The Text:
Mat 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? (KJV)
The Context:
Mat 17:24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter. They asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
Mat 17:25 “Certainly,” he answered. Peter went into the house. Before he could speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the world collect fees or taxes? Is it from their family members or from other people?”
Mat 17:26 “From other people,” Peter answered. Jesus said to him, “Then the family members are exempt.
Mat 17:27 However, so that we don’t create a scandal, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Give that coin to them for you and me.” (GW, God’s Word translation)
My Comment:
What I have noted in this passage is that it teaches the omniscience of our Lord Jesus Christ. Only Omniscience would know that:
(1) a fish had swallowed a coin,
(2) the coin was sufficient to pay the Temple tax for both Jesus and Peter,
(3) the first fish Peter caught would be the fish that swallowed the coin,
(4) Peter had this conversation with the Temple tax collectors before Peter came to tell Jesus about it.
Psalms 139:4
4 Even before there is a single word on my tongue, you know all about it, LORD.
GOD’S WORD
As for why provision was given for the payment of just two and not the whole group of twelve disciples and Jesus is explained by the question that was asked of Peter, “Does not your teacher pay the tax?” The Temple tax collectors by their question only specified tax was due from Peter and Jesus, so that is what was paid.
My Conclusion:
Only God is omniscient (all knowing, knows everything). Omniscience is a divine attribute that belongs to God exclusively, and cannot be communicated, delegated, or given to a created being.
In theology, omniscience is classed as an incommunicable attribute. In this account of the Temple Tax and how Jesus paid it we see the omniscience of our Lord Jesus Christ clearly demonstrated.
Therefore, Jesus not only had a human nature, but possessed a divine nature, demonstrating He was God in human flesh.
Only God is omniscient. Jesus demonstrated His omniscience. Therefore, Jesus is God.
Jesus is not God the Father. Jesus is a separate person. Jesus is God the Son.
In the New Testament, the Father is called God (John 6:27); the Son is called God (John 1:1, 14; John 20:28); the Holy Spirit is called God (Acts 5:3, 4).
This proves the doctrine of the Trinity, even though the word “Trinity” is not used in the Bible.
This proves the doctrine of the Trinity, even though Jesus is never called “God the Son” in the Bible.
Be careful, when interpreting the Bible, that you do not fall for the “exact word” fallacy. Be careful, when interpreting the Bible, that you not make the mistake of not employing “necessary inference” to arrive at the truth of what the Bible teaches. That is what false cults and false religions do.