From the desk of Pastor Ben

Peter and the Tax Payment

“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?’
He said, ‘Yes.’”        (Matthew 17:24-25a)

Rome allowed the Jews to collect the two-drachma tax so the Jews could fund the operation of their temple. “Two-drachma” commonly denoted the Jewish temple tax and equaled the half-shekel, the amount required to cover the tax.

When the Israelites first built the tabernacle, God made an annual assessment of half a shekel on every male 20 and older for the tabernacle’s maintenance and operation. The money was used “for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the sons of Israel before the Lord” (Exodus 30:16). Because the temple tax was due by Passover, collectors went throughout the region ahead of time. It was collectors such as these who asked Peter, “Does your teacher not pay the two-drachma tax?”

The way the tax collectors asked the question suggests the Jewish leaders had instructed them to challenge Jesus on the subject of paying taxes. They likely might have reasoned that, because He claimed to be Messiah, He would have considered Himself exempt from taxation. If that were so, the leaders would have had another accusation to make against Jesus.

Peter didn’t have to ask Jesus for the answer, because he already knew He had always paid His taxes, whether to Rome or the Jews. He therefore simply answered “Yes,” implying that Christ had a God-oriented view of the believer’s relationship to earthly governmental authorities.

Ask Yourself:
Christians are sometimes accused of being too other-worldly (so heavenly minded they are no earthly good), not placing enough value on current events, human need, or the earth itself. Jesus obviously was aware of His real-time obligations. What have you found to be the best ways to honor both, to maintain a balance?