The Laws of Moses included a tax that was collected from every male over 20 years old whenever a census was conducted (Exodus 38:26). They called it an atonement offering since a census was only done when getting ready for war. They later changed the whole purpose of the tax to support the upkeep of the Temple. The tax collectors were curious about whether Jesus would speak out against the shift in the purpose of the tax.
It seems like Jesus and His disciples were pretty short on cash. They were just living by faith, really trusting that God would take care of their needs. Jesus really shows us how to handle things here by going out of his way to avoid offending others, even when it might not be needed and comes at a cost to him. It’s pretty amazing how God provided for Jesus and Peter’s tax in such a miraculous way. It seems like Peter was the only disciple who was over 20 years old.
Jesus showed Peter why he jumped to conclusions so quickly. The royal family doesn’t have to pay taxes for keeping the palace and running the government. The temple was like Jesus’ home! He referred to it as “My house” in Matthew 21:13. So, what that means is that His household, including the disciples, should actually be the ones getting the tax money, not the ones paying it. There are a bunch of really good lessons here. We should make an effort to avoid upsetting those who might not know the truth. Jesus viewed the Temple as His home. It was God’s house. He sees His disciples as part of the family, like sons and daughters of God.
Think about it: If you’re a follower of Jesus, you get to enjoy the status and perks that come with being part of the King’s family.
Matthew 17:24-25
24 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.”And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?”
