The Temple Tax

 
Coins of at least three different nations were used in everyday life in Judea during the NT era. The NT text uses the names of Greek coins, Roman coins, and Jewish coins. The original readers of the NT were presumably very familiar with all of these terms and also knew their relative values.
 
The challenge for the translator is to use English terms for the various coins that will convey for modern readers the same intuitive sense of meaning. A case in point is the incident in Matt 17:24-27, in which Jesus sent Peter to find a coin (in a fish’s mouth!) to pay the Temple tax.
 
Matthew–the former tax collector–is the only Gospel writer to tell about this incident. And in the space of four verses, he uses the names of two Greek coins. In 17:24 he twice uses the term didrachma, which means simply a two-drachma coin. (The drachma was the Greek coin more or less equivalent to the Roman denarius, and both coins represent the daily wage for a laborer.) This is the only use of didrachma in the NT, and it is used to refer to the annual tax required for the upkeep of the Temple.  In Exodus 30:13-16, its predecessor–the tax for the care of the Tabernacle–is presented (in ancient Hebrew terminology) as a tax of “half a shekel.”
 
Matthew’s readers would intuitively have understood what was meant when the tax collectors came to ask Peter, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?” But how should this term be translated into English?
 
A few verses later (Matt 17:27), Jesus tells Peter to go catch a fish, open its mouth, and pull out a stater. This Greek coin–mentioned only here in the NT–is equal to two didrachmas, or four drachmas. And if a didrachma pays the temple tax for one man, a stater is sufficient to pay the tax for both of them.
 
Here’s a list of how some English translations have handled the translation :
 
The NLT, the NKVJ and the NRSV all communicate clearly that the temple tax is in view. The RSV and the ESV, both borrow from Hebrew terminology (half-shekel) to help make the connection with the tax first mentioned in Exodus.   The most literal (word-to-word) renderings are found in the Darby Translation, the DRA and the Disciples’s Literal NT.

English Bible Translations	Matthew 17:24	Matthew 17:27
Darby, 1867	didrachmas	stater
DRA, 1899	didrachmas	stater
Disciples’ Literal NT, 2011	Double-drachmas	stater
NLT, 1996	the Temple tax	a large silver coin
KJV, 1611	tribute money	a piece of money
NKJV, 1982	the temple tax	a piece of money
NASB, 1971	the two-drachma tax	a shekel
RSV, 1952	the half-shekel tax	a shekel
NRSV, 1989	the temple tax	a coin
ESV, 2001	the half-shekel tax	a shekel
NIV, 1978	the two-drachma tax	a four-drachma coin
HCSB, 2004	the double-drachma tax	a coin

The NLT, the NKVJ and the NRSV all communicate clearly that the temple tax is in view. The RSV and the ESV, both borrow from Hebrew terminology (half-shekel) to help make the connection with the tax first mentioned in Exodus.   The most literal (word-to-word) renderings are found in the Darby Translation, the DRA and the Disciples’

Christ's Thron

Denoting sin, sorrow and hardship, the thorn is one of the most ancient symbols in the world; together with the rose, it represents pain and pleasure, and the thorn is an emblem of Christ's passion, as with the crown of thorns.

 

After Jesus’ trials and subsequent flogging, and before He was crucified, the Roman soldiers “twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt in front of Him and mocked Him. ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said” (Matthew 27:29; see also John 19:2-5, NIV).

 

There are two native species of thorn that are predominant in the region of Judah : Paliurus spina-christi, and Ziziphus spina-christi. ( Ongzi : I hope my info is accurate )  So, either species or combination of both might be used by the Roman soldiers twisted into a crown.

 

 

  

 

 

主祷文(加长版) 祈求就給你們 - an OmgziVersion

耶穌在一個地方禱告；禱告完了，有個門徒對他說："求主教導我們禱告，像約翰教導他的門徒。 ”(路加福音11:1)

“你們禱告的時候，不可像那假冒為善的人，愛站在會堂裡和十字路口上禱告，故意叫人看見。我實在告訴你們，他們已經得了他們的賞賜。你禱告的時候，要進你的內屋，關上門，禱告你在暗中的父；你父在暗中察看，必然報答你。你們禱告，不可像外邦人，用許多重複話，他們以為話多了必蒙垂聽。你們不可效法他們；因為你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了” 。(馬太福音 6:5-8)

耶穌說：”你們禱告的時候，要說：

‘我們在天上的父：願人都尊你的名為聖。願你的國降臨；願你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。我們日用的飲食，天天賜給我們。赦免我們的罪，因為我們也赦免凡虧欠我們的人。不叫我們遇見試探；救我們脫離兇惡’"。(路加福音2-4) (馬太福音 6:6-13) 因為國度、權柄、榮耀，全是你的，直到永遠。阿們。”(馬太福音 13b)

