Fish, Part 4: Straight From the Fish’s Mouth

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

Matthew 17:24–27
²⁴ After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
          ²⁵ “Yes, he does,” he replied.
          When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”
          ²⁶ “From others,” Peter answered.
          “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. ²⁷ “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

1. Jesus is God, and  he’s always . (verse 25)
   

2. Your with God matters. (verse 26)

3. Pick your battles and be . (verse 27)

4. . (verse 27)

5. The bill is ! (verse 27)

Small Group Questions

1. What do you do for fun in the summer?
2. Read the scripture again. What is God speaking to you right now?
3. How has God shown you that he is always one step ahead in your life?
4. How can you practice being unoffendable? What battles are worth fighting?
5. Have you ever covered someone else’s bill for something? What motivated you to cover someone else’s cost?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?