Matthew Chapter 17

The Transfiguration

            ¹ Six days later, Jesus took^p Peter, James, and his brother John up on a tall mountain by themselves ² and was transfigured in front of them. His face glowed like the sun, and his clothes turned as white as light. ³ Moses and Elijah appeared to them and were talking to him.

            ⁴ Peter responded, “Lord, it’s good to be here. If you want, I’ll put up three tents—one each for you and Moses and Elijah.”

            ⁵ While he was still talking, a bright cloud engulfed them, and a voice said, “This is my dearly loved Son that I delight in. Listen to him.”

⁶ When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces terrified. ⁷ Jesus came and touched them, “Get up; don’t be afraid.” ⁸ They looked up and didn’t see anybody but Jesus.

Mt 17:1-8

Discussing the Vision

            ⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus impressed on them, “Don’t tell anybody what you saw till I’ve resurrected from the dead.”

            ¹⁰ The disciples asked, “Why do the scribes say Elijah has to come first?”

¹¹ “Elijah does come first to restore everything. ¹² He’s already come, and they didn’t recognize him. They treated him however they wanted to. That’s the way it’ll be, too, when I suffer at their hand.” ¹³ Then they caught on that he was talking about John the Baptist.  

Mt 17:9-13

Healing a Demoniac Boy

            ¹⁴ When they got to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and fell on his knees, ¹⁵ “Sir, have mercy on my boy. He suffers badly with epilepsy. He falls into the fire and the water. ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”

            ¹⁷ “Unbelieving, perverse bunch, how long am I going to be with you? Bring^pl him to me.” ¹⁸ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him. The child was healed from then on.

            ¹⁹ The disciples came to Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?”

²⁰ “Because your faith was weak. If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can tell this mountain to move from here to there, and it’ll move. You can do anything. [[ ²¹ “This kind doesn’t come out except by prayer and fasting.”]]^ms  

Mt 17:14-21

Third Prediction of His Death

²² While they were together in Galilee, Jesus said, “I’m going to be betrayed. ²³ They’ll put me to death, but I’ll resurrect on the third day.” That really distressed them.                                                                                             Mt 17:22-23

Jesus and the Temple Tax

            ²⁴ As he was going into Capernaum, those who collect the didrachma came to Peter, “Your Rabbi pays the didrachma, doesn’t he?”

            ²⁵ “Yes.”

When he came in the house, Jesus spoke first, “What do you think, Simon? Who do kings exact tribute from—citizens or foreigners?”                         

            ²⁶ When Peter said, “Foreigners,”

Jesus said, “So citizens are exempt. ²⁷ But we don’t want to make them stumble. Go to the lake and throw in a fishhook. Take the first fish you catch and open its mouth. You’ll find a stater. Give it to them for you and me.”         

Mt 17:24-27