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Matthew 17:24
New Catholic Bible
Matthew 17:24
New Catholic Bible
24 Jesus Pays the Temple Tax.[a] When they arrived at Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came up to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
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- Matthew 17:24 On reaching the age of twenty, every Jew had to pay two drachmas each year (Ex 30:13; 2 Chr 24:9; Neh 10:32). It was approximately two days’ wages and was used for the upkeep of the temple. The two drachmas had to be paid in Jewish money; this explains the presence of money changers in the entrance halls of the temple (Mt 21:12; Jn 2:15). Silver coin: literally, a “stater,” which was worth four drachmas, or twice the amount of the tax.
Jesus submits to the law out of respect for others, but he affirms that as Son of Man he is not bound by it. Christians who obey the law remain free with respect to all authority and are subject to God alone.
