Matthew 17:24-28 (Amplified Bible)
When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the half shekel [the temple tax] went up to Peter and said, Does not your Teacher pay the half shekel?
When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the half shekel [the temple tax] went up to Peter and said, Does not your Teacher pay the half shekel?
He answered, Yes. And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him [about it] first, saying, What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly rulers collect duties or tribute--from their own sons or from others not of their own family?
And when Peter said, From other people not of their own family, Jesus said to him, Then the sons are exempt.
However, in order not to give offense and cause them to stumble [that is, to cause them to judge unfavorably and unjustly] go down to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find there a shekel. Take it and give it to them to pay the temple tax for Me and for yourself.
More on this later.
2 comments:
Hmm... This is interesting! So is this Temple tax like todays tithes or taxes?? What do you think Pastor?
Well, in that time the Jewish religious establishment had an elaborate system of offerings and taxes. The offerings could be in different forms, sometimes in money, livestock, fowl, or in grain. "The Law required offerings to equal a tithe or a tenth of a person's gain.
The temple tax was different and annual. Every male who turned twenty was required to pay an annual "temple tax" of an amount equal to a half-shekel. This tax had its origins in a tax Moses levied on all males after a census, when he sought precious metals for the materials in the Tabernacle (Exod. 30.13 and38.26).
Thanks for your question.
PJ
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