Matthew 17
17
Jesus’ Appearance Is Changed
1Six days later Jesus went up a high mountain. He brought Peter, James, and John the brother of James with him. 2As they were watching, his appearance changed. His face shone like the sun and his clothes became bright as light. 3Then Moses and Elijah appeared in front of them and started talking with Jesus.
4Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good for us to be here. If you’d like, I can set up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them. A voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, and I’m very pleased with him. Listen to him!”
6When the disciples heard this, they were terrified and fell with their faces to the ground. 7But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said, “don’t be afraid.” 8When they looked up, no one was there except Jesus.
9On the way down the mountain, Jesus told them, “Don’t tell anyone what you’ve seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
10The disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah has to come first?”
11Jesus replied, “Elijah is supposed to come and put everything back in order. 12But I tell you, Elijah has already come. But people didn’t recognize him, so they did whatever they wanted to him. In the same way, they’re going to make the Son of Man suffer.” 13Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Jesus Heals a Boy Controlled by a Demon
14When they got back, they found a crowd gathered. A man approached Jesus and got down on his knees in front of him. 15“Lord,” he said, “have mercy on my son. He shakes wildly and suffers a great deal. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”
17“You faithless, disobedient generation!” Jesus replied. “How long am I going to be with you? How long do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18Jesus ordered the demon to leave the boy, and the demon came out of him. He was healed at that moment.
19Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive out the demon?”
20-21He answered, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Jesus Speaks a Second Time About His Coming Death
22When they were together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be handed over to people 23who will kill him, but on the third day he will rise from the dead.” Then the disciples were filled with deep sadness.
Jesus Pays the Temple Tax
24Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum. There the people who collected the temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Does your teacher pay the temple tax?”
25“Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “Who do the kings of the earth collect taxes and fees from? Do they collect them from their own children, or from others?”
26“From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children don’t have to pay,” Jesus responded. 27“But let’s not put an obstacle in anyone’s way. Go to the lake and throw out your fishing line. Open the mouth of first fish you catch, and you’ll find a coin that’s the exact amount you need. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
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Matthew 17
17
The true glory of Jesus
(Mark 9.2-13; Luke 9.28-36)
1Six days later Jesus took Peter and the brothers James and John with him. They went up on a very high mountain where they could be alone.#2 P 1.17,18. 2There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. His face was shining like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
3All at once Moses and Elijah were there talking with Jesus. 4So Peter said to him, “Lord, it is good for us to be here! Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5While Peter was still speaking, the shadow of a bright cloud passed over them. From the cloud a voice said, “This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with him. Listen to what he says!”#Gn 22.2; Ps 2.7; Is 42.1; Mt 3.17; 12.18; Mk 1.11; Lk 3.22; Dt 18.15. 6When the disciples heard the voice, they were so afraid that they fell flat on the ground. 7But Jesus came over and touched them. He said, “Get up and don't be afraid!” 8When they opened their eyes, they saw only Jesus.
9On their way down from the mountain, Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had been raised from death.
10The disciples asked Jesus, “Don't the teachers of the Law of Moses say that Elijah must come before the Messiah does?”#Ml 4.5.
11Jesus told them, “Elijah certainly will come and get everything ready. 12In fact, he has already come. But the people did not recognize him and treated him just as they wanted to. They will soon make the Son of Man suffer in the same way.”#Mt 11.14. 13Then the disciples understood that Jesus was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Jesus heals a boy
(Mark 9.14-29; Luke 9.37-43a)
14Jesus and his disciples returned to the crowd. A man knelt in front of him 15and said, “Lord, have pity on my son! He has a bad case of epilepsy and often falls into a fire or into water. 16I brought him to your disciples, but none of them could heal him.”
17Jesus said, “You people are too stubborn to have any faith! How much longer must I be with you? Why do I have to put up with you? Bring the boy here.” 18Then Jesus spoke sternly to the demon. It went out of the boy, and at once he was healed.
19Later the disciples went to Jesus in private and asked him, “Why couldn't we force out the demon?”
20-21Jesus replied:#Mt 21.21; Mk 11.23; 1 Co 13.2.
It is because you don't have enough faith! But I can promise you this. If you had faith no larger than a mustard seed, you could tell this mountain to move from here to there. And it would. Everything would be possible for you.#17.20,21 for you: Some manuscripts add, “But the only way to force out that kind of demon is by praying and going without eating.”
Jesus again speaks about his death
(Mark 9.30-32; Luke 9.43b-45)
22While Jesus and his disciples were going from place to place in Galilee, he told them, “The Son of Man will be handed over to people 23who will kill him. But three days later he will rise to life.” All this made the disciples very sad.
Paying the temple tax
24When Jesus and the others arrived in Capernaum, the collectors for the temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your teacher pay the temple tax?”#Ex 30.13-15; 38.26.
25“Yes, he does,” Peter answered.
After they had returned home, Jesus went up to Peter and asked him, “Simon, what do you think? Do the kings of this earth collect taxes and fees from their own people or from foreigners?”#17.25 from their own people or from foreigners: Or “from their children or from others”.
26Peter answered, “From foreigners.”
Jesus replied, “Then their own people#17.26 From foreigners…their own people: Or “From other people…their children”. don't have to pay. 27But we don't want to cause trouble. So go and cast a line into the lake and pull out the first fish you hook. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Use it to pay your taxes and mine.”
© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012