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?
Peter said yes. But when he walked into the house, Jesus jumped in before he could say anything: 'What do you think, Simon? When kings collect taxes, do they make their own kids pay, or do they tax everyone else?'
Jesus always knows what's coming and he's got a point to make.
📚 Historical Context
In the first century AD, Jewish men were required to pay an annual temple tax to support the worship and maintenance of the Jerusalem Temple, as commanded in the Old Testament book of Exodus. This incident occurs when tax collectors approach Peter in Capernaum to inquire if Jesus pays the tax, leading Jesus to use a question about earthly kings and their taxation practices as a teaching moment. Jesus highlights His identity as the Son of God, implying exemption from the tax, similar to how a king's children are not subject to his own levies.
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