Matthew 22:19 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) Show me the coin used for paying taxes.” And they brought to Him a coin [Note: This coin was equivalent to one twelve hour day’s wages of a farm laborer, or about $108 in 2005]. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Show me the money used for the tribute. And they brought Him a denarius. American Standard Version (1901) Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a denarius. Common English Bible Show me the coin used to pay the tax.” And they brought him a denarion. Catholic Public Domain Version Show me the coin of the census tax." And they offered him a denarius. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Shew me the coin of the tribute. And they offered him a penny. |
He replied, “Yes, [He does].” And when Peter entered the house, Jesus spoke to him first, [i.e., without waiting for Peter to tell Him what he had said to the tax collectors], saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect custom duty and taxes? From their children or from strangers?”
But that [same] servant went out and found one of his fellow-servants who owed him a small sum of money [Note: The amount was about 100 twelve hour days of a farm laborer’s pay or about $10,800 in 2005]. He grabbed him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay [me] what you owe.’
When he had agreed with the workers [on wages] for the usual farm laborer’s pay for a day’s work, he [then] sent them to work in his vineyard. [Note: The coin mentioned here would amount to about $9.00, based on the average farm laborer’s hourly wage in 2005. [National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Feb. 2005]. This coin also forms the basis for calculating all other monetary references in the New Testament].
But Jesus perceived their wicked intention and said, “Why are you putting me to a test, you hypocrites?
So, they brought it to Him and He said to them, “Whose image and inscription [are on this coin]?” And they answered Him, “Caesar’s.”
And I heard what sounded like a voice coming from among the four living beings, saying, “A quart [measure] of wheat sells for a day’s pay [Note: This amount would be about $108 in 2005, based on one twelve-hour day of a farm laborer’s wages. See Matt. 20:2]; three quart measures of barley sell for a day’s pay; but do not damage the [olive] oil and wine [i.e., the orchards and vineyards].