Taxes and tributes: The preceding words are broken down, each making a reference to a different sort of tax, or tribute system in Jesus day. When we examine closely each of the three Greek words, we may get a better understanding why tax collectors were hated so vehemently by the Jews.
In the time of Jesus, the Jews had been subdued by the Romans. Many burdensome tributes had been put upon them: And because of certain necessities, and/or punishment, the Jews were compelled to submit to these taxes.
The Romans had adopted the methods of past conquers; they were cruel, but efficient. They would farm out the taxes to certain Jewish men who would then extort more than the fair share, adding to the Jewish hatred of the publicans. Among these were men like Matthew, an Zacchaeus. Both were hated by the Jews, but later converted to Christianity. Also under the theocracy of Israel every man was bound to pay a poll-tax.
The first Greek word for “Tribute,” is didrachmon. Didrachim is a double drachma, or a silver coin equal to two Attic Greek drachmae, and to the Jewish half shekel. We find the word in,
Matthew 17:24, “They (those who) received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master (Jesus) pay tribute?” Here the apostle was asked if their teacher (Jesus) gave to the yearly tribute of the temple, one to be paid by every Jew. Compare with,
Exodus 30:13, “Then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul — there be a pledge among them.”
Exodus 38:26, “Half a shekel.” Septuagint, every where for the Hebrew.
Nehemiah 10:23, Genesis 23:15-16, “Shekel.” Here, most likely the dracma of Alexandria was equal to two Attic drachmae. The question asked Jesus was a reference to O.T. law that every Jew was bound to.
The second word,
Tribute: Greek kensos. In Latin it means census. It’s a counting of the people, and evaluation of their property. In the N.T. it represented another tribute, or poll-tax paid by each person whose name was taken in the census, as in
Matthew 17:25, 22:17, The Pharisees Jesus, “Is it lawful to give tribute (census tax) unto Caesar, or not?”
Matthew 22:19, Jesus asked the apostles, “Show me the tribute (census or poll tax) money,” meaning the tribute coin.
The third word,
Tribute: Greek phoros. It was a tax, or tribute, imposed upon persons and their property annually, in distinction from tolls, which were usually levied on merchandize and travelers.
Luke 20:22, Certain spies were sent forth to Jesus by the chief priests and scribes. These spies asked, “Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?” A property tax, different than the one implied in Matt.17, and 22.
Luke 23:2, When the crowd brought Jesus to Pilate, they claimed the He was perverting the nation, and, “Forbidding to give tribute,” or the property tax.
Romans 13:6, “For this cause pay ye tribute also.”
Septuagint for Hebrew, Judges 1:30, They, “Became tributaries.” 2 Samuel 20:24, “Adoram was over the tribute.” Hebrew, Ezra 4:20, “Tribute, and custom, was paid.”
So here are three Greek words, translated into the English, “Tribute.” But in Scriptures, each represented a different part of the whole tax structure imposed upon the Jewish people.
Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com