Matthew 17:24-27; Psalm 119:9-16

Matthew 17:24-27
The temple tax was an annual tax assessed to Jewish men for the upkeep of the Temple. It's interesting that Jesus was too poor to afford this tax, and His disciples were just as poor! Watch out for "prosperity theology" teachers who tell you that it's God's will for you to be rich with material possessions--money, houses, cars, etc. This is not necessarily true. We know that Jesus was squarely in the center of God's will, and He was poor indeed as far as material possessions are concerned!

Warren Wiersbe in his commentary on the New Testament (pp. 63-64) has several interesting comments about this particular miracle.

• Matthew, the tax collector, was the only Gospel writer to record this miracle. 
• This is the only miracle Jesus performed to meet His own needs. And even then, it was not for selfish purposes. Actually, Jesus, who is the King, didn't have to pay this tax at all, but He did so that others would not be offended. 
• This is the only miracle using money.
• This is the only miracle using one fish. Some people try to explain miracles by natural means, but think about this for a minute. Someone had to lose a coin (of the right denomination) in the water. The fish had to take the coin in its mouth and keep it there. The same fish, with the coin in its mouth, had to bite Peter's hook and be caught. How likely is this by natural means? It's impossible! It's much more logical to just believer the miracle!
• This miracle was performed for Peter. Actually, it was one of many that Jesus performed for Peter. Perhaps this is why he could write in 1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
• This is the only miracle that does not have the results recorded. We believe that it concluded exactly as Jesus said it would because we can always trust what Jesus promises.
• "Peter had faith in God's Word, and God honored that faith. If we trust the King, He will meet our needs as we obey His Word." (Wiersbe, p. 64)

Psalm 119:9-16

We see and hear about all kinds of immoral and wicked actions around us as well as in the news. How can we avoid falling into such trouble? The psalmist asks, "How can a young man keep his way pure?" We could substitute "man or woman, young or old" into that question because we are all vulnerable. The psalmist answers his own question with "By living according to your word." Then v. 11 continues, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." And further in vv. 15 and 16, we read, "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways, I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word." It's important for us to study God's Word, memorize it, meditate on it, apply it, and obey it! This is how we avoid trouble!