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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 108 : The Temple Tax

Text: Matthew 17
28 April 2024

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 28 April 2024
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 17

Subject: The Temple Tax

24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”
25 He said, “Yes.”
And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”
26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”
Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.
27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

Matthew 17:24-27

1. The temple Tax

a) This was a “tax” to upkeep the Temple
b) It was disputed by the Sadducees
c) It was usually collected during the Passover in Jerusalem
d) It was collected a month before Passover in other cities
e) They were in Capernaum

2. Exemption from paying the Temple Tax

a) Rabbis
b) Priests

3. The query of the Collectors

“Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

Matthew 17:24

4. Peter’s answer

Yes!”

5. Peter went to speak to the Lord Jesus concerning the temple tax

6. The Lord’s intriguing word to Peter

25And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”
26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”
Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.”

Matthew 17:25-26

a) The kings of the earth
i) They take customs
ii) Taxes
b) But from whom?
i) Sons
ii) Strangers
c) Peter’s reply
From strangers
d) The Lord’s word
“Then the sons are free”
Matthew 17:26

7. A special way of paying the temple tax

Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.

Matthew 17:27

a) Peter would go out and catch a fish
b) A piece of money would be found in its mouth
c) It would be sufficient to pay the Temple tax for Peter and the Lord Jesus
d) The Lord graciously paid the temple tax rather than get into an argument with the collectors

OUR CHALLENGE

1. Customs and taxes

To accept that they are a part of life

2. Paul’s word remembered

Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour.

Romans 13:7