ACC ~ Matthew 17 v24

THE HALF-SHEKEL INTERPRETED CHRISTOLOGICALLY

APOLLINARIS: This tax of the half-shekel was the law, defined by Moses, who said, “Each will give as redemption of his soul to the Lord, a half shekel.” [1] The Jews collected this from everyone, and the half-shekel was paid as redemption for two souls according to the law. The rich man was not demanded more, nor the poor man less. The half-shekel is sacred, intimating nothing else than the true divine-human Mediator, since everything foreshadowed this. The true redemption was the Lord who had the Father in himself, since his nature is divine. [2] The giving of the half-shekel is a symbol of his self-giving, and the shekel is for the redeemed soul. No one is allowed to pay more than the half, not even if he is rich. Thus it is said, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,” [3] that is, all the fullness of divinity, which is offered in his mediatorial work on the cross, abides in his dual nature as God-man. The richness of his divinity and the poverty of his humanity are fully integrated in one person. The half-shekel is interpreted here as his divinity, under question by the tax collectors. FRAGMENT 87. [4]

[1] Ex 30:13.

[2] Roman coins normally carried an image (charactēr) of the emperor stamped on their obverse alongside titles ascribing divine status to the Roman emperor. The Jewish half-shekel (the coin used to pay the temple tax) bore no human image or text inscription, yet it was considered by its use as holy. Apollinaris is contrasting the conventions to comment on Christ’s dual nature. To make the point more obvious, he refers to Jesus’ character, or nature (charactēr), as divine (theikos).

[3] Col 1:19.

[4] MKGK 27.

A SYMBOL FORESHADOWING OUR REDEMPTION

HILARY OF POITIERS: The Lord is asked to pay a half-shekel. For this was the amount that the law had established for those serving in the temple for the redemption of soul and body. But the law, as we know, is the foreshadowing of the future (for it was not the value of the coin that God desired so that with such a small expense redemption of soul and body might be granted for sins). Therefore the offering of this half-shekel was established [1] so that we might offer ourselves certified and professed and enrolled in the name of Christ, in Christ who is the true temple of God, and it was established as testimony of the Son of God. ON MATTHEW 17.10. [2]

[1] Ex 30:13.

[2] SC 258:70.

NOT PAYING THE TAX?

JEROME: After Caesar Augustus, Judea was made a tributary state and all the people were registered in the census. So Joseph and his kinswoman Mary had set off for Bethlehem. Once again, since Jesus had been brought up in Nazareth, which is a town of Galilee lying close to Capernaum, he is asked to pay taxes. Because of the magnitude of the miracles he had done, those who demanded this tax do not dare to ask him. Instead, they meet a disciple and maliciously ask whether he should pay taxes or defy Caesar’s will. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.17.24. [1]

[1] CCL 77:154.