耶穌又說：”你們中間誰有一個朋友半夜到他那裡去，說：’朋友！請借給我三個餅；因為我有一個朋友行路，來到我這裡，我沒有甚麼給他擺上’。那人在裡面回答說：’不要攪擾我，門已經關閉，孩子們也同我在床上了，我不能起來給你’” 。(路加福音11:5-7)

“我告訴你們，雖不因他是朋友起來給他，但因他情詞迫切的直求，就必起來照他所需用的給他” 。(路加福音11:8)

“我又告訴你們，你們祈求，就給你們；尋找，就尋見；叩門，就給你們開門。因為，凡祈求的，就得著；尋找的，就尋見；叩門的，就給他開門。你們中間作父親的，誰有兒子求餅，反給他石頭呢？求魚，反拿蛇當魚給他呢？求雞蛋，反給他蠍子呢？你們雖然不好，尚且知道拿好東西給兒女；何況天父，豈不更將聖靈給求他的人麼？”(路加福音11:9-11)(馬太福音7:8-11)

你们不要求吃什么，喝什么，也不要挂虑。这都是世上的外邦人所求的；你们需要这些东西，你们的父都知道。你们只要求他的国，这些东西就必加给你们了。(路加福音 12:29-31)

Renaissance Art - The Calling of Matthew 呼召马太

马太福音 9:9-13

9 耶稣从那里往前走，看见一个人，名叫马太，坐在税关那里，就对他说：“来跟从我！”他就起来跟从了耶稣。 10 耶稣在屋里吃饭的时候，有很多税吏和罪人来与他和门徒一起吃饭。 11 法利赛人看见了，就对他的门徒说：“你们的老师为甚么跟税吏和罪人一起吃饭呢？” 12 耶稣听见了，就说：“健康的人不需要医生，有病的人才需要， 13 ‘我喜爱怜悯，不喜爱祭祀’，你们去想一想这话的意思吧。我来不是要召义人，而是要召罪人。”

Calling of Saint Matthew, 1599-1600

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio 

马可福音 2:13-17

 13 耶稣又出去，到了加利利海边；众人都到他面前来，他就教导他们。 14 他往前走的时候，看见亚勒腓的儿子利未坐在税关那里，就对他说：“来跟从我！”他就起来跟从了耶稣。 15 后来耶稣在利未家里吃饭，有很多税吏和罪人也来与他和门徒一起吃饭；因为这样的人很多，并且他们已经跟随了耶稣。 16 法利赛派的经学家，看见耶稣与罪人和税吏一起吃饭，就对耶稣的门徒说：“他跟税吏和罪人一起吃饭吗？” 17 耶稣听见了，就对他们说：“健康的人不需要医生，有病的人才需要；我来不是要召义人，而是要召罪人。”

Calling of Saint Matthew, 1661

Juan de Pareja

路加福音 5:27-31

27 事后，耶稣出去，看见一个税吏，名叫利未，坐在税关那里，就对他说：“来跟从我！” 28 他就撇下一切，起来跟从了耶稣。 29 利未在自己家里，为他大摆筵席，有许多税吏和别的人一起吃饭。 30 法利赛人和经学家埋怨他的门徒，说：“你们为甚么跟税吏和罪人一起吃喝呢？” 31 耶稣回答：“健康的人不需要医生，有病的人才需要。 32 我来不是要召义人，而是要召罪人悔改。”

Conversion of Saint Matthew, c1650-1652

Niccolo Torniolli

给儿子的话 #17 神的旨意 v 你的旨意

俊乐喜欢问 爸 ：“我现在要做什么呢？”

其实，他心里想要看电视。

期待的是 爸说：“你看电视吧！”

那就如他所愿了。

若 爸说你去看书、练字、或其他的活儿。

他就不乐意了。

“为什么要读书？”

“为什么要练字？“

十万个“为什么？”出来了！

⁵ 他又按着自己旨意所喜悦的，预定我们借着耶稣基督得儿子的名分， ⁶ 好使他恩典的荣耀得着颂赞。这恩典是他在爱子里赐给我们的。 ⁷ 我们在他爱子里，借着他的血蒙了救赎，过犯得到赦免，都是按着他丰盛的恩典。 ⁸ 这恩典是他用各样的智慧和聪明，充充足足地赐给我们的； ⁹ 他照着自己在基督里预先安排的美意，使我们知道他旨意的奥秘， ¹⁰ 到了所计划的时机成熟，就使天上地上的万有，都在基督里同归于一。 ¹¹ 那凭着自己旨意所计划而行万事的，按着他预先所安排的，预定我们在基督里得基业， ¹² 借着我们这在基督里首先有盼望的人，使他的荣耀得着颂赞。

以弗所书 1:5-12

我儿 ，以后你还有许多事问 神 ：

“我要去哪里读书？跟谁结婚？哪里工作？”等等。

可是那些都是你的旨意呀！

 神的旨意，乃是要完成祂的计划（以弗所书 1:5-12）。

我儿 ，你要明白 神的旨意。

你的生活、事業、一切 ，不是完全為著自己，而是為著 神。

你要明白 神的旨意&/@神的计划，这样你就知道那些事是 神要你做的，那些事是 神不要你做的。

³³ 你们要先求他的国和他的义，这一切都必加给你们。

马太福音 6:33


¹⁷ 因此，不要作糊涂人，要明白甚么是主的旨意。
以弗所书 5:17

St. Peter's Fish ??

