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PER199
The Temple Tax in the Fish’s Mouth
The article recounts the question of the Temple tax, dealt with by Jesus at Capernaum. Asserting his divine sonship, Jesus nevertheless pays the tax to avoid causing offense, thereby demonstrating his wisdom. The miracle of the fish underscores divine providence and Jesus’ commitment to social and religious laws.
Exodus 30.11-16 (King James Version) :And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,Notetheir number: Heb. them that are to be numberedNotegive more: Heb. multiplyNotegive less: Heb. diminishWhen thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org