Knowing The Word in Matthew 17:24-27

The Temple Tax

24 When they came to Capernaum [Jesus’ last visit], the collectors of the two-drachma tax [based on Exodus 30:11-16 was paid by male Jews for the upkeep of the Jerusalem temple whether they lived in the city or not] went up to Peter [the owner of the house] and said, “Does your teacher [Rabbis and priests were exempt from the tax] not pay the tax?” [The tax was seen by many as a patriotic duty. This was another trap for Jesus. Would he side with the Sadducees, who disapproved of the tax, or would he offend the majority of the “patriotic” people. Those in Qumran only paid the tax once in their lifetime. After the destruction of the temple in AD 70, the Romans diverted the tax to the temple of Jupiter in Rome. This is evidence that Matthew was written before AD 70. This particular tax was collected at Passover by the moneychangers at the temple. About a month previous it was also collected in other areas of the nation, meaning it is about a month before Passover.] 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house [Peter’s house], Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. [Jesus is the Son of God, the Son of the King of Israel and is exempt from paying the tax because the tax is being collected for God’s house.] 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” [Matthew gives us no evidence that Peter ever went after this fish. Instead, the point of this story is that Jesus was willing to go along with societal rituals rather than to cause an unnecessary offense that would detract from his mission.]