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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Matthew Chapter 17 is a vital portion of the New Testament that provides a profound insight into the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. This chapter includes three significant events: the Transfiguration of Jesus, the healing of a demon-possessed boy, and the miracle of the temple tax. Each event carries substantial theological and practical implications for believers.
The chapter opens with the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-13). In this event, Jesus takes three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John, to a high mountain. Here, Jesus is transfigured before them, his face shining like the sun and his clothes becoming white as light. Moses and Elijah, two significant figures in Jewish history, appear and converse with Jesus. This event signifies Jesus's divine nature and his fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets, represented by Moses and Elijah.
Peter, in his impulsiveness, suggests building three shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. However, a voice from a bright cloud interrupts him, proclaiming, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Matthew 17:5). This divine affirmation of Jesus's Sonship and authority emphasizes that Jesus is not on par with Moses and Elijah but surpasses them. It also underscores the importance of listening to Jesus's teachings.
The disciples are terrified by this experience, but Jesus comforts them and instructs them not to tell anyone about the vision until after his resurrection. On their way down the mountain, Jesus explains that Elijah's coming, as prophesied in Malachi 4:5-6, has been fulfilled in John the Baptist. This revelation highlights the continuity of God's redemptive plan and the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies in the person and work of Jesus.
The second significant event in Matthew 17 is the healing of a demon-possessed boy (Matthew 17:14-21). Jesus and his three disciples come down from the mountain to find a crowd and the other disciples unsuccessfully trying to heal a boy tormented by a demon. The boy's father pleads with Jesus to help his son.
Jesus rebukes the disciples for their lack of faith and then casts out the demon, healing the boy. This event highlights the power and authority of Jesus over evil spirits and illnesses. It also underscores the importance of faith in Jesus's teachings and his divine power. Jesus remarks that even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains, a metaphor for overcoming seemingly insurmountable problems.
The final event in Matthew 17 is the miracle of the temple tax (Matthew 17:24-27). When asked about paying the temple tax, Jesus engages Peter in a dialogue about the sons of kings and their freedom from taxes. Jesus asserts that as the Son of God, he is free from the obligation to pay the temple tax.
However, to avoid causing offense, Jesus performs a miracle. He instructs Peter to catch a fish, in which he will find a coin sufficient to pay the temple tax for both of them. This event demonstrates Jesus's supernatural knowledge and power. It also teaches the principle of not causing unnecessary offense in matters unrelated to the core of the Gospel message.
Matthew 17 offers several theological implications and practical applications. Firstly, the Transfiguration affirms the divine nature of Jesus and his fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets. This event encourages believers to listen to Jesus's teachings and to recognize his unique authority and divinity.
Secondly, the healing of the demon-possessed boy underscores the power of Jesus and the importance of faith. It reminds believers of Jesus's authority over evil and the potential of faith, even as small as a mustard seed, to overcome significant challenges.
Lastly, the miracle of the temple tax teaches the principle of not causing unnecessary offense and the supernatural power of Jesus. It encourages believers to live peaceably within their societal structures, without compromising the truths of the Gospel.
In summary, Matthew 17 presents Jesus as the divine Son of God who fulfills Old Testament prophecies, possesses authority over evil, and exemplifies practical wisdom in societal interactions. This chapter encourages believers to listen to Jesus's teachings, have faith in his power, and live wisely in society.
Share this page