Daily Archives: May 15, 2026

(Matthew 22:15-17 KJV) Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in [his] talk. [16] And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any [man]: for thou regardest not the person of men. [17] Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

Jesus Loved His Father, Loved His People,
and Hated Corruption

Our Lord Jesus has entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the cheers of the people. Jesus cleansed the Temple:

(Matthew 21:12-13 KJV) And JESUS WENT INTO THE TEMPLE OF GOD, and CAST OUT ALL THAT SOLD AND BOUGHT in the temple, and OVERTHREW THE TABLES OF THE MONEYCHANGERS, and the seats of them that sold doves, [13] And said unto them, It is written, {here Jesus quoted Jeremiah 7:11 and Isaiah 56:7} My house shall be called the house of prayer; but YE HAVE MADE IT A DEN OF THIEVES.

The Pharisees and the Ruling Council of Israel, the Sanhedrin, had turned the Court of the Gentiles into a place for buying and selling. Of note were the moneychangers. When people came to worship God, Jewish men were expected to pay a Temple Tax. In effect, the Temple Tax was paid by the sons of Abraham, half a shekel going to the Kingdom of God. This was instituted in:

(Exodus 30:11-16 LSB) Yahweh also spoke to Moses, saying, [12] When YOU TAKE A CENSUS OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL TO NUMBER THEM, then each one of them shall GIVE A PRICE OF ATONEMENT FOR HIMSELF to Yahweh when you number them, so that there will be no plague among them when you number them. [13] This is what EVERYONE WHO IS NUMBERED SHALL GIVE: HALF A SHEKEL ACCORDING TO THE SHEKEL OF THE SANCTUARY (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel AS A CONTRIBUTION TO YAHWEH. [14] Everyone who is numbered, from TWENTY YEARS OLD AND OVER, shall give the contribution to Yahweh. [15] The RICH SHALL NOT PAY MORE AND THE POOR SHALL NOT PAY LESS THAN THE HALF SHEKEL when you give the contribution to Yahweh to make atonement for your souls. [16] And you shall take the atonement money from the sons of Israel and shall GIVE IT FOR THE SERVICE OF THE TENT OF MEETING, that it may be a remembrance for the sons of Israel before Yahweh, to make atonement for your souls…. Continue reading →