog 
Mags Corner
July 28, 2013 at 12:35 pm
Those fish stories are some of our favorites too sweet Bongo. Enjoy your fish and treats. 🙂 Hugs and nose kisses
Bongo
July 28, 2013 at 2:16 pm
Thanks Mag and Chancy. I’m still waiting for my fish. Hugs and nose kisses back to you.
eripanwkevin
July 29, 2013 at 6:58 am
Jesus is very polite to pay the taxes that he didn’t have to pay…….Hmmm….drachma coins in the fish’s mouth….sounds great, isn’t it? We need to go to fishing together, Bongo! 🙂
Bongo
July 29, 2013 at 3:18 pm
Kevin, that would be so much fun to go fishing together. Let’s do it! I bet if we found one of those drachma coins we could buy a whole lot of treats with it.
FleaByte
July 29, 2013 at 9:07 am
Well, Bongo, I might just need to take up fishing, as boring as it is. Sorry. It is. Even you would get bored if you went fishing.
Bongo
July 29, 2013 at 3:23 pm
FleaByte, I guess you could just take a nap until your fishing pole starts twitching. I wouldn’t get bored though because I’d be in the water trying to catch those fish in my mouth. I love swimming.
angelswhisper2011
July 30, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Bongo, I’ll have to check out my fish, maybe I find some drachma too 🙂
Bongo
July 30, 2013 at 9:35 pm
Little Binky, check your fish out for sure. You might be rich.
snoopy@snoopysdogblog
August 5, 2013 at 3:06 pm
I’d love to have loadsa coins to buy fishies with but Mum never lets me – doh!
Have a fun day
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Bongo
August 5, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Snoopy, we’re both in the same boat. I don’t get any coins to buy fishies with either. Hey, wait a minute. If we’re in a boat, I bet we can get our own fishies.
colliesofthemeadow
August 11, 2013 at 1:19 pm
You know, if we could get Jesus to fish for us Bongo we could buy all the stuff we need to take over the world in no time as well as have full tummies!
-Ginger
Bongo
August 11, 2013 at 1:57 pm
Ginger, maybe if we’re really good – for a couple days anyway – maybe Jesus will fish for us.