Matthew 17:27

“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.”

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Jesus instructs Peter in Capernaum immediately after Peter confirms that temple tax collectors collect from others, allowing Jesus to declare that "the sons are exempt."

The words — The Greek phrase ἵνα μὴ σκανδαλίσωμεν αὐτούς (ina mē skandalisōmen autous) literally renders as "that we may not offend them," framing the subsequent miracle as a deliberate concession.

The thread — The pattern of voluntarily limiting personal freedom to avoid causing offense runs through 2 Corinthians 6:3, 1 Corinthians 8:9, and 1 Corinthians 9:19.

Why it lands — The text records Jesus exercising a right he explicitly claims to be exempt from, demanding that readers submit personal privilege to the conscience of others.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 6:3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
1 Corinthians 8:9 Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
1 Corinthians 9:19 Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
1 Corinthians 8:13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to stumble.
Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Jonah 1:17 Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.
Matthew 15:12 Then the disciples came to Him and said, “Are You aware that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
1 Kings 17:4 And you are to drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
Psalms 8:8 the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.