Payment of the Temple Tax
Matthew 17:24-27
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Matt.17.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ελθοντων: VERB,aor,act,part,gen,pl,masc
- δε: CONJ
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
- εις: PREP
- Καφαρναουμ: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- προσηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- διδραχμα: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- λαμβανοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,masc
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Πετρω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ειπαν·Ο: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- διδασκαλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- ου: PART
- τελει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,nom,pl,neut
- διδραχμα: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
Parallels
- Matthew 17:25-27 (structural): Immediate continuation of the pericope: Jesus' reply about the temple (two-drachma) tax and the miracle of the fish yielding the coin to pay it.
- Matthew 22:15-22 (thematic): Later Matthean episode where Jesus is asked about paying taxes to Caesar—shares the broader theme of obligations to earthly authorities and status of taxes.
- Mark 12:13-17 (thematic): Mark's parallel of the 'render unto Caesar' incident; thematically related by questions about paying dues to authorities and the proper response.
- Luke 20:20-26 (thematic): Luke's account of the tax-question to Jesus; parallels the theme of taxation and Jesus' teaching on civic obligation.
- Exodus 30:11-16 (allusion): Prescribes the instituted Israelite temple tax (half-shekel)—background precedent for Jewish temple-related levies such as the two-drachma mentioned in Matthew 17:24.
Alternative generated candidates
- When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax came to Peter and asked, "Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?"
- When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax came to Peter and asked, 'Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?'
Matt.17.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγει·Ναι: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ελθοντα: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,n
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οικιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- προεφθασεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- λεγων·Τι: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- δοκει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- Σιμων: PROPN,nom,sg,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- βασιλεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- απο: PREP
- τινων: PRON,gen,pl
- λαμβανουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- τελη: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- κηνσον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- υιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αλλοτριων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Matt.17:24-27 (structural): Immediate context and same narrative: the temple-draft/tax question, Jesus’ question to Peter about who pays taxes and his instructions to obtain a coin from a fish’s mouth.
- Matt.22:17-21 (thematic): Another Matthean episode about taxation (paying tribute to Caesar); Jesus’ distinction between obligations to earthly authorities and to God echoes the theme of authority and fiscal obligation.
- Mark 12:14-17 (quotation): Parallel account of the 'Give to Caesar...' saying; directly parallels Matthew 22 and thematically relates to Jesus’ teaching about civic obligations and tribute.
- Rom.13:6-7 (thematic): Paul’s instruction that governments are God’s ministers and that believers should pay taxes resonates with the broader biblical concern about obligations to earthly authorities represented in Matthew 17.
Alternative generated candidates
- He said, "Yes." When he entered the house, Jesus spoke first to him: "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or tribute—from their own sons, or from strangers?" He said, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are exempt."
- He said, 'Yes.' When he entered the house, Jesus anticipated him and said, 'What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or tribute— from their sons or from strangers?'
Matt.17.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειποντος: VERB,aor,act,part,gen,sg,m
- δε·Απο: CONJ
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αλλοτριων: ADJ,gen,pl
- εφη: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Αρα: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- γε: PART
- ελευθεροι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- υιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 17:24-27 (structural): Immediate context of the same episode (Peter and the temple tax). Verse 26 is part of Jesus' reply that 'the sons are free' and leads into the coin-in-the-fish resolution.
- Matthew 22:17-21 (thematic): Jesus' teaching about paying taxes ('Render to Caesar...')—themewise related to obligations to human authorities and the question of who must pay tribute.
- Exodus 30:11-16 (thematic): Institutes the half-shekel census/temple contribution for Israel—background precedent for the later 'temple tax' that Jesus and Peter discuss.
- 1 Corinthians 9:4-14 (thematic): Paul discusses rights of ministers to material support and sometimes foregoing those rights to avoid offense—parallels the tension between a legitimate right/exemption and choosing not to assert it.
Alternative generated candidates
- But so that we may not give offense to them, go to the sea, cast a hook, take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a stater. Take that and give it to them for me and for you.
- He said to him, 'From strangers.' Jesus said, 'Then the sons are exempt.
Matt.17.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ινα: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- μη: PART
- σκανδαλισωμεν: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,pl
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- πορευθεις: VERB,aor,mp,part,nom,m,sg
- εις: PREP
- θαλασσαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- βαλε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- αγκιστρον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αναβαντα: VERB,aor,act,part,acc,m,sg
- πρωτον: ADV
- ιχθυν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αρον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- ανοιξας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- στομα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- ευρησεις: VERB,fut,act,ind,2,sg
- στατηρα·εκεινον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- λαβων: VERB,aor,act,ptcp,nom,sg,m
- δος: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- αυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- αντι: PREP
- εμου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 17:24-26 (structural): Immediate context: the temple-tax question and Jesus' declaration that 'the sons are free' followed by the instruction to Peter to find a coin in a fish's mouth to pay the tax.
- Luke 5:4-7 (thematic): Jesus commands the disciples to let down their nets and they catch a miraculous haul of fish—similar motif of Jesus' authority over the sea/fish and miraculous provision.
- John 21:6,9-11 (thematic): Post-resurrection scene where Jesus directs the disciples to cast the net and they catch many fish; like Matthew 17:27 this episode uses a miraculous catch to demonstrate Jesus' provision and authority.
- Exodus 30:11-16 (allusion): Early Israelite precedent for a sacred levy (half-shekel) payable to Yahweh/temple; provides background for the idea of a religious/temple tax that Jesus and Peter address.
- Matthew 22:15-22 (thematic): Jesus' teaching about paying obligations ('Render to Caesar...') connects to the broader theme of how to relate to taxes, authorities, and religious obligations—echoing the concern behind the temple-tax episode.
Alternative generated candidates
- He went and did as Jesus had commanded. He took the coin and gave it to them for the tax for both of them.
- But so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. When you open its mouth you will find a stater; take it and give it to them for me and for you.'
When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax came to Peter and asked him, 'Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?'
He said, 'Yes.' And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke first and said, 'What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take toll or tribute—from their sons or from strangers?'
Peter said to him, 'From strangers.' Jesus said to him, 'Then the sons are free.' But so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth you will find a coin. Take that and give it to them for me and for you.