Matt. 17:24 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."

Shouldn't everyone be taxed regardless of their relation to the king?

The Temple Tax wasn't paid to the king.

It's an allusion/reference to Jesus being the Son of God, not really fiscal/tax policy, and a wonderful way to allude to his power being greater than any king on earth or tax collector.

nortex97 said:

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It's an allusion/reference to Jesus being the Son of God, not really fiscal/tax policy, and a wonderful way to allude to his power being greater than any king on earth or tax collector.

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He uses actual tax policy to prove that he isn't subject to the temple tax.

Martin Q. Blank said:

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nortex97 said:

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It's an allusion/reference to Jesus being the Son of God, not really fiscal/tax policy, and a wonderful way to allude to his power being greater than any king on earth or tax collector.

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He uses actual tax policy to prove that he isn't subject to the temple tax.

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Fact check; false.

He asked a question of a disciple, using a parable, as recorded in a gospel (which is not a history book).

nortex97 said:

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Martin Q. Blank said:

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nortex97 said:

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It's an allusion/reference to Jesus being the Son of God, not really fiscal/tax policy, and a wonderful way to allude to his power being greater than any king on earth or tax collector.

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He uses actual tax policy to prove that he isn't subject to the temple tax.

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Fact check; false.

He asked a question of a disciple, using a parable, as recorded in a gospel (which is not a history book).

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He affirms the tax policy by saying that the son is free (from the tax).

We don't share a common understanding of the gospel of Matt., sorry.

The text is definitely about paying taxes although I think the use of "policy" here is a bit anachronistic.

The Temple Tax was paid to the Temple, levied on all Jews regardless of where they lived. Common people, especially outside of Jerusalem and Judea, resented paying it, especially because the Temple authority was corrupt and supporters/apologists of Rome. Taxes of any kind were among the most controversial of political and religious issues.

After the temple is destroyed, Rome continues the tax, but now it went to Rome instead of the Temple making it incredibly unpopular. So depending on when you think Matthew is written (pre or post Roman/Jewish war), it's either a story about whether or not Jesus thinks the Temple Tax is legitimate or what to do about foreign taxation derived from what once was, at least in name, a religious demand to support the temple.

This only appears in Matthew and shows a more open view to paying the tax than elsewhere in the Gospels, particularly in Mark or Q, while still rejecting the legitimacy of the tax.

Jesus was so cool!

There is no parable in this account. It centers around the Temple tax established in the Old Testament. The tax was to be made by all Jewis men over the age of twenty. Jesus rightly says that he is exempt, but to not ruffle feathers, Peter should go catch a fish with two coins in its mouth and pay for Jesus and himself.

What many don't notice in this miracle, Jesus and Peter were the only two of the thirteen who were over twenty.