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Matthew 17 · a question people ask

What was the didrachma, and what was it collected for?

In the text

Matthew says only that "those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?”" (17:24), and Peter said, "Yes" (17:25). Jesus's question then speaks of what "the kings of the earth receive", "toll or tribute" (17:25). Matthew doesn't say what the didrachma was collected for, or for whom, and these notes add nothing from outside the text.

The verses

“When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?” He said, “Yes.” When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?””
Matthew 17:24-25 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 17

Matthew 17: Get up, and don’t be afraid

Of the Gospels, only Matthew tells that Jesus "came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.”" (17:7). In the Greek the voice on the mountain begins with the very sentence of 3:17, then adds "Listen to him" (17:5). And the chapter ends with Jesus's words about the coin, never telling that it was found (17:27).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions