Matthew 17:24-27

The Temple Tax

24 ¹When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of ²the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax? ”

25 He said, “Yes. ” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, ³“What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or ⁴tax? From their sons or from others? ”

26 And when he said, “From others, ” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.

27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. ^[a] Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself. ”

Cross References

• 1. 17:24 Mark 9:33
• 2. 17:24 Ex. 30:13; 38:26
• 3. 17:25 ch. 18:12; 21:28
• 4. 17:25 ch. 22:17, 19; Mark 12:14; Rom. 13:7

Footnotes

• [a] 17:27 Greek 'stater', a silver coin worth four drachmas or approximately one shekel