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674. The Temple Tax

From: Manners and Customs of the Bible

By: James M. Freeman

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Matthew 17:24²⁴And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? (Matthew 17:24). They that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your Master pay tribute?

Literally, Doth not your master pay the didrachm or double drachma? This was not the tax for the support of the civil government, but the half-shekel tax for the support of the temple-service, which every Jew was expected to pay. It was founded by Moses, in connection with the tabernacle service. See Exodus 30:13¹³This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord. (Exodus 30:13). It is also referred to in 2 Kings 12:4⁴And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the Lord, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the Lord, (2 Kings 12:4); 2 Chronicles 24:6,9⁶And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the Lord, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness? (2 Chronicles 24:6)
⁹And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the Lord the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness. (2 Chronicles 24:9). Its value was about thirty cents.

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Manners and Customs of the Bible

• 660. Free Corn for the Hungry

• 661. Testimony Given Standing

• 662. Fishing Boats

• 663. Going Forth to Sow

• 664. The Way Side

• 665. Wickedness at Night

• 666. Leaven

• 667. Hidden Treasure

• 668. Fishing Nets

• 669. Extravagant Promises

• 670. Thanks at Meals

• 671. Baskets

• 672. Tradition

• 673. Binding and Loosing

• 674. The Temple Tax

• 675. The Stater

• 676. Millstone Drowning

• 677. "Ninety and Nine"

• 678. "Two or Three"

• 679. Tormentors

• 680. Benedictions on Children

• 681. The "Needle's Eye"

• 682. Hiring Laborers

• 683. The Denarius

• 684. The Market Place

• 685. Daily Payment of Laborers

• 686. Post of Honor

• 687. Garments and Branches Strewn

• 688. The Temple Market

• 689. The Children's Song