80. Why was Jesus, though having no property and not engaged in any trade, required to pay taxes!

In Matt. 17:24 we read that the tax collector came to Peter saying: "Doth not your master pay tribute?

"The Revised Version renders this passage in such a way as to bring out the particular tax which is re­ferred to: "And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the half shekel came to Peter and said, Doth not your master pay the half shekel?"

Following this rendering we learn the tribute or tax re­ferred to, to be the gift required by the Mosaic law from all Jews, to meet the expenses of the tabernacle or temple service.

Josephus tells us that this tax had come to be collected annually from all Jews over twenty years of age.

The tax being for religious purposes, all men shared in it irrespective of their trade or calling and the tax was paid by our Lord as a worshiping Jew who "fulfilled all righteousness."