Matthew 17

Matthew 17:1-3

¹After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. ²He was changed before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. ³Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.

Jesus is transfigured on a mountain with Moses and Elijah as Peter, James, and John watch.

Matthew 17:4

⁴Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Peter offers to build three shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.

Matthew 17:5

⁵While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”

The Father’s voice from the cloud: This is my beloved Son; listen to Him.

Matthew 17:6-8

⁶When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. ⁷Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.” ⁸Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone.

The disciples fall in fear; Jesus touches them, tells them to rise, and they see Him alone.

Matthew 17:9

⁹As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.”

Jesus orders silence about the vision until the Son of Man is raised.

Matthew 17:10

¹⁰His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Disciples ask why scribes say Elijah must come first.

Matthew 17:11-13

¹¹Jesus answered them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things; ¹²but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.” ¹³Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.

Elijah comes and restores; he already came in John, and they did to him whatever they wished.

Matthew 17:14-16

¹⁴When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him and saying, ¹⁵“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water. ¹⁶So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.”

A father kneels for his epileptic demoniac son; the disciples could not heal him.

Matthew 17:17-18

¹⁷Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me.” ¹⁸Jesus rebuked the demon, and it went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.

Jesus laments the faithless generation, rebukes the demon, and the boy is cured.

Matthew 17:19

¹⁹Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”

Privately the disciples ask why they could not cast the demon out.

Matthew 17:20-21

²⁰He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. ²¹But this kind doesn’t go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Unbelief blocked them; faith like a mustard seed can move mountains.

Matthew 17:22-23

²²While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men, ²³and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up.” They were exceedingly sorry.

Jesus again predicts betrayal, death, and resurrection; the disciples are deeply distressed.

Matthew 17:24-25

²⁴When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?” ²⁵He 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?”

Collectors ask if Jesus pays the temple tax; Peter says yes; Jesus asks whose sons pay kings’ tolls.

Matthew 17:26

²⁶Peter said to him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Therefore the children are exempt.

Peter answers that kings collect from strangers, not their sons.

Matthew 17:27

²⁷But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you.”

To avoid offense Jesus provides coin from a fish’s mouth for both their taxes.

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