Matthew 17:22-27

Rachel Workman: ²² After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. ²³ He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
²⁴ On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax^[e] came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”
²⁵ “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?^[f] Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?^[g]”
²⁶ “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied.
“Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! ²⁷ However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin.^[h] Take it and pay the tax for both of us.” Jesus is never without knowledge of a situation or without resources.

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John Burnett: ²² And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be ^[f]delivered into the hands of men; ²³ and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.  It should grieve us that it is our sin that put him in this position but it should bring us overwhelming joy that He was willing to go through the death that He did to pay for our sins and that He was resurrected to overcome sin and death.

The Tribute Money

²⁴ When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the ^[g]two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the ^[h]two-drachma tax?” ²⁵ He *said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” ²⁶ When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are ^[i]exempt. ²⁷ However, so that we do not ^[j]offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find ^[k]a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”  I always love a good fishing story.