Matthew 17

1 And after six days Jesus took Peter, and James, and John, his brother, and led them aside into an high hill,

2 and was transfigured into another likeness before them [and was transfigured, or turned into another likeness, before them]. And his face shone as the sun; and his clothes were made white as snow.

3 And lo! Moses and Elias appeared to them, and spake with him. [And lo! Moses and Elias appeared to them, speaking with him.]

4 And Peter answered, and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good us to be here. If thou wilt, make we here three tabernacles; to thee one, to Moses one, and one to Elias.

5 Yet while he spake, lo! a bright cloud overshadowed them; and lo! a voice out of the cloud, that said, This is my dear-worthy Son, in whom I have well pleased to me; hear ye him.

6 And the disciples heard, and felled down [fell down] on their faces, and dreaded greatly.

7 And Jesus came, and touched them, and said to them, Rise up, and do not ye dread.

8 And they lifted up their eyes, and saw no man, but Jesus alone.

9 And as they came down of the hill, Jesus commanded to them, and said, Say ye to no man the vision, till man's Son rise again from death. [+And, they coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Say ye to no man the vision, till that man's Son rise again from dead.]

10 And his disciples asked him, and said, What then say the scribes, that it behooveth that Elias come first? [And his disciples asked him, saying, What therefore say scribes, that it behooveth Elias first come?]

11 [And] He answered, and said to them, [Forsooth] Elias shall come, and he shall restore all things.

12 And I say to you, that Elias is now come, and they knew him not, but they did in him whatever things they would; and so man's Son shall suffer of them.

13 Then the disciples understood, that he said to them of John the Baptist.

14 And when he came to the people [And when he came to the company], a man came to him, and felled [fell] down on his knees before him, and said [saying],

15 Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is lunatic, and suffereth evil, for oft times he falleth into the fire, and oft times into the water.

16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they might not heal him.

17 Jesus answered, and said, A! thou generation unbelieveful [unbelieveful, or out of the faith,] and wayward; how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? Bring ye him hither to me.

18 And Jesus blamed him, and the devil went out from him; and the child was healed from that hour.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privily, and said to him, Why might not we cast him out?

20 Jesus saith to them [Jesus said to them], For your unbelief. Truly I say to you, if ye have faith, as a corn of mustard seed, ye shall say to this hill, Pass thou hence [Pass thou from hence], and it shall pass; and nothing shall be impossible to you;

21 but this kind is not cast out, but by prayer and fasting.

22 And whiles they were abiding together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, Man's Son shall be betrayed into the hands of men;

23 and they shall slay him, and the third day he shall rise again to life [and the third day he shall rise again]. And they were full sorry.

24 And when they came to Capernaum, they that took tribute, came to Peter, and said to him, Your master payeth not tribute?

25 And he said, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus came before him, and said, Simon, what seemeth to thee? Kings of the earth, of whom take they tribute? of their sons, either of aliens? [+And he saith, Yea. And when he had entered into an house, Jesus came before him, saying, Simon, what seemeth to thee? Of which take the kings of earth tribute, or rent? of their own sons, or of aliens?]

26 And he said, Of aliens. Jesus said to him, Then sons be free.

27 But that we offend them not, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take that fish that first cometh up; and, when his mouth is opened, thou shalt find a stater [a stater, that is, a certain of money]; take it, and give for thee and for me [thou taking it, give to them for me and for thee].

Matthew 17 Commentary

Chapter 17

The transfiguration of Christ. (1-13) Jesus casts out a dumb and deaf spirit. (14-21) He again foretells his sufferings. (22,23) He works a miracle to pay the tribute money. (24-27)

Verses 1-13 Now the disciples beheld somewhat of Christ's glory, as of the only begotten of the Father. It was intended to support their faith, when they would have to witness his crucifixion; and would give them an idea of the glory prepared for them, when changed by his power and made like him. The apostles were overcome by the glorious sight. Peter thought that it was most desirable to continue there, and to go no more down to meet the sufferings of which he was so unwilling to hear. In this he knew not what he said. We are wrong, if we look for a heaven here upon earth. Whatever tabernacles we propose to make for ourselves in this world, we must always remember to ask Christ's leave. That sacrifice was not yet offered, without which the souls of sinful men could not have been saved; and important services were to be done by Peter and his brethren. While Peter spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, an emblem of the Divine presence and glory. Ever since man sinned, and heard God's voice in the garden, unusual appearances of God have been terrible to man. They fell prostrate to the earth, till Jesus encouraged them; when looking round, they beheld only their Lord as they commonly saw him. We must pass through varied experiences in our way to glory; and when we return to the world after an ordinance, it must be our care to take Christ with us, and then it may be our comfort that he is with us.

Verses 14-21 The case of afflicted children should be presented to God by faithful and fervent prayer. Christ cured the child. Though the people were perverse, and Christ was provoked, yet care was taken of the child. When all other helps and succours fail, we are welcome to Christ, may trust in him, and in his power and goodness. See here an emblem of Christ's undertaking as our Redeemer. It encourages parents to bring children to Christ, whose souls are under Satan's power; he is able to heal them, and as willing as he is able. Not only bring them to Christ by prayer, but bring them to the word of Christ; to means by which Satan's strong-holds in the soul are beaten down. It is good for us to distrust ourselves and our own strength; but it is displeasing to Christ when we distrust any power derived from him, or granted by him. There was also something in the malady which rendered the cure difficult. The extraordinary power of Satan must not discourage our faith, but quicken us to more earnestness in praying to God for the increase of it. Do we wonder to see Satan's bodily possession of this young man from a child, when we see his spiritual possession of every son of Adam from the fall!

Verses 22-23 Christ perfectly knew all things that should befall him, yet undertook the work of our redemption, which strongly shows his love. What outward debasement and Divine glory was the life of the Redeemer! And all his humiliation ended in his exaltation. Let us learn to endure the cross, to despise riches and worldly honours, and to be content with his will.

Verses 24-27 Peter felt sure that his Master was ready to do what was right. Christ spoke first to give him proof that no thought can be withholden from him. We must never decline our duty for fear of giving offence; but we must sometimes deny ourselves in our worldly interests, rather than give offence. However the money was lodged in the fish, He who knows all things alone could know it, and only almighty power could bring it to Peter's hook. The power and the poverty of Christ should be mentioned together. If called by providence to be poor, like our Lord, let us trust in his power, and our God shall supply all our need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. In the way of obedience, in the course, perhaps, of our usual calling, as he helped Peter, so he will help us. And if any sudden call should occur, which we are not prepared to meet, let us not apply to others, till we first seek Christ.