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NASB | Matthew 17:26 When Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 17:26 When Peter said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt [from taxation]. |
Bible Question: Matthew 17: 24-27. Why is Jesus not adherent to the tax? His stated reason seems to oppose his deity. Confusing. Thanks! |
Bible Answer: smoking ghost, Here are the footnotes from the New American Bible if you find them helpful. 20 [24-27] Like Matthew 14:28-31 and Matthew 16:16b-19, this episode comes from Matthew's special material on Peter. Although the question of the collectors concerns Jesus' payment of the temple tax, it is put to Peter. It is he who receives instruction from Jesus about freedom from the obligation of payment and yet why it should be made. The means of doing so is provided miraculously. The pericope deals with a problem of Matthew's church, whether its members should pay the temple tax, and the answer is given through a word of Jesus conveyed to Peter. Some scholars see here an example of the teaching authority of Peter exercised in the name of Jesus (see Matthew 16:19). The specific problem was a Jewish Christian one and may have arisen when the Matthean church was composed largely of that group. 21 The temple tax: before the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 70 every male Jew above nineteen years of age was obliged to make an annual contribution to its upkeep (cf Exodus 30:11-16; Neh 10:33). After the destruction the Romans imposed upon Jews the obligation of paying that tax for the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. There is disagreement about which period the story deals with. 22 From their subjects or from foreigners?: the Greek word here translated subjects literally means "sons." 23 Then the subjects are exempt: just as subjects are not bound by laws applying to foreigners, neither are Jesus and his disciples, who belong to the kingdom of heaven, bound by the duty of paying the temple tax imposed on those who are not of the kingdom. If the Greek is translated "sons," the freedom of Jesus, the Son of God, and of his disciples, children ("sons") of the kingdom (cf Matthew 13:38), is even more clear. 24 That we may not offend them: though they are exempt (Matthew 17:26), Jesus and his disciples are to avoid giving offense; therefore the tax is to be paid. A coin worth twice the temple tax: literally, "a stater," a Greek coin worth two double drachmas. Two double drachmas were equal to the Jewish shekel and the tax was a half-shekel. For me and for you: not only Jesus but Peter pays the tax, and this example serves as a standard for the conduct of all the disciples. New American Bible Copyright Emmaus |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Matt 17:26 | Author | ||
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smoking_ghost | ||
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Emmaus | ||
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Thomas8 |