The Gospel of Matthew
Second Prediction by Jesus: Mt 17,22-23
Galilee is mentioned as in Mark (Mk 9,30) but here they are gathered rather than passing through. It is not until 19,1 that they finally leave.
Mark's note about not wanting anyone to know is omitted by Matthew.
Changing the first prediction (16,21), where Jesus spoke of himself, Matthew follows tradition with Jesus now speaking of the Son of Man. The means of execution is again not specified.
Thus the notable detail is the resurrection. As with the first prediction, so too here: Matthew has changed Mark (Mk 9,31) to read "on the third day" and "he shall be raised up", where we have a divine passive.
Notably different too is the change of the disciples' response. In Mark they don't understand (Mk 9,32); whereas in Matthew they are sad, which may be more appropriate.
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The Temple Tax: Mt 17,24-27
We can perhaps see this matter of the tax as arising out of questions in Matthew's own community. It was perhaps a community still with its links to Judaism and paying the Temple Tax would have been part of that. However, there are some general principles being clarified here.
This is not a controversial scene. The tax-collectors' question in 17,24 perhaps expects the answer "yes" and Peter's first reaction in 17,25a was a readiness to pay the tax.
Jesus then asks Simon (appropriately using his Jewish name) about kings taxing their sons or the others. Kings do not tax their own family but outsiders as Peter says to Jesus.
Jesus then comments "The sons therefore are free". "Exempt" would just refer to the tax, there is more at stake here. Jesus and his family are sons of God, children of the kingdom of heaven, 18,1-5, and have the freedom that results.
This case of the tax is very similar to St Paul writing to the Corinthian community about eating meat sacrificed to idols. There is a freedom (17,26) for those who understand the issues (1 Cor 9,1) but there is also the risk of scandal or stumbing block (17,27) for those who are weak in faith (1 Cor 8,9). This will be taken up in 18,6-10.
Overall, we can see this episode with Jesus' key comment about the sons being free preparing for the discourse which follows in chapter 18.
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