Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 17:27

27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the Sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish, that first cometh up, and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money. That take, and give unto them for me and thee.

The Jews were by Gods Law, Exod. 30.13. obliged to pay an half Shekel, which was for the Service of the Sanctuary, v. 16. this was paid every year, the half Shekel amounted in our Money to fifteen Pence, or there abouts, whether this were the Tribute Money here demanded, and paid, some doubt, and say that the Romans having the Iews now under their Power, imposed this payment upon every Head, as a Tribute to the Emperor, which being a Customary payment, they thought the Iews would less [illegible: 2 letters]umble at, tho it was changed from a Sacred, to a Civil use, from an Homage Peny to God, to be an Homage Peny to the Conquerors. The Agreement of this Sum, with what was required by the Law, together with what our Saviour saith afterward, will incline us to think, that this Tax was that Re[illegible: 1 letter]igious Tax mentioned, Exod. 30. and that the Collectors were some Officers deputed for that Service by the Priests. When Peter came into the house, our Saviour preventeth his propounding the Question to him (for Peter had before told them, yes he did) by asking him of whom the Kings of the Earth use to receive Tribute, of their own Children or of Strangers? where by Children, we must not understand their Political Children, that is their Subjects, but their Natural Children for otherwise Peter would not have said of Strangers, nor would our Saviour have Answered, Then are the Children free, for there is nothing more ordinary than for Princes to receive Tribute of their Subjects. That which our Saviour seemeth to mean is this, This Tribute is gathered for my Heavenly Father. I am his Son, I am not bound to pay it. Notwithstanding lest we offend, Lest we give them occasion to say we break the Law of God, Go thou to the Sea, (the Sea of Galilee which was near) and take up the Fish, which cometh up first, and when thou hast opened his Mouth, thou shalt find [non-Latin text not transcribed] a piece of Money, to the value of about an half Crown in English. How this Money came in the Mouth of the Fish, is a very idle dispute, considering that he that speakes, was the Creator of all things. And pay thou for me and thee. The Papists who think they have found here an Argument for the Primacy of Peter, because Christ paid this Tribute for him, and not for the other Disciples, do not only affirm what they do not know, but forget that Capernaum was the City in which Peter lived, (we heard before of Christs curing his Wives Mother there of a Feaver) and that Peter was the only Man of whom this Tribute was demanded. This Portion of Scripture affords us this Instruction. That it is the Duty of Christians, to yield something of their own right, when they cannot insist upon, and obtain it without a Scandal, and prejudice to the Gospel, and the concern of Religion. If this were required in pursuance of the Law, Exod. 30.12, 13. and our Saviour had refused to pay it, the Scribes, and Pharisees would have Clamoured against him, as Violating the Law of God. If it were required as a Civil Tax, they would have Clamoured against him, as a Man that went about to stir up Sedition, or Rebellion. Having therefore first asserted his right, and immunity, he departeth from it, to prevent a Scandal. We must never part with Gods right: but to depart from our own, is not only lawful, but oftentimes very advisable, and expedient. Our Saviour chuseth rather to Work a Miracle, than to give a Scandal, and by this Miracle he also confirmed his Immunity, that he was the Son of him, who is the King of Kings, and so not in strictness obliged to pay it.

Marginal references: G[illegible: 1 letter]. [illegible: 1 letter] Stater: a piece of money i[illegible: 1 letter] value, two Shillings, and [illegible: 1 letter]ix pence, it is [illegible: 1 word] an ounce of Silver.