The Temple Tax

Matthew 17

²⁴ _o When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of _p the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the tax?" ²⁵ He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, _q "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or _r tax? From their sons or from others?" ²⁶ And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 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. ₁ Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."

1. Cross References
   Mark 9:33
   And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?
   
2. Cross References
   Exodus 30:13
   Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the Lord.
   Exodus 38:26
   A beka a head (that is, half a shekel, by the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone who was listed in the records, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men.
   
3. Cross References
   Matthew 18:12
   What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?
   Matthew 21:28
   "What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'
   
4. Cross References
   Matthew 22:17
   Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
   Matthew 22:19
   Show me the coin for the tax." And they brought him a denarius.
   Mark 12:14
   And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?
   Romans 13:7
   Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
   

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.