Matthew 17:19-26

19When the disciples were alone with Jesus, they asked him, ‘Why could we not make the bad spirit leave the boy?’

20Jesus replied, ‘You could not do it because you do not trust God very much. I tell you this: You may believe in God only a little bit, like a very small seed. Even then, you could say to this mountain, “Go away from this place and move to that other place.” Then it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you to do.’ [

21Jesus then said, ‘This kind of spirit will not leave a person unless you pray and you do not eat for a time.’]

22When Jesus and his disciples all met together in Galilee, he said, ‘Soon they will deliver the Son of Man to powerful people.

23They will kill him. But three days after that, he will become alive again.’ When the disciples heard that, they were very sad.

24After that, Jesus and his disciples arrived at Capernaum. Some men who received taxes for the temple went to talk to Peter. They asked him, ‘Does your teacher pay the tax for the temple?’

25Peter answered them, ‘Yes, my teacher does pay the tax.’ Then Peter returned to the house where Jesus was staying. Before Peter could say anything, Jesus spoke to him first. He said, ‘Here is a question for you to answer, Simon. Who are the people who must pay taxes and money to the kings in this world? Do the rulers take taxes from their own people? Or do they take taxes from other people?’

26‘They take the taxes from other people,’ Peter replied. Jesus said to him, ‘This means that people from the ruler's own country do not need to pay anything.