Matthew 17:24-27
Lexham English Bible
Paying the Double Drachma Temple Tax
24 Now when[a] they arrived in Capernaum, the ones who collected the double drachma tax[b] came up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the double drachma tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he[c] came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect tolls or taxes—from their own sons, or from foreigners?” 26 And when he[d] said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 But so that we do not give offense to them, go out to the sea, cast a line with[e] a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And when you[f] open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that and[g] give it[h] to them for me and you.”
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- Matthew 17:24 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“arrived”)
- Matthew 17:24 This refers to the half-shekel annual tax paid by Jewish males to support the temple; over time the name of the coin commonly used to pay the tax came to be used for the tax itself
- Matthew 17:25 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 17:26 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“said”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 17:27 The words “a line with” are not in the Greek text but are implied
- Matthew 17:27 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“open”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 17:27 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“take”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 17:27 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
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
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].
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