The Transfiguration

17 (A)Six days later, Jesus *took with Him (B)Peter and [a]James, and his brother John, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You want, (C)I will make three [b]tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, (D)a voice from the cloud said, “(E)This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell [c]face down to the ground and were terrified. And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and (F)do not be afraid.” And raising their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone.

(G)When they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, (H)Tell the vision to no one until (I)the Son of Man has (J)risen from the dead.” 10 And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that (K)Elijah must come first?” 11 And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did [d]to him whatever they wanted. So also (L)the Son of Man is going to suffer [e]at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

The Demon-possessed Boy

14 (M)When they came to the crowd, a man came up to [f]Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, 15 [g]Lord, have mercy on my son, because he (N)has seizures and suffers terribly; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” 17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed [h]at once.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 And He *said to them, “Because of your meager faith; for truly I say to you, (O)if you have faith [i]the size of (P)a mustard seed, you will say to (Q)this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and (R)nothing will be impossible for you.[j]

22 (S)And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be [k]handed over to men; 23 and (T)they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved.

The Temple Tax

24 Now when they came to Capernaum, those who collected (U)the [l]two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay (V)the [m]two-drachma tax?” 25 He *said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect (W)customs or [n](X)poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are [o]exempt. 27 However, so that we do not (Y)offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a [p]stater. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”

Rank in the Kingdom

18 (Z)At that [q]time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “(AA)Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And He called a child to Himself and set him among them, and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you [r]change and (AB)become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name, receives Me; but (AC)whoever (AD)causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to [s]sin, it is better for him that a [t]heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.

Stumbling Blocks

“Woe to the world because of its [u]stumbling blocks! For (AE)it is inevitable that [v]stumbling blocks come; but woe to the person through whom the [w]stumbling block comes!

“And (AF)if your hand or your foot is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; it is better for you to enter life maimed or without a foot, than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire. And (AG)if your eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into the [x](AH)fiery hell.

10 “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones; for I say to you that (AI)their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.[y]

Ninety-nine Plus One

12 “What do you think? (AJ)If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains, and go and search for the one that is lost? 13 And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that have not gone astray. 14 So it is not the will [z]of your Father who is in heaven for one of these little ones to perish.

Discipline and Prayer

15 “Now (AK)if your brother sins[aa], go and [ab]show him his fault [ac]in private; if he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that (AL)on the [ad]testimony of two or three witnesses every [ae]matter may be confirmed. 17 And if he refuses to listen to them, (AM)tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, (AN)he is to be to you as [af]a Gentile and [ag]a tax collector. 18 Truly I say to you, (AO)whatever you [ah]bind on earth [ai]shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you [aj]loose on earth [ak]shall have been loosed in heaven.

19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, (AP)it shall be done for them [al]by My Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, (AQ)I am there in their midst.”

Forgiveness

21 Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, (AR)how many times shall my brother sin against me and I still forgive him? Up to (AS)seven times?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to [am](AT)seventy-seven times.

