Matthew 17:24-27
New Living Translation
Payment of the Temple Tax
24 On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax[a] came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”
25 “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house.
But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter?[b] Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?[c]”
26 “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied.
“Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! 27 However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin.[d] Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 17:24 Greek the two-drachma [tax]; also in 17:24b. See Exod 30:13-16; Neh 10:32-33.
- 17:25a Greek Simon?
- 17:25b Greek their sons or others?
- 17:27 Greek a stater [a Greek coin equivalent to four drachmas].
Matthew 17:24-27
New American Standard Bible
The Temple Tax
24 Now when they came to Capernaum, those who collected (A)the [a]two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay (B)the [b]two-drachma tax?” 25 He *said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect (C)customs or [c](D)poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are [d]exempt. 27 However, so that we do not (E)offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a [e]stater. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 17:24 Equivalent to about two denarii or two days’ wages for a laborer, paid as a temple tax
- Matthew 17:24 Equivalent to about two denarii or two days’ wages for a laborer, paid as a temple tax
- Matthew 17:25 I.e., a tax on each person in the census
- Matthew 17:26 Lit free
- Matthew 17:27 A silver four-drachma Greek coin
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