The Bible

 

Matthew 17:24-27 : The Temple Tax

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24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Commentary

 

Incorporating the New

By Todd Beiswenger


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There's an old saying that says, "When the student is ready the master will appear." The idea is that the student must incorporate everything they've already been taught into their life before the next master will come to teach them the next steps. We see something similar in the Word, where Jesus opens the eyes of Peter, James and John to a new spiritual reality, but now they have a difficult time trying to synthesize what they've just been taught with everything they've always believed. (note - Todd offers his apologies for an error; where he mistakenly says in this audio that the "spiritual serves the natural"... he meant to say, "natural serves the spiritual.")

(References: Apocalypse Explained 64, 405; Arcana Coelestia 6394; Matthew 17:14-20, 17:24-27)

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Explained #338

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338. To receive the power and riches and wisdom, signifies that to Him belong omnipotence, omniscience, and Divine Providence. This is evident from the signification of "power," as being, in reference to the Lord, omnipotence; from the signification of "riches," as being, in reference to the Lord, omniscience; and from the signification of "wisdom," as being, in reference to the Lord, Divine Providence. This is what is meant, because respecting the Lord nothing can be predicated except what is above all things; when, therefore, it is said that He has power it is meant that He has all power, which is omnipotence; and when it is said that He has riches it is meant that He has all spiritual riches, which signify intelligence and therefore omniscience (that "riches" in the Word signify the knowledges of truth and good and thus intelligence, may be seen above, n. 236; and when it is said that He has "wisdom," it is meant that He has all wisdom, which is the Divine Providence; for true wisdom is to see what is conducive to anyone's life to eternity, and to determine oneself according to that, which is done when man not only knows these things and perceives them with his understanding, but also wills and does them; but Divine wisdom is to provide these things with man; thus it is Divine Providence. (What Divine Providence is further may be seen inThe New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine 267-279.)

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for their permission to use this translation.