Matius 17:25-27

17:25 He said, “Yes.” When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, ¹  “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes – from their sons ²  or from foreigners?” 17:26 After he said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons ³  are free. 17:27 But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and throw out a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a four drachma coin. ⁴  Take that and give it to them for me and you.”

Matius 22:17

22:17 Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right ⁵  to pay taxes ⁶  to Caesar ⁷  or not?”

[17:25]  ¹ tn Grk “spoke first to him, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in English and has not been translated.

[17:25]  ² sn The phrase their sons may mean “their citizens,” but the term “sons” has been retained here in order to preserve the implicit comparison between the Father and his Son, Jesus.

[17:26]  ³ sn See the note on the phrase their sons in the previous verse.

[17:27]  ⁴ sn The four drachma coin was a stater (στατήρ, stathr), a silver coin worth four drachmas. One drachma was equivalent to one denarius, the standard pay for a day’s labor (L&N 6.80).

[22:17]  ⁵ tn Or “lawful,” that is, in accordance with God’s divine law. On the syntax of ἔξεστιν (exestin) with an infinitive and accusative, see BDF §409.3.

[22:17]  ⁶ tn According to L&N 57.180 the term κῆνσος (khnso") was borrowed from Latin and referred to a poll tax, a tax paid by each adult male to the Roman government.

[22:17]  sn This question concerning taxes was specifically designed to trap Jesus. If he answered yes, then his opponents could publicly discredit him as a sympathizer with Rome. If he answered no, then they could go to the Roman governor and accuse Jesus of rebellion.

[22:17]  ⁷ tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).