Scripture Reference Window
Browser "Back" or "Alt+Left_Arrow" to return.

Matthew 17:24-27 GNB . . .When Jesus and his disciples came to Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked, "Does your teacher pay the Temple tax?" (25) "Of course," Peter answered. When Peter went into the house, Jesus spoke up first, "Simon, what is your opinion? Who pays duties or taxes to the kings of this world? The citizens of the country or the foreigners?" (26) "The foreigners," answered Peter. "Well, then," replied Jesus, "that means that the citizens don't have to pay. (27) But we don't want to offend these people. So go to the lake and drop in a line. Pull up the first fish you hook, and in its mouth you will find a coin worth enough for my Temple tax and yours. Take it and pay them our taxes."

Why did Jesus give us this lesson using Peter and the fish and the coin? First thing, Peter seems to have caused it when he knee jerk responded to a question with a lie. While Jesus, as the Son of God, wasn't obligated to pay, and chose not to make too big a deal about Peter's lie, he did correct him. Peter was Jesus's representative, so, Jesus could never allow Peter's lie to stand. (John 8:44; Rev 21:5-8) Jesus apparently used this situation of his fulfilling Peter's incorrect statement as a teaching example, to help us understand how Christ [God's Anointed One] is paying the tax for us all. We were all born dying because of the death we inherited from Adam. With his life's blood, by our faith in his words, Jesus freed us from that sentence of death. (John 5:24; Rom 5:6-13)

Matthew 17:24-27 CEV . . .When Jesus and the others arrived in Capernaum, the collectors for the temple tax came to Peter and asked, "Does your teacher pay the temple tax?" (25) "Yes, he does," Peter answered. After they had returned home, Jesus went up to Peter and asked him, "Simon, what do you think? Do the kings of this earth collect taxes and fees from their own people or from foreigners?" (26) Peter answered, "From foreigners." Jesus replied, "Then their own people don't have to pay. (27) But we don't want to cause trouble. So go cast a line into the lake and pull out the first fish you hook. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Use it to pay your taxes and mine."

Matthew 17:24-27 ALT . . .Now when they came into Capernaum, the ones receiving the didrachmas [i.e. a temple-tax of a silver coin worth about a quarter of an ounce or seven grams of silver] approached Peter, and said, "Your Teacher does not pay the didrachma, does He?" (25) He says, "Yes." And when he entered into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive custom or tribute [or, a tax]? From their sons or from the strangers?" (26) Peter says to Him, "From the strangers." Jesus said to him, "In that case, the sons are free. (27) "But so that we do not cause them to stumble [fig., offend them], going up to the sea, cast [in] a hook, and take up the first fish coming up. And having opened its mouth, you will find a stater [i.e. a silver coin worth two didrachmas]. Having taken that, give [it] to them for Me and you."

Matthew 17:24-27 ISV . . .When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came up to Peter and said, "Your teacher pays the temple tax, doesn't he?" (25) He answered, "Yes." When Peter went home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings on the earth collect tolls or tributes? From their own subjects, or from foreigners?" (26) When he said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him, "In that case, the subjects are exempt. (27) However, so that we don't offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Take it and give it to them for me and you."

Matthew 17:24-27 GW . . .When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter. They asked him, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" (25) "Certainly," he answered. Peter went into the house. Before he could speak, Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the world collect fees or taxes? Is it from their family members or from other people?" (26) "From other people," Peter answered. Jesus said to him, "Then the family members are exempt. (27) However, so that we don't create a scandal, go to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Give that coin to them for you and me."

Use browser "Back Arrow" or "Alt + Left_Arrow" keys to previous page. | Home

You will note the reference windows often include more than one translation of the Bible. The reason is to strive to gain the best possible understanding of the original Hebrew and Greek. Since we don't speak those languages, we rely on those who have come before and made the effort to translate those texts into English for us. Considering several translations gives the benefit of the understanding of several translation committees or individuals.
The Translations we quote are:

ALT - Analytical Literal Translation

ASV - American Standard Version (by the American revision committee in 1897).

BBE - 1965 Bible in Basic English

Bishops - 1568 Bishop's Bible

Calvin - 1856 by Calvin Translation Society

CEV - Contemporary English Version

Coverdale - 1535 Miles Coverdale Bible

Darby - 1889 Darby Bible

DRB - 1899 Douay-Rheims Bible

ESV - English Standard Version

GNB - Good News Bible

GW - God's Word Bible

ISV - International Standard Version

KJV - 1769 King James Version

KJV-1611 - Old King James Version from 1611

LitNT - Literal New Testament

LITV - Literal Translation of the Holy Bible

MKJV - 1962 Modern King James Version

Murdock - 1851 James Murdock New Testament

MWT - Modern World Translation

NWT - New World Translation

RV - Revised Version

Webster - 1833 Webster Bible

WTNT - 1525-26 William Tyndale New Testament

Wycliffe - 1394 Wycliffe Bible

YLT - 1862/1898 Young's Literal Translation

Scripture Reference Window
Browser "Back" or "Alt+Left_Arrow" to return.