Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 17:25-26

"He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers? And when he said, From strangers, Jesus said unto him, Therefore the sons are free." — Matthew 17:25-26 (ASV)

Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

Peter was in such a hurry to vindicate his Lord that he compromised Him. He saith, Yes. He might have asked his Lord’s mind or he might have referred the collectors to Jesus Himself, but he was in a hurry and thought himself safe enough in maintaining his Master’s reputation. He was quite certain that his Lord would do all that good people did. Our Savior and His cause have often suffered from the zeal of friends. Christ is better known by what He says Himself than by what His friends say for Him.

Peter was outside at the time he gave his quick reply, and little did he think that the Lord Jesus would note what he had said and tell him of it as soon as he had come into the house; but so it was.

Our Lord began with Peter on the subject before he had time to state his action or defend it. Jesus prevented him. He knew what His servant had been doing and He hastened to set him right. Since he had acted little like Peter in this case, our Lord calls him, “Simon.”

He questions him, What thinkest thou, Simon? He makes him judge in the case. Do kings take poll-tax from their own children, or from strangers? Of course, the family of the prince was always free from the levy. The king’s subjects, and especially the aliens under his rule, must pay the capitation charge, but the princes of the blood royal were free.

Should Jesus pay redemption-money for Himself to God? Should He, who is Himself the King’s Son, come under poll-tax to His Father? If tribute money has become a tax to be levied in the kingdom of God, then are the children free. Neither Jesus nor Peter was bound to pay. Peter had not seen the matter in this light.