The name St. Peter’s fish originated from Gospel of St. Matthew ( 17:24-27 ) where Apostle Peter would find a silver coin inside the mouth of a fish in order to pay the Temple Tax.  The name of the fish was never mentioned, but it was most likely to be a Tilapia fish.

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?” ²⁶ And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. ²⁷ However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel.[g] Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Tilapia

There are some 24 fish species in the Sea of Galilee, of which 19 are native and 5 exotic ( Ben-Tuvia, 1978 ) ^{Table 1}.  Tilapia was one of the major commercial catch, and it is a bi-parental mouthbrooder.   Being a mouthbrooder means the adult fish carry their offsprings inside their mouth.  So, a Tilapia has a mouth large enough to accommodate a coin.

Tilapia is the common name for nearly 100 species of cichlid fish from the Tilapiini tribe, of the Tilapia genus.   The name ‘Tilapia’ was from the Tswana word ‘thiape’ which means ’fish’.  It was named by Scottish zoologist Andrew Smith in 1840.

The Sarotherodon and Oreochromis split off into their own genera in 1852 and 1889 respectively.  They are still commonly called ‘tilapia’ regardless of the change in their actual taxonomic nomenclature.

Therefore, there are 3 species of tilapia in the Sea of Galilee : Tilapia zilli, Sarotherodon galilaeus, and Oreochromis aureus.

给儿子的话 #4 祷告

当你遇见不如意时,

不要祷告求事事顺利,

而是要更加兢随主道.

当生活富足宽裕时,

不要陷入世界的享受里,

而是要时刻谦卑服事.

当我年老多病时,

不要祷告求医治,

而是坚固我们的信心.

魔鬼:“你若是神的儿子，
就吩咐这些石头变成食物吧！

耶稣:“ 人活着，
不是单靠食物，
更要靠神口里所出的一切话。”

魔鬼:“你若是神的儿子，
就跳下去吧！”

耶稣:“不可试探主你的神。”

魔鬼:“你只要跪下来拜我，
我就把这一切都给你。”

耶稣:“当拜主你的神，
单要事奉他。”

马太福音 4:1-11

Orientalism Art - Judas se pend 1886-1894

Judas Hangs Himself

(Judas se pend)

Artist : James Tissot, French, 1836-1902

Medium : Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper

Place Made : France

Dates : 1886-1894

Dimension : 11 7/8 x 6 1/8 in. (30.2 x 15.6 cm)

Location : Brooklyn Museum, NY, USA

Matthew 27

1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

   “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

 6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

Church of the Beatitudes (1938)

The Church of the Beatitudes is a Roman Catholic church maintained and overseen by the Franciscan Order, located by the Sea of Galilee near Tabgha and Capernaum in Israel. 

The word ‘beatitudes’ originates from the Latin words “beati”, which means ‘blessed’, which is the prefix of each verse.

Location

The traditional location for the Mount of Beatitudes is on the north western shore of the Sea of Galilee, between Capernaum and Gennesaret (Ginosar). The actual location of the Sermon on the Mount is not certain, but the present site (also known as Mount Eremos) has been commemorated for more than 1600 years. The site is very near Tabgha. Other suggested locations have included the nearby Mount Arbel, or even the Horns of Hattin.

History

Located on a small hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and built on the traditional site of Jesus delivery of the Sermon on the Mount.  Pilgrims are known to have commemorated this site since at least the 4th century.

The current church sits near the ruins of a small Byzantine era church dating to the late 4th century, which contains a rock-cut cistern beneath it and the remains of a small monastery to its southeast. Part of the original mosaic floor has also been recovered and is now on display in Capernaum. 

Design and Construction

The modern church was built between 1936 and 1938 near the site of the fourth century Byzantine ruins. The floor plan is octagonal, the eight sides representing the eight Beatitudes.  The church is Byzantine in style with a marble veneer casing the lower walls and gold mosaic in the dome. In front of the church are mosaic symbols on the pavement representing Justice, Prudence, Fortitude, Temperance, Faith, Hope, and Charity.

The ceiling walls have a shape of an octagon, and on each side there is a window with one of the eight verses in Latin.

The church was commissioned by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and designed by the architect Antonio Barluzzi.

Biblical Account Matthew 51:12 (NIV)

¹Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.  

He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Source :

1. Wikipedia

2. Sacred Destinations.com