Matthew 17:22-27 NRSVue

²²As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, ²³and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And they were greatly distressed.

²⁴When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?” ²⁵He said, “Yes, he does.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?” ²⁶When Peter said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the children are free. ²⁷However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; 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 you and me.”

“Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.”

Reflection on Matthew 17:22-27

Inspiration from 2025-08-11 Daily Prayer

Peter is too embarrassed to tell the temple collectors that his Master does not give a fig about the temple tax and so he says that Jesus does pay it. Jesus, to get his friend off the hook of lying, tells him to go and hook a fish and get a coin and pay for them both. There is both a human and humorous touch about this little story, but it also shows us that Jesus is both the Son of God and Lord of the whole natural world.

Further reflection

This is a strange story about a coin in the mouth of a fish. We are not told that Peter actually found the coin. Michael Mullins writes, 'It may well be another way of saying to those who were instructed to carry no gold, no silver, not even a few coppers in their purses, to trust in God who provides in unexpected ways'