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Matthew 17

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The Transfiguration 1–8

1
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, ​
2
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. ​
3
And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. ​
4
Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. ​
5
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. ​
6
And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
7
And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
8
And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Discussion About Elijah 9–13

9
And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. ​
10
And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? ​
11
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. ​
13
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Healing a Demon-Possessed Boy 14–21

14
And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15
Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. ​
16
And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17
Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. ​
18
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. ​
21
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. ​

Jesus Predicts His Death Again 22–23

22
And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: ​
23
And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Paying the Temple Tax 24–27

24
And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? ​
25
He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? ​
26
Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
27
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Matthew 17

Verse 1

after six days — Luke counts 'about an eight days after these sayings' (Luke 9:28). Peter, James and John are the three taken alone at Jairus' house (Mark 5:37) and in Gethsemane (Matt 26:37). 'Apart' is idios, private; Peter later calls the place 'the holy mount' (2 Pet 1:18).

Verse 2

was transfigured — Metamorphoo, to change form. Luke ties it to prayer: 'as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered' (Luke 9:29). It fulfils the word of 16:28, 'see the Son of man coming in his kingdom', and Peter recalls 'his majesty' (2 Pet 1:16).

Verse 3

Moses and Elias talking with him — 'Elias' is the Greek form of Elijah. Syllaleo means to converse together; Luke gives the subject: 'his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem' (Luke 9:31). The Law and the Prophets (Luke 24:44) attend the one they foretold.

Verse 4

three tabernacles — Skene, a tent or hut. Peter addresses Jesus as 'Lord' and offers to house all three alike; Mark adds that 'he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid' (Mark 9:6). The Father's answer in v.5 sets the Son apart from Moses and Elias.

Verse 5

a bright cloud overshadowed them — Episkiazo, the verb of Luke 1:35, 'the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee'. The voice repeats Matt 3:17 and adds 'hear ye him' (akouo), echoing Deut 18:15: 'unto him ye shall hearken'.

Verse 9

Tell the vision to no man — Horama, a thing seen. The silence runs 'until the Son of man be risen again from the dead', and follows the charge of 16:20; Luke notes that 'they kept it close' (Luke 9:36). The resurrection is the event that ends the silence.

Verse 10

Elias must first come — The scribes' teaching rests on Mal 4:5, 'I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD'. The disciples have just seen Elijah appear with Jesus, not before him, and ask how the two fit.

Verse 12

Elias is come already — Jesus applies Mal 4:5 to John the Baptist: 'this is Elias, which was for to come' (11:14), one who came 'in the spirit and power of Elias' (Luke 1:17). 'Knew him not' (epiginosko) is the charge; the same treatment awaits 'the Son of man'.

Verse 15

lunatick — Seleniazomai, moon-struck, the word Matt 4:24 lists between 'possessed with devils' and 'those that had the palsy'. 'Sore vexed' is kakos pascho, to suffer badly; verse 18 shows the cause was a devil that Jesus 'rebuked'.

Verse 17

faithless and perverse generation — Apistos, without faith, and diastrepho, twisted. 'A perverse and crooked generation' is Moses' charge against Israel (Deut 32:5). 'How long shall I suffer you?' (anechomai, to bear with) answers the unbelief around him and is followed by the command 'bring him hither to me'.

Verse 20

grain of mustard seed — Sinapi, mustard; Christ uses the same measure of faith in Luke 17:6. The 'mountain' removed recurs in Mark 11:23 and Matt 21:21, 'be thou cast into the sea'. The cause of failure is named as apistia, unbelief.

Verse 21

prayer and fasting — Proseuche and nesteia. Mark records the same saying: 'This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting' (Mark 9:29). It follows the answer of v.20 and names the means by which this kind of spirit goes out.

Verse 22

betrayed into the hands of men — Paradidomi, to deliver up. The same verb says the Father 'delivered him up for us all' (Rom 8:32). This repeats the prediction of 16:21 and adds the betrayal; Luke notes the disciples 'understood not this saying' (Luke 9:45).

Verse 24

tribute money — Didrachmon, the double drachma, the half shekel of Ex 30:13, 'the offering of the LORD', paid by everyone numbered 'from twenty years old and upward' (Ex 38:26). The collectors ask at Capernaum, and Peter answers for his Master, 'Yes' (v.25).

Verse 25

prevented him — The KJV 'prevented' means anticipated: prophthano, to speak first. Jesus asks whether kings take tribute of 'their own children, or of strangers', and Peter answers 'Of strangers'; the conclusion follows in v.26, 'Then are the children free'.

Verse 27

a piece of money — Stater, a single coin worth two half-shekels, so it covers 'me and thee'. Only here in the New Testament. Payment is made 'lest we should offend them' (skandalizo, to cause to stumble), though the Son was free (v.26).