The Bible

 

Matthew 17:24-27 : The Temple Tax

Study

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

 

Arcana Coelestia #8327

Study this Passage

  
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8327. 'On the mountain of Your inheritance' means the heaven where the good of charity resides. This is clear from the meaning of 'mountain of inheritance' as heaven. For 'mountain' means the good of love, 795, 796, 2722, 4210, 6435, and 'inheritance' means another's life, in this instance the Lord's; thus the life of goodness and truth which is derived from the Lord is meant, since those who possess this life are heirs of the kingdom and are called sons, 2658, 2851, 3672, 7212. Since these things are meant by 'the mountain of inheritance', heaven is also meant; for heaven is heaven by virtue of the good of love and it is the inheritance belonging to those who are the Lord's.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.