Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Matthew 17

• They are on their way Caesarea Phillippi
• 
• A tale of two offenses

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount

Matthew 17:¹ Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;

• After six days of traveling from Magdala towards Capernaum.

Matthew 17:² and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Matthew 17:³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

Matthew 17:⁴ Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make (Or: I will make) here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Matthew 17:⁵ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

• Don’t put MY SON in the same position as Moses and Elijah! Listen to HIM!

Matthew 17:⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.

Matthew 17:⁷ But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”

Matthew 17:⁸ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Matthew 17:⁹ Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”

Matthew 17:¹⁰ And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

• Except for Simon Peter they are just now learning that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.

Matthew 17:¹¹ Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.

Matthew 17:¹² But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.”

Matthew 17:¹³ Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

• Does this mean there is such a thing as “reincarnation”? Regardless of what one may think about this it is certainly true that John the Baptist was endowed with the Spirit of Elijah.

A Boy Is Healed

Matthew 17:¹⁴ And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying,

Matthew 17:¹⁵ “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic (literally moonstruck or luna-tic) and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

Matthew 17:¹⁶ So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

Matthew 17:¹⁷ Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless (unbelieving) and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”

Matthew 17:¹⁸ And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

Matthew 17:¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

Matthew 17:²⁰ So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief (little faith); for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as 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.

Matthew 17:²¹ However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection

Matthew 17:²² Now while they were staying (gathering together) in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men,

Matthew 17:²³ and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

Peter and His Master Pay Their Taxes

Matthew 17:²⁴ When they had come to Capernaum (Capharnaum), those who received the temple tax (literally the double drachma) came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

Matthew 17:²⁵ He said, “Yes.”

And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?”

• Note: The temple was for worshiping God. Jesus, as God’s Son, should be the one to receive the tax. Instead, because they did not understand Jesus’ identity, so they forced Him to pay the tax.

Matthew 17:²⁶ Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.

• Peter just heard from God in the transfiguration that Jesus was His Son. Did he understand?

Don’t Dis’!
Disgrace, Dishonor, Disrespect
The Son of God

Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Matthew 17:²⁷ Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money (Greek: stater, the exact temple tax for two); take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

• Isn’t “Me and you” also “Us”? I would love to be part of Jesus’ “Us” – Oh that’s right – I am.
• They are still on their way to Caesarea Phillippi.

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Queries:

1. How many times did Jesus tell them He would be resurrected from the dead?
2. Did Peter “get it” about Jesus dying and being resurrected?
3. Do you think Peter understood what Jesus was saying about the temple tax?
4. Who were the Old Testament Saints who appeared with Jesus?

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