https://odb.org/2026/04/08/an-unlikely-catch
Matthew 17:24–27 (NIV): 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.”
In 2024, teenager Keegan happily reeled in a two-foot barramundi. But his happiness became elation when his little sister pointed out a tag on the fish. His catch was worth one million dollars as part of an Australian fishing competition. The annual event had been held since 2015; Keegan was the first to win the coveted top cash prize. However slim the odds of catching that fish, the odds were far lower that a fish caught at random would have a coin in its mouth. But in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus instructed His disciple Peter to “go to the lake and . . . take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin” (17:27). The context of this unlikely catch was a question of whether Jesus paid the temple tax (v. 24). The irony of insisting that Jesus—God’s Son—pay a tax to support God’s temple, wasn’t lost on Him. He pointed out that the king’s children don’t pay taxes to the king (vv. 25-26). (Monica La Rose, Our Daily Bread 8th April 2026)
I may have read about Matthew 17:27 before but honestly, I cannot recall knowing about this event of Jesus asking Peter to catch a fish at the lake and the first fish that he catches will have a four -drachma coin in its mouth. It is like a magic trick from the likes of David Copperfield and David Blaine fame, except that this is for real. It is not an illusion or trick. Either Jesus made the coin appear out of nothing or he made it such that Peter catches a fish that had somehow swallowed a coin for the exact denomination of 4 drachma! Both are impossible in the ordinary course of things.
The background to the event was that Jesus wanted to pay the Temple tax for Peter and Him although He had already stated that as the Son of God, He is exempt from paying any Temple tax to God, His Father. In terms of signs and wonders, Jesus needed to get two things right for Peter. One, for Peter to catch the first fish with a coin in its mouth, not the second or third fish. Secondly, the coin is a 4-drachma coin! Truly, it’s a needle in the haystack situation. As difficult as it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God – it is as difficult as a camel to enter the eye of a needle – while with man it is impossible, with God all things are possible!
The message this morning is that although there are things that appear to be impossible in the natural, it is still possible for God. It may be healing from cancer. Or a seemingly impossible trip to a far out place like Europe. Or reaching out to someone we love and care dearly – hearts may seemed closed but with God, nothing is impossible! Or a mission trip to China. Or a promotion or a better opportunity for growth. If the Lord calls us, He can make it come to pass. Just commit it to Him, work at it and we will one day see the 4-drachma coin in the mouth of a fish!
Ronnie's Thoughts 