Who Is the Greatest?
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If Jesus had paid the tribute without a protest, He would virtually
have acknowledged the justice of the claim, and would thus have
denied His divinity. But while He saw good to meet the demand,
He denied the claim upon which it was based. In providing for the
payment of the tribute He gave evidence of His divine character. It
was made manifest that He was one with God, and therefore was not
under tribute as a mere subject of the kingdom.
“Go thou to the sea,” He directed Peter, “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.”
Though He had clothed His divinity with humanity, in this miracle
He revealed His glory. It was evident that this was He who through
David had declared, “Every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle
upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains; and the
wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell
thee: for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.”
Psalm 50:10-12
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While Jesus made it plain that He was under no obligation to pay
the tribute, He entered into no controversy with the Jews in regard to
the matter; for they would have misinterpreted His words, and turned
them against Him. Lest He should give offense by withholding the
tribute, He did that which He could not justly be required to do. This
lesson would be of great value to His disciples. Marked changes
were soon to take place in their relation to the temple service, and
Christ taught them not to place themselves needlessly in antagonism
to established order. So far as possible, they were to avoid giving
occasion for misinterpretation of their faith. While Christians are
not to sacrifice one principle of truth, they should avoid controversy
whenever it is possible to do so.
When Christ and the disciples were alone in the house, while Peter
was gone to the sea, Jesus called the others to Him, and asked, “What
was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?” The presence
of Jesus, and His question, put the matter in an entirely different light
from that in which it had appeared to them while they were contending
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by the way. Shame and self-condemnation kept them silent. Jesus had
told them that He was to die for their sake, and their selfish ambition
was in painful contrast to His unselfish love.