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.”
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- 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
Matthew 17:24-27
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Jesus Pays His Temple Tax With a Coin From a Fish He Sent Peter To Catch
24 And they having come to Capernaum, the ones[a] taking the double-drachmas[b] came to Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the double-drachmas?” 25 He says, “Yes”. And Peter having come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What seems right to you, Simon— from whom do the kings of the earth take taxes[c] or a poll-tax[d], from their sons[e] or from the strangers?” 26 And Peter having said “From the strangers”, Jesus said to him, “Then indeed, the sons[f] are free! 27 But in order that we may not offend[g] them— having gone to the sea, cast a hook. And take the first fish having come up. And having opened its mouth, you will find a stater[h]. Having taken that, give it to them for Me and you”.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 17:24 These are Jews commissioned by the Temple, not the hated ‘tax collectors’.
- Matthew 17:24 This was the yearly half-shekel (equivalent to two drachmas, the silver double-drachma coin) temple tax required of all male Jews 20 to 50 years old throughout the world. One Greek drachma was equivalent to one Roman denarius (one day’s wage).
- Matthew 17:25 That is, local taxes.
- Matthew 17:25 That is, a tax paid to the Emperor, based on a census.
- Matthew 17:25 Does the king’s family pay taxes, or the families of his subjects?
- Matthew 17:26 That is, the sons of the Father, Jesus and the disciples, are exempt from their Father’s temple tax.
- Matthew 17:27 Or, cause them to fall.
- Matthew 17:27 This Greek silver coin was worth four drachmas, enough for both of them.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
