Paying the Temple Tax

24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” (A)

25 “Yes,” he said.

When he went into the house, Jesus spoke to him first,[a] “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tariffs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers?”[b](B)

26 “From strangers,” he said.[c]

“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.[d] Take it and give it to them for me and you.”(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 17:25 Lit Jesus anticipated him by saying
  2. 17:25 Or foreigners
  3. 17:26 Other mss read Peter said to him
  4. 17:27 Gk stater, worth 2 double-drachmas

Paying the temple tax

24 When they came to Capernaum, the people who collected the half-shekel temple tax came to Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”

25 “Yes,” he said.

But when they came into the house, Jesus spoke to Peter first.“What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect taxes, from their children or from strangers?”

26 “From strangers,” he said.

Jesus said to him, “Then the children don’t have to pay. 27 But just so we don’t offend them, go to the lake, throw out a fishing line and hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a shekel coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.”

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