674. The Temple Tax

Listen from:
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 30:13. It is also referred to in 2 Kings 12:4; 2 Chronicles 24:6,9. Its value was about thirty cents.