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Matthew 17:24-27
Amplified Bible
Matthew 17:24-27
Amplified Bible
The Tribute Money
24 When they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the [a]half-shekel [temple tax] went up to Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the half-shekel?”(A) 25 Peter answered, “Yes.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly rulers collect duties or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt [from taxation]. 27 However, so that we do not 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 shekel. Take it and give it to them [to pay the temple tax] for you and Me.”
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- Matthew 17:24 Equivalent to two denarii or two days’ wages.
Matthew 17:24-27
King James Version
Matthew 17:24-27
King James Version
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.
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Matthew 17:24-27
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Matthew 17:24-27
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Paying the Temple Tax
24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the double-drachma tax[a] approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the double-drachma tax?”(A)
25 “Yes,” he said.
When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first,[b] “What do you think, Simon? Who do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes from? From their sons or from strangers?”[c](B)
26 “From strangers,” he said.[d]
“Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him. 27 “But, so we won’t offend them, go to the sea, cast in a fishhook, and take the first fish that you catch. When you open its mouth you’ll find a coin.[e] Take it and give it to them for Me and you.”(C)
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- Matthew 17:24 Jewish men paid this tax to support the temple; Ex 30:11-16. A double-drachma could purchase 2 sheep.
- Matthew 17:25 Lit Jesus anticipated him by saying
- Matthew 17:25 Or foreigners
- Matthew 17:26 Other mss read Peter said to Him
- Matthew 17:27 Gk stater, worth 2 double-drachmas
Matthew 17:24-27
New International Version
Matthew 17:24-27
New International Version
The Temple Tax
24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax(A) came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes(B)—from their own children or from others?”
26 “From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not cause offense,(C) go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Matthew 17:24-27
The Message
Matthew 17:24-27
The Message
24 When they arrived at Capernaum, the tax men came to Peter and asked, “Does your teacher pay taxes?”
25 Peter said, “Of course.”
But as soon as they were in the house, Jesus confronted him. “Simon, what do you think? When a king levies taxes, who pays—his children or his subjects?”
26-27 He answered, “His subjects.”
Jesus said, “Then the children get off free, right? But so we don’t upset them needlessly, go down to the lake, cast a hook, and pull in the first fish that bites. Open its mouth and you’ll find a coin. Take it and give it to the tax men. It will be enough for both of us.”
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Amplified Bible (AMP) 
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Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson