Matthew 17

The Transfiguration

1 And after six days Jesus took along Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.

2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became bright as the light.

3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him.

4 So Peter answered [and] said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good [that] we are here! If you want, I will make here three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."

5 [While] he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

6 And [when] the disciples heard [this], they fell down on their faces and were extremely frightened.

7 And Jesus came and touched them [and] said, "Get up and do not be afraid."

8 And [when they] lifted up their eyes they saw no one except him--Jesus alone.

9 And [as] they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them saying, "Tell no one the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

10 And the disciples asked him, saying, "Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

11 And he answered [and] said, "Elijah indeed is coming, and will restore all [things].

12 But I say to you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did with him whatever they wanted. In the [same] way also the Son of Man is going to suffer [at] their hands."

13 Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

A Demon-possessed Boy Healed

14 And [when they] came to the crowd, a man approached him, kneeling down before him

15 and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely, for often he falls into the fire and often into the water.

16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they were not able to heal him."

17 And Jesus answered [and] said, "O unbelieving and perverse generation! {How long} will I be with you? {How long} must I put up with you? Bring him here to me!"

18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him and the boy was healed from that hour.

19 Then the disciples approached Jesus privately [and] said, {Why} were we not able to expel it?"

20 And he said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here [to] there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Second Time

22 Now [as] they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men,

23 and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised." And they were extremely distressed.

Paying the Double Drachma Temple Tax

24 Now [when] they arrived in Capernaum, the ones who collected the double drachma [tax] came up to Peter and said, "Does your teacher not pay the double drachma [tax]?"

25 He said, "Yes." And [when he] came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect tolls or taxes--from their own sons, or from foreigners?"

26 And [when he] said, "From foreigners," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free.

27 But so that we do not give offense to them, go out to the sea, cast [a line with] a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And [when you] open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that [and] give [it] to them for me and you."

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.

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [b]. *Here "[while]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("speaking")
• [c]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("heard") which is understood as temporal
• [d]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
• [e]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("touched") has been translated as a finite verb
• [f]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("lifted up") which is understood as temporal
• [g]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("were coming down")
• [h]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [i]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("came")
• [j]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [k]. Literally "until when"
• [l]. Literally "until when"
• [m]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("approached") has been translated as a finite verb
• [n]. Literally "for what"
• [o]. Most later Greek manuscripts add v. 21, "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."
• [p]. *Here "[as]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("were gathering")
• [q]. Or possibly "of people," in a generic sense, although the reference here may be to the specific group responsible for Jesus' arrest, where it is unlikely women were present
• [r]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle ("arrived")
• [s]. This refers to the half-shekel annual tax paid by Jewish males to support the temple; over time the name of the coin commonly used to pay the tax came to be used for the tax itself
• [t]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("came") which is understood as temporal
• [u]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("said") which is understood as temporal
• [v]. *The words "[a line with]" are not in the Greek text but are implied
• [w]. *Here "[when]" is supplied as a component of the participle ("open") which is understood as temporal
• [x]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("take") has been translated as a finite verb
• [y]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation