Fish With Money In Its Mouth

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Fish With Money In Its Mouth

There is an interesting story in the gospel of Matthew in which Jesus sends Peter to catch a fish. Jesus told Peter that there would be money in the fish’s mouth and that they would then use that money to pay the tribute tax. Mathew 17:24-27

Now some may wonder, especially if you like to go fishing, how could there be money in a fish’s mouth? Many answer that question by saying that God, by way of a miracle, just put some money in that fish’s mouth. Understanding the eastern culture in which the Bible was written helps us to understand the story.

Musht Fish
There is a fish in the east called the Musht. It is a small fish about six inches long with a large head. It also has what you would call a bag, or a pouch under its mouth. I have read that after new Musht hatch, the parents keep the new fish in the pouch for a short while to protect them.
Then when it is time, the parent fish will begin to pick up pebbles from the bottom of the sea and put them into the pouch.
This is done so the new fish will not be so comfortable – another words it’s time for them to leave home.
These Musht fish basically eat plankton, so at certain times of the year you can find them in very shallow water.
At times they do pick up shiny items. Coins, gold or even a lost diamond or two .

How Do Coins Get In The Water?
In Bible times offerings to God were taken very seriously. There were those who wanted to give an offering but did not want to receive any recognition for it. Many believed that if you received praise from men then you had already received your reward now in this world.
They wanted to receive their reward in the next world.

So, in order to keep it private, many would throw their offerings into the waters. Throwing their offerings into what were considered “holy waters” would be best. But, depending on where one would be, any water would do.
Today there is a tradition of throwing coins into a fountain for “good luck.” Perhaps the most famous is the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
Anyone visiting there will see a lot of coins in there. In fact, they say that approximately 3,000 Euros are thrown into that fountain each day.

Many believe this tradition of throwing coins into fountains goes way back to Biblical times when offerings were thrown into “holy waters.”
The Ganges River is considered a holy river. Many years ago someone estimated there was more wealth, from years and years of offerings, in that river than in all India.

Peter Sent To Catch A Fish
In the Bible account that we are considering, Jesus told Peter to go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the first fish that came up. He went on to tell him that when he opened the fish’s mouth he would find a piece of money.
This must have been exciting for Peter. He was a fisherman. He knew it was possible for this type of fish to have a coin. He also knew it was pretty rare to catch one that had a coin. The Bible doesn’t say if he had ever caught one of these and found a coin before.

Mathew 17:27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

It was not a miracle that the fish had a coin. The miracle was that it was the first fish that Peter caught.
Peter didn’t argue. He didn’t doubt. He believed what Jesus told him.

We too can have confidence in God’s promises. We can accept that what God has promised us is true. We don’t need to doubt, we just need to believe that He can and will supply all our needs.
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