The Temple Tax in Jesus’ Time

In Matthew 17:24-27 (New Chinese Version), “When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, ‘Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?’ ‘Yes, he does,’ he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. ‘What do you think, Simon?’ he asked. ‘From whom do the kings of the earth collect duties and taxes—from their own children or from others?’ ‘From others,’ Peter answered. ‘Then the children are exempt,’ Jesus said to him. ‘But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.'”

At that time, three types of silver coins were in circulation in Judea: the Greek silver coin Didrachma, the Roman silver coin Denarius, and the Tyrian silver coin Shekel. The word for “tax” in Matthew 17:24 is the ancient Greek silver coin Didrachma, which was equivalent to “half a shekel of silver.” Every Jewish male over the age of twenty was required to pay a yearly “half-shekel” temple tax, which was used to maintain the Temple (Exodus 30:12-16). This tax had to be paid with a Tyrian shekel, which had a higher silver content. It could be paid in person when Jews went up to Jerusalem for Passover, or it could be collected in other locations starting one month before Passover. Therefore, this event likely took place about a month before Passover. This was Jesus’ final visit to Capernaum, and He and His disciples were staying at Peter’s house, so the tax collectors naturally came to the master of the house, Peter.

Peter followed Jesus’ instructions: he went to the lake, threw out his line, and the first fish he caught had a coin in its mouth. He took it and paid the tax for both himself and Jesus. In reality, Jesus had the right not to pay the tax, but His time for resurrection had not yet come. In order not to cause offense, He was willing to give up His own right and not insist on His position as the Son. This is the work of the cross. After the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, the Romans diverted this temple tax to be paid to the Roman Temple of Jupiter. Matthew’s account of this event is internal evidence that the Gospel of Matthew was written before 70 AD.

Edited and compiled based on the New Chinese Version of the Bible and a comprehensive biblical interpretation.