Matthew 17:24
¶ And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute [money] came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
And {G1161} when they {G846} were come {G2064} to {G1519} Capernaum {G2584}, they that received {G2983} tribute {G1323} money came {G4334} to Peter {G4074}, and {G2532} said {G2036}, Doth {G5055} not {G3756} your {G5216} master {G1320} pay {G5055} tribute {G1323}?
When they came to K'far-Nachum, the collectors of the half-shekel came to Kefa and said, "Doesn't your rabbi pay the Temple tax?"
After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?”
And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the half-shekel came to Peter, and said, Doth not your teacher pay the half-shekel?
Cross-References
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Exodus 38:26 (9 votes)
A bekah for every man, [that is], half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty [men]. -
Exodus 30:13 (9 votes)
This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel [is] twenty gerahs:) an half shekel [shall be] the offering of the LORD. -
Mark 9:33 (-3 votes)
And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
Commentary
Matthew 17:24 opens a short but significant passage detailing Jesus' interaction with the temple tax collectors in Capernaum. This verse sets the scene for a unique teaching moment about Jesus' divine identity and His approach to earthly obligations.
Context
After the profound experience of the Transfiguration and a powerful healing, Jesus and His disciples arrive in Capernaum, a city that served as a primary base for His ministry in Galilee. Here, officials responsible for collecting the temple tax approach Peter. This "tribute money" (Greek: didrachma) was not a Roman civil tax but an annual half-shekel contribution required of every adult Jewish male for the maintenance and services of the Jerusalem temple, based on an Old Testament precedent (see Exodus 30:13-16).
The question posed to Peter, "Doth not your master pay tribute?", implies an expectation or perhaps a challenge. It's noteworthy that they approach Peter, often the spokesman for the disciples, rather than Jesus directly, highlighting Peter's prominent role among the Twelve.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV term "tribute" here translates the Greek word didrachma (δίδραχμα), which specifically refers to a two-drachma coin, equivalent to the Jewish half-shekel temple tax. This distinguishes it from other taxes mentioned in the Gospels, such as the Roman poll tax (Greek: kēnsos, Latin: census), which Jesus famously addressed in Matthew 22:21.
Reflection and Application
Matthew 17:24, read in conjunction with the following verses, offers valuable lessons for believers today. It reminds us of Jesus' supreme authority and divine nature, even as He walked among us in human form. Furthermore, Jesus' willingness to pay the tax, despite His exemption, teaches us the importance of navigating societal expectations with wisdom and a desire to avoid causing unnecessary offense, particularly when it comes to matters that are not fundamentally moral or theological compromises. It's a powerful example of living peacefully and purposefully within the world while maintaining a clear understanding of our ultimate allegiance to God.
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