24-- 27.
"Ingots, “Άραγε λίσωµεν 1 αὐτούς,
235
ἐλεύθεροί εἶσιν οἱ viol. 27. ἵνα δὲ μὴ σκανδα-α τον in N.1.
πορευθεὶς eis τὴν θάλασσαν, βάλε "ἄγκιστρον, v here only in i.
~ ή a καὶ τὸν ἀναβάντα πρῶτον ἰχθὺν ἄρον: καὶ dvoigas τὸ στόµα αὐτοῦ, w Cf. ἀντὶ
Pe a - = Perr εὑρήσεις Y στατῆρα : ἐκεῖνον λαβὼν δὸς αὐτοῖς " ἀντὶ ἐμοῦ καὶ σοῦ.
πολλῶν,
Ch. xx. 28.
1 σκανδαλιζωµεν in $$LX, adopted by Tisch. and placed in marg. by W.H.
? Many uncials (BLA al.) omit την.
sets His own spirit of self-effacement and desire as far as possible to live peaceably with all men, even with those with whom He has no religious affinity. ---πορενθεὶς €. 8. Generally the instruc- tion given is: go and fish for the money needful to pay the (ἴΑχ.- -ἄγκιστρον, a hook, not a net, because very little would suffice ; one or two fish at most.— πρῶτον ἰχθὺν: the very first fish that comes up will be enough, for a reason given in the following εἶαιςε.- -ἀνοίξας . . στατῆρα: the words point to some- thing marvellous, a fish with a stater, the sum wanted, in its mouth. Paulus sought to eliminate the marvellous by rendering εὑρήσεις not “find” but “‘ obtain,” i.¢., by sale. Beyschlag (Das Leben Fesu, p. 304) suggests that the use of an ambiguous word created the impression that Jesus directed Peter to catch a fish with a coin in its mouth. Ewald (Geschichte Christus, p. 467) thinks Jesus spoke very much as re- ported, but from the fact that it is not stated that a fish with a coin in its mouth was actually found, he infers that the words were not meant seriously as a practical direction, but were a spirited proverbial utterance, based on rare examples of money found in fishes. Weiss is of opinion that a simple direc- tion to go and fish for the means of pay- ment was in the course of oral tradition changed into a form of language imply- ing a miraculous element. This view assumes that the report in Mt. was derived from oral tradition (vide Weiss, Das Leben Fesu, ii. 47,andmy Miraculous Element in the Gospels, pp. 231-5). In any case the miracle, not being reported as having happened, cannot have been the important point for the evangelist. What he is chiefly concerned about is to report the behaviour of Jesus on the occasion, and the words He spoke re- vealing its motive.—avtt ἐμοῦ καὶ cod: various questions occur to one here. Did the collectors expect Jesus only to pay (for Himself and His whole com- pany), or did their question mean, does He also, even He, pay? And why pay
only for Peter along with Himself? Were all the disciples not liable: Andrew, James and John there, in Capernaum, not less than Peter? Was the tax strictly collected, or for lack of power to enforce it had it become prac- tically a voluntary contribution, paid by many, neglected by not afew? In that case it would be a surprise to many that Jesus, while so uncompromising on other matters, was so accommodating in regard to money questions. He would not conform to custom in fasting, Sabbath keeping, washing, etc., but He would pay the temple tax, though refusal would have had no more serious result than slightly to increase already existing ill-will. This view sets the generosity and nobility of Christ’s spirit in a clearer light.
CHAPTER XVIII. Morat Trarinine OF THE DiscipLes. In this and the next two chapters the centre of interest is the spiritual condition of the Twelve, and the necessity thereby imposed on their Master to subject them to a stern moral discipline. The day of Caesarea had inaugurated a spiritual crisis in the disciple-circle, which searched them through and through, and revealed in them all in one form or another, and in a greater or less degree, moral weak- ness: disloyalty to the Master (xvii. 22), vain ambition, jealousy, party spirit. The disloyal disciple seems to have taken to heart more than the others the gloomy side of the Master’s predictions, the announcement of the Passion ; his more honest-hearted companions let their minds rest on the more pleasing side of the prophetic picture, the near approach of the kingdom in power and glory, so that while remaining true to the Master their hearts became fired with ambitious passions.