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Matthew 17:24-27

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5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

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24After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

25“Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?”

26“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him.

27“But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”

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1)       What was the two-drachma temple tax, given Exodus 30:11-16?

o   The two-drachma temple tax had its origin in Exodus 30:11-16.

o   Where

o   Every Israelite was to give a one-time atonement money for the service of the tent of meeting.

o   So that

o   No plague would come on them.

o   When

o   Moses took a census to count them.

o   The one-time atonement money for the service of the tent of meeting was reinstituted in Jesus’ time as the two-drachma temple tax.

 

·  The facilitator asks a specific participant to read out loud Exodus 30:11-16 that says,

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11Then the Lord said to Moses,

12“When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.

13Each one who crosses over to those already counted is to give a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the Lord.

14All who cross over, those twenty years old or more, are to give an offering to the Lord.

15The rich are not to give more than a half shekel and the poor are not to give less when you make the offering to the Lord to atone for your lives.

16Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord, making atonement for your lives.”

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2)       According to verses 24 and 25 what was Peter’s response to the question of the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax as to whether Jesus was going to pay the temple tax?

o   Yes, he does.

 

3)       According to verse 25 who was the first to speak when Peter came into the house where Jesus was?

o   Jesus was the first to speak.

 

4)       In accordance with what Jesus said in verse 25 which attribute of God did Jesus exhibit?

o   Jesus is omniscient.

 

5)       According to the conversation between Jesus and Peter in verses 25 and 26 from whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?

o   From others.

 

6)       What testimony did God the Father give of Jesus in verse 5 earlier in the current chapter?

o   God the Father testified that Jesus is the Son of God.

 

7)       Did Jesus as the Son of God need to pay the temple tax that really was the atonement money?

o   No.

 

8)       According to what Jesus said in verse 27 what was the reason he was going to pay the temple tax?

o   Jesus was going to pay the temple tax in order not to cause offense.

 

9)       According to what Jesus said in verse 27 what was the instruction he gave Peter for finding the tax money for both of them?

o   Go to the lake.

o   Throw out his line.

o   Take the first fish he catches.

o   Open its mouth.

o   Find a four-drachma coin there.

o   Take it.

o   And give it to the tax collectors for the tax money for both of them.

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Matthew 17:24-27

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