Matthew 17:25

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?

He saith {G3004}, Yes {G3483}. And {G2532} when {G3753} he was come {G1525} into {G1519} the house {G3614}, Jesus {G2424} prevented {G4399} him {G846}, saying {G3004}, What {G5101} thinkest {G1380} thou {G4671}, Simon {G4613}? of {G575} whom {G5101} do {G2983} the kings {G935} of the earth {G1093} take {G2983} custom {G5056} or {G2228} tribute {G2778}? of {G575} their own {G846} children {G5207}, or {G2228} of {G575} strangers {G245}?

"Of course he does," said Kefa. When he arrived home, Yeshua spoke first. "Shim`on, what's your opinion? The kings of the earth -- from whom do they collect duties and taxes? From their sons or from others?"

“Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?”

He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers?

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 17:25 (KJV)

Matthew 17:25 is a crucial verse in the unique account of Jesus paying the temple tax, found only in Matthew's Gospel. This passage follows Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ and the transfiguration, setting the scene in Capernaum where tax collectors approached Peter about the annual half-shekel temple tax. Peter, perhaps without full comprehension, affirmed that Jesus paid it. This verse then reveals Jesus's immediate, profound response, highlighting His divine nature and wisdom.

Context

The temple tax (a half-shekel, or two drachmas) was an annual levy on every Jewish male over 20, used for the maintenance and services of the Jerusalem Temple. When Peter confirmed Jesus would pay it, Jesus "prevented him" upon entering the house. This means Jesus anticipated Peter's report and addressed the matter before Peter could even speak, demonstrating His supernatural knowledge and authority.

Key Themes

  • Jesus's Divine Omniscience and Authority: The phrase "Jesus prevented him" powerfully illustrates Christ's foreknowledge. He knew Peter's conversation with the tax collectors and what Peter was about to say, revealing His divine awareness and authority over all circumstances, even mundane ones like taxation.
  • Sonship and Exemption: Jesus uses an earthly analogy of kings' children being exempt from taxes, while "strangers" (subjects or non-family) are required to pay. By posing this question, Jesus implicitly declares Himself the Son of God, the Son of the King (God) to whom the Temple truly belongs. As the Son, He is inherently exempt from the Temple tax, which was levied for His Father's house.
  • Avoiding Offense: Despite His rightful exemption, Jesus chooses to pay the tax. This act, further elaborated in Matthew 17:27, demonstrates His wisdom and humility. He prioritizes not causing offense or stumbling, especially to those who might misunderstand His divine claims or misinterpret His actions.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Jesus prevented him" can be misleading to modern readers. In 17th-century English, "prevent" meant to precede or anticipate, not to hinder or stop. Thus, Jesus "preceded" Peter by speaking first, showing His foreknowledge of the situation. The terms "custom or tribute" refer to various forms of governmental taxes or levies, underscoring the financial obligations imposed by earthly rulers.

Practical Application

This passage offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in Jesus's Knowledge: Just as Jesus knew Peter's thoughts and the situation, He knows our needs, concerns, and even unspoken questions. We can rest in His divine understanding and provision for our lives.
  • Understanding Our Identity in Christ: As believers, we are adopted children of God. While we live in this world and have earthly responsibilities, our ultimate allegiance and spiritual citizenship are heavenly.
  • Wisdom in Avoiding Offense: Jesus's example teaches us the importance of considering the impact of our actions on others. Sometimes, it is wiser to yield on a point of personal right or freedom to avoid causing unnecessary stumbling blocks or misunderstandings, especially for those who are seeking or new to faith, as the Apostle Paul also instructs in 1 Corinthians 8:9 and Romans 14:21.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 22:21

    They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.

  • Romans 13:6

    For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

  • Romans 13:7

    ¶ Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

  • Matthew 22:19

    Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.

  • Matthew 22:17

    Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

  • 1 Samuel 17:25

    And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, [that] the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

  • Matthew 3:15

    And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
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