English Standard Version
Matthew 17:25
25He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?"
Matthew 17:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
- New International Version (NIV)“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—from their own children or from others?”
- New King James Version (NKJV)He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“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? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?”
Context of Matthew 17:25
23and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed. 24When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the tax?" He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?" 26And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 27However, 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. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself."
Read all of Matthew 17Matthew 17:25 word by word
λέγει· ναί. καὶ ἐλθόντα εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν προέφθασεν αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων· τί σοι δοκεῖ, Σίμων; οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς ἀπὸ τίνων λαμβάνουσιν τέλη ἢ κῆνσον; ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτῶν ἢ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- He saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Yesναίnai · yesG3483
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
- he was comeεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the houseοἰκίαoikia · homeG3614
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- preventedπροφθάνωprophthanō · to come beforeG4399
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- thinkestδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
- thouσύsu · youG4771
- SimonΣίμωνSimōn · SimonG4613
- ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
- doλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
- the kingsβασιλεύςbasileus · kingG935
- of the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
- customτέλοςtelos · goal/taxG5056
- orἤē · orG2228
- tributeκῆνσοςkēnsos · taxG2778
- childrenυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
- strangersἀλλότριοςallotrios · another’sG245
Cross-references for Matthew 17:25
- Matthew 3:15But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.
- Matthew 22:21They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
- Romans 13:6For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.
- 1 Samuel 17:25And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel."
Commentaries on Matthew 17:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25He saith, Yes - From this reply of Peter, it is evident that our Lord customarily paid all taxes, tributes, etc., which were common among the people wherever he came. The children of God are subject to all civil laws in the places where they live - and should pay the taxes levied on them by public authority; and though any of these should be found unjust, They rebel not, as their business is not to reform the politics of nations, but the morals of the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 24-27Verses 24-27 And when they were come to Capernaum - See the notes at Matthew 4:13. They that received tribute - In the original this is, they who received the didrachma, or double drachma. The drachma was a Grecian coin worth about fifteen cents (7 1/2 d.) of British money. The didrachma, or double drachma, was a silver coin equal to the Attic drachma, and, in the time of Josephus, equal to the Jewish half shekel, that is, about 30 cents (circa 1880‘s)…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-27Verses 24-27 Peter felt sure that his Master was ready to do what was right. Christ spoke first to give him proof that no thought can be withholden from him. We must never decline our duty for fear of giving offence; but we must sometimes deny ourselves in our worldly interests, rather than give offence. However the money was lodged in the fish, He who knows all things alone could know it, and only almighty power could bring it to Peter's hook. The power…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-26As an obedient Jew, Jesus would have paid the tax every year, and he did pay it. The lesson Jesus wanted to teach was that as God's Son, he is greater than the temple (Matthew 12:5–6). By this, he showed that a decisive break with the temple was coming (see 16:18–19; 21:33–46).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. He saith, yes--that is, "To be sure He does"; as if eager to remove even the suspicion of the contrary. If Peter knew--as surely he did--that there was at this time no money in the bag, this reply must be regarded as a great act of faith in his Master. And when he was come into the house--Peter's. Jesus prevented him--anticipated him; according to the old sense of the word "prevent." saying, What thinkest thou, Simon?--using his family name for…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 17:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries