Matthew 17:26

Thursday, 12 March 2026

 

Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. Matthew 17:26

 

“He says to Him, Peter, ‘From the unfamilars.’ Jesus, He says to him, ‘Hence, the sons, they are exempt’” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Jesus asked Peter what he thought. Do the kings of the earth take tribute and census from their sons or unfamilars? Next, we read, “He says to Him, Peter, ‘From the unfamilars.’”

 

It would be counterproductive and unkingly for a king to take any such collection from his sons. This is a precept that would be perfectly understood from their own Scriptures. At the time of their first king, Saul, it was seen that the son of the king would be exempt from such things, even if it was a son through marriage –

 

“So the men of Israel said, ‘Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.’” 1 Samuel 17:25

 

The king was the one who levied taxes on the people. He was the one to take the people’s sons and daughters for his own household use, and for the army he established (see 1 Samuel 8:10-18). His own sons usually did serve in the military with him, but they were not obligated to the standard impositions placed on the people for the sake of his kingdom. Peter understood this. In response to this, we read, “Jesus, He says to him, ‘Hence, the sons, they are exempt.’”

 

A new word is seen here, eleutheros, unrestrained, meaning “to go at pleasure.” It is used in the sense of citizenship, where a person is not a slave. In this case, it means unrestrained from the burdens that support the king and his kingdom.

 

Jesus is making a point that Peter should clue into. If Jesus is the Messiah, He is God’s Son. Those who are His will belong to the household of God as sons. This is the point He makes in John 8 –

 

“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’
33 They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?’
34 Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’” John 8:31-36

 

If Jesus is God’s Son, and those who are brought into sonship with God through Him, then why would they pay for the tributes and census for the maintenance of the temple of His (and thus their) Father?

 

Further, and a point that is not yet understood by the disciples, the temple is an edifice that pointed to Jesus. He is the fulfillment of everything the temple anticipated. Understanding these things puts the matter in proper perspective.

 

Life application: Jesus was born under the Law of Moses, a law He gave to the people of Israel. By subordinating Himself to the Law, He was required to be obedient to it. This included things that He was logically exempt from, but which required obedience to fulfill all righteousness.

 

And this is what He said He would do at an early point in His ministry –

 

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17

 

In His fulfillment of the law, including those things that He would normally be exempt from, such as the temple taxes, the law is annulled through Him for anyone who has come to Him by faith. He becomes a son of God. And, as He said, “...if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

 

However, being under law is not freedom. It is a mark of bondage to sin. As such, to reimpose the standards of the law upon oneself, it is a denial of sonship. It is as if the person voluntarily excommunicates himself from a relationship with his Father in heaven.

 

Paul explains this in meticulous detail in his epistles, especially Galatians. Those who come to Christ are not under law but under grace. Be sure to revel in the freedom by which Christ has made us free. Do not allow yourself to be brought back under the yoke of slavery, meaning law. It is an act of contempt for what God in Christ has done.

 

Live out your freedom in gratitude for what He has done for us. This is what we are to do!

 

Lord God, thank You that we are Your sons through faith in what Jesus has done. The pressure is off. We are free from the bondage of slavery to sin. Law no longer has authority over us! We can now revel in Your grace and goodness because of Jesus. Hallelujah and amen.