A good question, id. But, at least according to the Gospels, Jesus did not pay the tax. Peter shot his mouth off. He unquestionable committed Jesus to pay a tax that Jesus wouldn't pay of his own volition. Nor would Jesus allow funds from the common purse to be used, to which many of his disciples had undoubtedly contributed for the purpose of supporting his ministry but not for the purpose of paying taxes. Peter was in trouble because of his big mouth, and Jesus provided him with a way out, and in a way that would not cause harm to Peter or the tax collector who probably took Peter at his word. The option Jesus afforded Peter required an extreme act of faith on the part of Peter in Jesus' miraculous powers. Imagine a lifelong fisherman being told that he would find a coin in a fish's mouth!!! I suspect Jesus required a tremendous act of faith from Peter as an amend for shooting off his big mouth. And I do not think it is fair or true to say "Jesus paid that tax." He did not. If it was paid, and the Gospels do not say it was, it was paid by Peter--not Jesus--with money found in the mouth of a fish IF Peter had sufficient faith. Two questions, since the gospels don't record the final outcome: Do you think Peter actually found the coin in the fishes mouth? And if so, do you think he used it to pay the tax for himself and Jesus, or did he drink it up at the local pub, as I might have, to celebrate his good fortune?