Matthew 17:26

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 17:24-27

We have here an account of Christ's paying tribute. I. Observe how it was demanded, Matt. 17:24. Christ was now at Capernaum, his headquarters, where he mostly resided; he did not keep from thence, to decline being called upon for his dues, but rather came thither, to be ready to pay them. 1. The tribute demanded was not any civil payment to the Roman powers, that was strictly exacted by the publicans, but the church-duties, the half shekel, about fifteen pence, which were required from every... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 17:24-27

17:24-27 When they came to Capernaum, those who received the half-shekel Temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the tax?" Peter said, "He does pay it." When he had gone into the house, before he could speak, Jesus said to him, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings take tax and tribute? From their sons or from strangers?" When he said, "From strangers," Jesus said to him, "So then the sons are free. But, so as not to set a stumbling-block in anyone's... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 17:24-27

Now we come to the story itself If we take it with a bald and crude literalism, it means that Jesus told Peter to go and catch a fish, and that he would find a stater in the fish's mouth which would be sufficient to pay the tax for both of them. It is not irrelevant to note that the gospel never tells us that Peter did so. The story ends with Jesus' saying. Before we begin to examine the story we must remember that all oriental people love to say a thing in the most dramatic and vivid way... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 17:26

Peter saith unto him ,.... The Vulgate Latin reads, "and he said": and so the Ethiopic, and Munster's Hebrew Gospel; but without doubt Peter is meant, and rightly expressed; whose answer to Christ's question is, of strangers : meaning not foreigners, or such who formerly belonged to other nations, but were now taken captive, and brought into subjection; but their own native subjects, so called, in distinction from their domestics, their children, and those of their own family: Jesus... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 17:26

Then are the children free - As this money is levied for the support of that temple of which I am the Lord, then I am not obliged to pay the tax; and my disciples, like the priests that minister, should be exempted from the necessity of paying. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:22-27

Return to Galilee. I. REITERATED PREDICTIONS OF THE COMING PASSION . 1 . The Lord alone with the twelve . He returns to Galilee, but no longer for teaching. He revisits the old familiar spots with the shadow of death closing round him. He was not followed by multitudes as of old. He "passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it" ( Mark 9:30 ). He confined his teaching to the little circle of his apostles. He sought to prepare them for the awful... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:22-27

Greatness in submission The originality of Jesus meets us at every turn. The men of this world seek greatness in self-assertion and resistance—by force and cunning. Christ exhibits it in condescension and patience. I. THE GREATNESS OF JESUS IS SEEN IN HIS PASSION . 1 . His submission there was voluntary . (a) It was predicted. He was perfectly conversant with the prophets. (b) He enlarged upon their anticipations. How circumstantial are his words (see ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:24-27

The coin in the fish ' s mouth . This is one of the three miracles of our Lord which are peculiar to this Gospel St. Matthew seems to concern himself particularly with matters which present Jesus as King-Messiah; and this occurrence was in his view specially notable, as herein Christ claimed for himself a royal position—Son in his Father's house. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:24-27

Christ paying tribute. I. THE QUESTIONING DEMAND . The collectors of tribute asked with uncertainty, but perhaps also with suspicion and a desire to entrap St. Peter, whether Christ paid the regular temple tribute. This was expected of our Lord because he was a Jew. St. Peter answered in the affirmative without a moment's hesitation. This confidence of the apostle then induced Jesus to discuss the question. It is not reasonable to submit to any demand of men until its claim has been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:24-27

The stater in the fish's mouth. This was not an entangling question, such as was afterwards put by the scribes, who asked if it was lawful to pay tribute to Caesar. There was no question of the lawfulness of this tax, and all that the collectors wished to know was whether Jesus wished to pay the tax at Capernaum or at Jerusalem, or whether perhaps he had not some special claim for exemption. Peter, as usual, does not stop to think, but promptly assures them that his Master certainly... read more

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