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The Temple Tax

Peter, the temple tax and the coin in a fish.
Contributed by LUMO project
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, German, Arabic, Simplified Chinese
1
Jesus and His disciples arrived back in Capernaum. Now each year, Jewish officials requested that each Jewish adult male pay the annual Temple contribution of a half shekel (or double drachma) at the beginning of the Hebrew month of Adar, preceding Passover. Shekels and half-shekels minted in Tyre were the only coins accepted as payment of this annual tribute to the Jerusalem Temple. – Slide 1
2
The collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and asked, ‘Your teacher pays the half shekel Temple tax, doesn’t He?’ <br/>Peter replied, ‘Yes.’ – Slide 2
3
When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, ‘What do you think? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes—from their sons, or from foreigners?’ – Slide 3
4
Peter replied, ‘From foreigners.’ <br/>Jesus said to him, ‘Then the sons are free. – Slide 4
5
‘But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and fish. – Slide 5
6
‘Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth … – Slide 6
7
‘… you will find a silver shekel (a four drachma) coin. – Slide 7
8
‘Take that and give it to them for your Temple tax and mine.’ – Slide 8
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Slide 9