Matthew 17 25

Matthew 17:25 kjv

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?

Matthew 17:25 nkjv

He said, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?"

Matthew 17:25 niv

"Yes, he does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes?from their own children or from others?"

Matthew 17:25 esv

He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?"

Matthew 17:25 nlt

"Yes, he does," Peter replied. Then he went into the house. But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, "What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered? "

Matthew 17 verses

Matthew 17 25 Meaning

Matthew 17:25 captures a pivotal moment where Jesus pre-empts Simon Peter's thoughts, displaying His divine knowledge. The verse begins Jesus' teaching on the temple tax, an important matter for the Jewish people, by framing it through an analogy involving earthly kings. Jesus asserts that kings of the earth do not collect taxes from their own children but from strangers, setting the stage for His profound revelation of His divine Sonship and consequent exemption from paying tribute to God, His Father, whose house the Temple is. It underscores Jesus' supreme authority and unique relationship with God.

Matthew 17 25 Context

Matthew 17:25 occurs shortly after two profound demonstrations of Jesus' divine nature: the Transfiguration, where God audibly declared Jesus to be His beloved Son (Matt 17:1-8), and the subsequent healing of a demon-possessed boy whom the disciples could not heal (Matt 17:14-20). These events affirm Jesus' divine power and authority. Immediately prior to verse 25, tax collectors approached Peter, asking if his teacher paid the temple tax (Matt 17:24). This sets the stage for the unique encounter inside the house where Jesus pre-empts Peter. The discussion is embedded in a section where Matthew emphasizes Jesus' authority, identity, and the practical implications of His Sonship within the Kingdom of Heaven, moving from divine revelation to everyday obedience and the subtle subversion of earthly expectations.

Matthew 17 25 Word analysis

• He said, "Yes." (Ἔφη, “Ναί.”):
  • "He" refers to Simon Peter, who responded to the tax collectors' inquiry in Matt 17:24.
  • "Ναί" (Nai) is a strong affirmative in Greek, indicating a clear "Yes." Peter confidently asserts that Jesus does pay the tax. This shows Peter's readiness to affirm Jesus' adherence to Jewish custom, likely not fully grasping the deeper implications of Jesus' divine status relative to the Temple.
• And when he came into the house, (Καὶ εἰσελθόντα εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν,):
  • "he" again refers to Peter. This transition marks the change of setting from the public street encounter with the tax collectors to the private space of a house, which often served as a teaching environment for Jesus with His disciples.
• Jesus spoke to him first, (προέφθασεν αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς):
  • "προέφθασεν" (proephthasen) from "prophthano," meaning "to anticipate," "to get ahead of," "to speak first before." This is a significant verb, not simply meaning Jesus spoke before Peter could speak about the tax issue, but rather that Jesus knew what was on Peter's mind or what he was about to say or ask. It demonstrates Jesus' divine knowledge and insight into Peter's thoughts and the preceding events.
• saying, "What do you think, Simon? (λέγων, “Τί σοι δοκεῖ, Σίμων;):
  • "λέγων" (legon) – saying.
  • "Τί σοι δοκεῖ" (Ti soi dokei) – literally "What does it seem to you?" or "What is your opinion?" Jesus engages Peter's reasoning and judgment. It's a pedagogical approach, inviting Peter to draw a conclusion based on common sense.
  • "Σίμων" (Simon) – Peter's given name. This address is notable because Jesus often called him "Peter" (Petros, the rock) after his confession in Matt 16:18. Addressing him as "Simon" here might highlight the human aspect of Peter's current understanding, inviting him to think from a foundational, common-sense perspective rather than as an apostle, or it could simply be a tender, personal way to address him in a teaching moment.
• From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? (ἀπὸ τίνων λαμβάνουσιν οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς τέλη ἢ κῆνσον;):
  • "ἀπὸ τίνων" (apo tinōn) – "from whom."
  • "λαμβάνουσιν" (lambanousin) – "do they take" or "receive."
  • "οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς" (hoi basileis tēs gēs) – "the kings of the earth," referring to earthly rulers and their systems, contrasted implicitly with the Heavenly King (God) and His Kingdom.
  • "τέλη" (telē) – plural of "telos," referring to indirect taxes, customs duties, tolls collected at borders or markets.
  • "κῆνσον" (kēnson) – from Latin "census," meaning a direct poll tax, tribute, or head tax. This phrase covers all forms of revenue collection by earthly rulers.
• From their own sons or from strangers?" (ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτῶν ἢ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων;):
  • "ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν αὐτῶν" (apo tōn huiōn autōn) – "from their own sons." This refers to those who are part of the ruler's family or household, implicitly exempt from the taxes that subjects pay.
  • "ἢ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀλλοτρίων" (ē apo tōn allotriōn) – "or from strangers." "ἀλλοτρίων" (allotriōn) means "belonging to another," "foreign," "alien," "not one's own." This refers to subjects who are not family, who are obligated to pay taxes. This sets up the logical premise for Jesus' argument that He, as the true Son of the Heavenly King, is by right exempt from paying tribute for the Father's house.

