Matthew 17:27

“Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, etc.] Though Christ could have maintained his right of exemption from payment, by such strong and clear reasons and arguments; yet he chose to forego it, lest any should be offended with him, and look upon him as a transgressor of the law; one that had no regard to the temple, and slighted the worship and service of it, and so be prejudiced against him, and his doctrines: which, by the way, may teach us to be careful to give no offence, to Jew or Gentile, or the church of God; though it may be to our own disadvantage, when the honour and interest of religion lie at stake. This is following the example of Christ, who therefore said to Peter, go…”

“Notwithstanding, lest we should offend--stumble. them--all ignorant as they are of My relation to the Lord of the Temple, and should misconstrue a claim to exemption into indifference to His honor who dwells in it. go thou to the sea--Capernaum, it will be remembered, lay on the Sea of Galilee. and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shall find a piece of money--a stater. So it should have been rendered, and not indefinitely, as in our version, for the coin was an Attic silver coin equal to two of the afore-mentioned "didrachms" of half a shekel's value, and so, was the exact sum required for both. Accordingly, the Lord adds,…”

“And when they were come to Capernaum - See the notes at Matthew 4:13. They that received tribute - In the original this is, they who received the didrachma, or double drachma. The drachma was a Grecian coin worth about fifteen cents (7 1/2 d.) of British money. The didrachma, or double drachma, was a silver coin equal to the Attic drachma, and, in the time of Josephus, equal to the Jewish half shekel, that is, about 30 cents (circa 1880’s). This tribute, consisting of the didrachma or double drachma, was not paid to the Roman government, but to the Jewish collectors for the use of the temple service. It was permitted in the law of Moses (see Exodus 30:11-16) that in numbering the people half…”

“Yet that, we may not offend them - Even those unjust, unreasonable men, who claim what they have no manner of right to: do not contest it with them, bat rather yield to their demand, than violate peace or love. O what would not one of a loving spirit do for peace! Any thing which is not expressly forbidden in the word of God. A piece of money - The original word is a stater, which was in value two shillings and sixpence: just the sum that was wanted. Give for me and thee - Peter had a family of his own: the other apostles were the family of Jesus. How illustrious a degree of knowledge and power did our Lord here discover! Knowledge, penetrating into this animal, though beneath the waters;…”

“lest: Mat 15:12-14; Rom 14:21, Rom 15:1-3; Co1 8:9, Co1 8:13, Co1 9:19-22, Co1 10:32, Co1 10:33; Co2 6:3; Th1 5:22; Tit 2:7, Tit 2:8 and take: Gen 1:28; Kg1 17:4; Psa 8:8; Jon 1:17, Jon 2:10; Heb 2:7, Heb 2:8 a piece of money: "Or, a stater, half an ounce of silver, value 2s. 6d., after 5s. the ounce." that take: Co2 8:9; Jam 2:5 Next: Matthew Chapter 18”