Matthew 17:24

“And when they were come to Capernaum, etc.] Called Christ’s own city, (<400901>Matthew 9:1) where he dwelt some time (<400413>Matthew 4:13) and Peter had an house, (<400814>Matthew 8:14) “they that received tribute money”, or the “didrachms”; in Talmudic language, it would be µylqçh ˆybwg f972, “they that collect the shekels”: for not the publicans, or Roman tax gatherers are meant; nor is this to be understood of any such tribute: there was a tribute that was paid to Caesar, by the Jews; (see <402217>Matthew 22:17) but that is expressed by another word, and was paid in other money, in Roman money, which bore Caesar’s image and superscription; and was exacted of them, whether they would or…”

“THE TRIBUTE MONEY. (Mat 17:24-27) And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money--the double drachma; a sum equal to two Attic drachmas, and corresponding to the Jewish "half-shekel," payable, towards the maintenance of the temple and its services, by every male Jew of twenty years old and upward. For the origin of this annual tax, see Exo 30:13-14; Ch2 24:6, Ch2 24:9. Thus, it will be observed, it was not a civil, but an ecclesiastical tax. The tax mentioned in Mat 17:25 was a civil one. The whole teaching of this very remarkable scene depends upon this distinction. came to Peter--at whose house Jesus probably resided while at Capernaum. This explains several things…”

“And when they were come to Capernaum - See the notes at Matthew 4:13. They that received tribute - In the original this is, they who received the didrachma, or double drachma. The drachma was a Grecian coin worth about fifteen cents (7 1/2 d.) of British money. The didrachma, or double drachma, was a silver coin equal to the Attic drachma, and, in the time of Josephus, equal to the Jewish half shekel, that is, about 30 cents (circa 1880’s). This tribute, consisting of the didrachma or double drachma, was not paid to the Roman government, but to the Jewish collectors for the use of the temple service. It was permitted in the law of Moses (see Exodus 30:11-16) that in numbering the people half…”

“When they were come to Capernaum - Where our Lord now dwelt. This was the reason why they stayed till he came thither, to ask him for the tribute. Doth not your Master pay tribute? - This was a tribute or payment of a peculiar kind, being half a shekel, (that is, about fifteen pence,) which every master of a family used to pay yearly to the service of the temple, to buy salt, and little things not otherwise provided for. It seems to have been a voluntary thing, which custom rather than any law had established. Matthew 17:25”

“17:24 Every adult citizen of Israel was required to pay the Temple tax of one-half shekel. In Jesus’ day, priests and some rabbis did not pay the tax. • Peter was the spokesman for the Twelve (see 10:2).”

“when: Mar 9:33 tribute: "Gr. didrachma, in value fifteen pence." Exo 30:13, Exo 38:26; This tribute seems to have been the half shekel which every male among the Jews paid yearly for the support of the temple, and which was continued by them, wherever dispersed, till after the time of Vespasian. Matthew 17:25”