Word-groups analysis:

• "He said, 'Yes.' And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first": This sequence reveals Peter's public affirmation and Jesus' private, supernatural intervention. Jesus' speaking first indicates not just timeliness but divine omniscience and His control of the narrative, preparing Peter for a deeper spiritual truth.
• "'What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute?'": Jesus' question is pedagogical. By calling Peter "Simon," Jesus is likely grounding the discussion in everyday human experience and logic, rather than theological abstraction. He is inviting Peter to deduce a common societal norm.
• "From their own sons or from strangers?": This rhetorical question highlights the common privilege extended by earthly rulers to their own children or close household members regarding taxation. This analogy forms the crucial basis for Jesus' impending argument about His own identity and freedom concerning the Temple tax, asserting His status as the Son of God, and thus having special relation to the Temple.

Matthew 17 25 Bonus section

The Capernaum temple tax incident is unique to Matthew's Gospel, reinforcing Matthew's theme of Jesus as the Son of God, fulfilling prophecy and teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven. The Temple tax was specifically for the upkeep of the Jerusalem Temple, representing God's house on earth. By comparing God to an earthly king whose sons are exempt from taxes to the "royal" house, Jesus implies that He, as the Son of God, and by extension His true disciples, who are now "sons" through Him, possess a unique spiritual freedom from these earthly obligations tied to God's house. This sets a significant theological precedent, revealing Jesus' absolute superiority over all earthly religious structures, even those pertaining to the service of God's house, because He Himself is the Lord of the Temple.

Matthew 17 25 Commentary

Matthew 17:25 initiates one of Jesus' most insightful teachings, rooted in a practical dilemma about paying the Temple tax. When Peter affirmed that Jesus indeed paid the tax, he spoke from conventional understanding. However, Jesus, already knowing Peter's conversation with the tax collectors (a demonstration of His divine omniscience), immediately takes the opportunity to teach. He does so not by a direct command, but by engaging Peter's reasoning with a familiar earthly analogy: kings exempt their own children from taxes, collecting only from outsiders. This simple analogy brilliantly establishes Jesus' point: if earthly kings exempt their sons, how much more should God, the heavenly King, exempt His own Son from paying tribute for the Temple, which is His Father's house? This subtly yet profoundly asserts Jesus' divine Sonship and His authority over the very institution the tax supports. It reveals Jesus' inherent freedom and ownership, not simply compliance with law. Despite this intrinsic exemption, Jesus instructs Peter to pay the tax anyway to avoid causing offense, showcasing a balance between divine right and practical wisdom for the sake of the Gospel's progress, a theme that resonates throughout His ministry. This passage therefore teaches about Christ's divine nature, His pre-eminent authority over the Law and earthly institutions, and the gracious consideration for others that guides His actions and those of His followers.