Payment of the temple tax
AS Jesus and His disciples were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were overwhelmed with grief.
When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes,” he said. When he came into the house, before he had time to speak, Jesus asked him, “What is your opinion, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take tolls or census tax? From their subjects or from foreigners?” When he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the subjects are exempt. But that we may not offend them, go to the sea, drop in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. Open its mouth and you will find a coin worth twice the temple tax. Give that to them for me and for you.”
REFLECTION PAY THE TEMPLE TAX. Moses ordered that adult Israelites should pay a half-shekel contribution for the service of the sanctuary of the Lord (cf Ex 30:11-16). In Jesus’ time, this would be known as the temple tax leveled at every male Jew above 19 years of age. This was used for the maintenance of the Jerusalem Temple and for the support of the poor. After the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, the Romans still imposed upon the Jews this obligation for the temple of Jupiter they constructed in Jerusalem.
In Capernaum, collectors of the temple tax ask Peter if Jesus is paying the temple tax. Without hesitation, Peter says, “Yes.” But in private, Jesus asks Peter from whom earthly kings take taxes: Whether from their subjects or from foreigners. People know that the Romans levy taxes on foreigners, that is, conquered nations, including Israel. Jesus therefore says that as subjects or children of God, they are exempt from paying the temple tax for the maintenance of God’s temple. The early Jewish Christians will ask whether, in becoming Christians, they will still be bound by the obligation. The answer of Jesus conveyed to Peter is not to take advantage of their “privilege” as God’s children.
The early Christians, though often misunderstood by their pagan neighbors, will conduct themselves as good citizens of the place they find themselves in. Paul will instruct the Christians in Rome: “Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due” (Rom 13:7).