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, YES - q.d., 'To be sure He does;' as if eager to remove even the suspicion of the contrary. If Peter knew-as surely he did-that there was at this time no money in the bag, this reply must be regarded as a great act of faith in his Master. AND WHEN HE WAS COME INTO THE HOUSE (PETER'S), JESUS PREVENTED HIM, [ proefthasen (G4399) auton (G846)] - 'anticipated him;' according to the old sense of the word "prevent." Saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? (using his family name for familiarity), of whom do the kings of the earth take cust...

25._He saith, Yes. Peter’s _reply contains a modest excuse (580) to satisfy them: “he will pay,” (581) says he; from which we infer that Christ had formerly been accustomed to pay, for _Peter _promises it as a thing about which there was no doubt. That they address him rather than the other disciples was, as I conjecture, because Christ lived with him; for if all had occupied the same habitation, the demand would have been made on all alike. It is therefore very ridiculous in the Papists, on so frivolous a pretense, to make _Peter _a partner in the dignity of Christ. “He chose him (they say) to be his _vicar_, and bestowed on him equal honors, by making him equal to himself in the payment of tribute.” But in this way they will make all swine-herds _vicars _of Christ, for they paid as much as he did. And if the primacy of _Peter _was manifested in the

24-27 Peter felt sure that his Master was ready to do what was right. Christ spoke first to give him proof that no thought can be withholden from him. We must never decline our duty for fear of giving offence; but we must sometimes deny ourselves in our worldly interests, rather than give offence. However the money was lodged in the fish, He who knows all things alone could know it, and only almighty power could bring it to Peter's hook. The power and the poverty of Christ should be mentioned together. If called by providence to be poor, like our Lord, let us trust in his power, and our God shall supply all our need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. In the way of obedience, in the course, perhaps, of our usual calling, as he helped Peter, so he will help us. And if any sudden call should occur, which we are not prepared to meet, let us not apply to others, till we first...

Verse Matthew 17:25. _HE SAITH, YES._] From this reply of Peter, it is evident that our Lord customarily paid all taxes, tributes, c., which were common among the people wherever he came. The children of God are subject to all civil laws in the places where they live - and should pay the taxes levied on them by public authority and though any of these should be found unjust, THEY _rebel_ not, as their business is not to _reform_ the _politics_ of nations, but the _morals_ of the _world_....

AND WHEN THEY WERE COME TO CAPERNAUM - See the notes at Matthew 4:13. THEY THAT RECEIVED TRIBUTE - In the original this is, they who received the didrachma, or double drachma. The drachma was a Grecian coin worth about fifteen cents (7 1/2 d.) of British money. The didrachma, or double drachma, was a silver coin equal to the Attic drachma, and, in the time of Josephus, equal to the Jewish half shekel, that is, about 30 cents (circa 1880’s). This tribute, consisting of the didrachma or double drachma, was not paid to the Roman government, but to the Jewish collectors for the use of the temple service. It was permitted in the law of Moses (see Exodus 30:11) that in numbering the people half a shekel should be received of each man for t

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 17:1 _The Transfiguration of Jesus_._ _(Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28.) This mysterious event was intended primarily to confirm the faith of the three apostles who were to have the chief hand in founding the Church. The Lord had just announced his future sufferings and death. This prediction had been a grievous blow to Peter, and doubtless to the others also. He had stumbled at the cross, and had brought on himself a stern rebuke for his slowness and worldliness. So to comfort the chosen three under the thought of what awaited their Master, they were shown a glimpse of the glory which he has in heaven; they saw the Law and the prophets yielding subjection to him; t

HE SAITH, YES,.... Without any hesitation, knowing it had been his master's practice; and therefore as he had done it, did not doubt but he would again: AND WHEN HE WAS COME INTO THE HOUSE; that is, Peter, as both the Syriac and Persic versions express; when he was come into his own house, or at least into that where Christ was, in order to talk with him about this affair, the collectors had been speaking of to him, who seems to have been alone when they met with him; however, Christ was not with him: JESUS PREVENTED HIM; saying what he intended to say, on that head; for he being the omniscient God, though not present, knew what question had been put to Peter, and what answer he had returned; and therefore, before Peter could lay the case before him, he puts this question to him; SAYING, WHAT THINKEST THOU, SIMON? How does it appear to thee, to thy reason and understanding? in what li...

5. THE COMING GLORY; the Helpless Disciples and the Power of the King. The Tribute Money. CHAPTER 17 _ 1. The Transfiguration. (Matthew 17:1 .) 2. The Helpless Disciples and the Power of the King. (Matthew 17:14 .) 3. The Second Announcement of His Death and Resurrection. (Matthew 17:22 .) 4. The Tribute Money.(Matthew 17:24 .)_ The first part of this chapter gives us the record of the transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ. The portion before us is one of the richest in the entire book of Matthew; so full of precious teachings and suggestions that one almost shrinks from attempting an expos

TEMPLE TRIBUTE. Mt. only. The collectors of the half-shekel, expected from every Jew towards the maintenance of the Temple, and usually paid just before the Passover, ask Peter if his master fulfilled the obligation, and are told that He did. In conversation with Peter, Jesus apparently asserts that the Temple should be maintained by taxes on Gentiles, while Jews go free. But a better interpretation is that, as sons of the Messianic Kingdom, He and His followers are exempt from taxes. Yet, perhaps remembering the injunction in Exodus 30:11, He bids Peter satisfy the demand. After the destruction of the Temple the half-shekel was added to the taxes imposed by Rome, and under Domitian (when Mt. was probably written) these taxes were strictly collected. J. Weiss therefore suggests that payment to the Romans is the real point of the incident. Christians were in natural doubt about paying God...

THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION (Matthew 17:1-8)...