Matt 17:24; When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?"
Matt 17:25; He *said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?"
Matt 17:26; When Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt.
Matt 17:27; "However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in 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 you and Me."
Tax collectors.... you gotta love them. Jesus did. According to tradition, the two-drachma tax was for "up-keep
of the temple". I wonder if it was like the highway taxes in this state. They take the money.. but many of the highways are still... ummm.... in need of up-keep.
Now the original custom was that only strangers and visitors should pay the tax. But over the years the Romans wanted t get their share also. Jesus asks Peter who were the taxes for? Peter answers correctly, but Jesus says.... we'll go ahead and pay it anyway... even though technically we are exempt.
The nice thing about Jesus is... He knows where the fish with the money their mouths are. For the rest of us, finding money is a little more difficult sometimes. Maybe that's why we hate taxes.
This poll tax seemed to be a sore subject for the Pharisees. They even asked Jesus about it (trying to trap Him).
Matt 22:15; Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said.
Matt 22:16; And they *sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.
Matt 22:17; "Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?"
Matt 22:18; But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?
Matt 22:19; "Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius.
Matt 22:20; And He *said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"
Matt 22:21; They *said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He *said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."
Matt 22:22; And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away.
It's pretty hard to trap Jesus. He already "perceived their malice" before He answered them.
They ask Him about the poll tax. Jesus knew the Romans had no right to tax the temple. They weren't of the Jewish faith and could care less about the temple. I'm guessing Jesus knew the Romans didn't use much (if any) of this money to take take care of the temple. The Pharisees and Herodians knew this also.
Perhaps they were even secretly hoping Jesus had an answer so they didn't have to pay anymore.
Jesus says pay the tax to who you think it is due. Caesar is in charge here.
If Jesus would have told them they didn't need to pay the tax, they would have reported Him to the Romans.
If He comes right out and says we should pay the tax to the Romans, then He is acknowledging they have the authority over the temple.
But even here it seems that Jesus is saying at least some of the tax belongs to Caesar.
Matt 17:25; He *said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?"
Matt 17:26; When Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt.
Matt 17:27; "However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in 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 you and Me."
Tax collectors.... you gotta love them. Jesus did. According to tradition, the two-drachma tax was for "up-keep
of the temple". I wonder if it was like the highway taxes in this state. They take the money.. but many of the highways are still... ummm.... in need of up-keep.
Now the original custom was that only strangers and visitors should pay the tax. But over the years the Romans wanted t get their share also. Jesus asks Peter who were the taxes for? Peter answers correctly, but Jesus says.... we'll go ahead and pay it anyway... even though technically we are exempt.
The nice thing about Jesus is... He knows where the fish with the money their mouths are. For the rest of us, finding money is a little more difficult sometimes. Maybe that's why we hate taxes.
This poll tax seemed to be a sore subject for the Pharisees. They even asked Jesus about it (trying to trap Him).
Matt 22:15; Then the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said.
Matt 22:16; And they *sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any.
Matt 22:17; "Tell us then, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?"
Matt 22:18; But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, "Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?
Matt 22:19; "Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax." And they brought Him a denarius.
Matt 22:20; And He *said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"
Matt 22:21; They *said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He *said to them, "Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."
Matt 22:22; And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away.
It's pretty hard to trap Jesus. He already "perceived their malice" before He answered them.
They ask Him about the poll tax. Jesus knew the Romans had no right to tax the temple. They weren't of the Jewish faith and could care less about the temple. I'm guessing Jesus knew the Romans didn't use much (if any) of this money to take take care of the temple. The Pharisees and Herodians knew this also.
Perhaps they were even secretly hoping Jesus had an answer so they didn't have to pay anymore.
Jesus says pay the tax to who you think it is due. Caesar is in charge here.
If Jesus would have told them they didn't need to pay the tax, they would have reported Him to the Romans.
If He comes right out and says we should pay the tax to the Romans, then He is acknowledging they have the authority over the temple.
But even here it seems that Jesus is saying at least some of the tax belongs to Caesar.