23 “For this reason (AU)the kingdom of heaven [an]is like a king who wanted to (AV)settle accounts with his slaves. 24 And when he had begun to settle them, one who owed him [ao]ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25 But since he [ap](AW)did not have the means to repay, his master commanded that he (AX)be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment be made. 26 So the slave fell to the ground and (AY)prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ 27 And the master of that slave felt compassion, and he released him and (AZ)forgave him the [aq]debt. 28 But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred [ar]denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ 30 But he was unwilling, [as]and went and threw him in prison until he would pay back what was owed. 31 So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their master all that had happened. 32 Then summoning him, his master *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 (BA)Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ 34 And his master, moved with anger, handed him over to the [at]torturers until he would repay all that was owed him. 35 (BB)My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your [au]heart.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 17:1 Or Jacob
  2. Matthew 17:4 Or sacred tents
  3. Matthew 17:6 Lit on their faces
  4. Matthew 17:12 Lit in him; or in his case
  5. Matthew 17:12 Lit by them
  6. Matthew 17:14 Lit Him
  7. Matthew 17:15 Or Sir
  8. Matthew 17:18 Lit from that hour
  9. Matthew 17:20 Lit like
  10. Matthew 17:20 Late mss add (traditionally v 21): But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting
  11. Matthew 17:22 Or betrayed
  12. Matthew 17:24 Equivalent to about two denarii or two days’ wages for a laborer, paid as a temple tax
  13. Matthew 17:24 Equivalent to about two denarii or two days’ wages for a laborer, paid as a temple tax
  14. Matthew 17:25 I.e., a tax on each person in the census
  15. Matthew 17:26 Lit free
  16. Matthew 17:27 A silver four-drachma Greek coin
  17. Matthew 18:1 Lit hour
  18. Matthew 18:3 Lit turn
  19. Matthew 18:6 Or stumble, and so throughout the ch
  20. Matthew 18:6 Lit millstone turned by a donkey
  21. Matthew 18:7 I.e., enticements to sin
  22. Matthew 18:7 I.e., enticements to sin
  23. Matthew 18:7 I.e., enticements to sin
  24. Matthew 18:9 Lit Gehenna of fire
  25. Matthew 18:10 Late mss add (traditionally v 11): For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost
  26. Matthew 18:14 Lit before
  27. Matthew 18:15 Late mss add against you
  28. Matthew 18:15 Or correct
  29. Matthew 18:15 Lit between you and him alone
  30. Matthew 18:16 Lit mouth
  31. Matthew 18:16 Lit word
  32. Matthew 18:17 Lit the
  33. Matthew 18:17 Lit the
  34. Matthew 18:18 I.e., forbid
  35. Matthew 18:18 Gr fut. pft. pass. tense
  36. Matthew 18:18 I.e., permit
  37. Matthew 18:18 Gr fut. pft. pass. tense
  38. Matthew 18:19 Lit from
  39. Matthew 18:22 Or possibly seventy times seven
  40. Matthew 18:23 Lit has been compared to
  41. Matthew 18:24 By one estimate, a debt of 60 million working days for a laborer
  42. Matthew 18:25 Or was unable to
  43. Matthew 18:27 Or loan
  44. Matthew 18:28 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
  45. Matthew 18:30 Lit but
  46. Matthew 18:34 I.e., jailors assigned to torture prisoners
  47. Matthew 18:35 Lit hearts

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount(A)

17 Now (B)after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, [a]let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

(C)While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, (D)“This is My beloved Son, (E)in whom I am well pleased. (F)Hear Him!” (G)And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and (H)touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

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.”

10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, (I)“Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming [b]first and will (J)restore all things. 12 (K)But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they (L)did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise (M)the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 (N)Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

A Boy Is Healed(O)

14 (P)And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is [c]an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.”

17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O [d]faithless and (Q)perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus (R)rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

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

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your [e]unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, (S)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. 21 [f]However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection(T)

22 (U)Now while they were [g]staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly (V)sorrowful.

Peter and His Master Pay Their Taxes

24 (W)When they had come to [h]Capernaum, those who received the [i]temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

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 (X)strangers?”

26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.”

Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 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 [j]piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

Who Is the Greatest?(Y)

18 At (Z)that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Then Jesus called a little (AA)child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, (AB)unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (AC)Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (AD)Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Jesus Warns of Offenses(AE)

(AF)“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of [k]offenses! For (AG)offenses must come, but (AH)woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

(AI)“If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into [l]hell fire.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep(AJ)

10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven (AK)their angels always (AL)see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 (AM)For[m] the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

12 (AN)“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the (AO)will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Dealing with a Sinning Brother

15 “Moreover (AP)if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, (AQ)you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that (AR)‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a (AS)heathen and a tax collector.

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, (AT)whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 (AU)“Again[n] I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, (AV)it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered (AW)together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? (AX)Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, (AY)up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded (AZ)that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down [o]at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you [p]all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you (BA)all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

35 (BB)“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother [q]his trespasses.”

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 17:4 NU I will make
  2. Matthew 17:11 NU omits first
  3. Matthew 17:15 Lit. moonstruck
  4. Matthew 17:17 unbelieving
  5. Matthew 17:20 NU little faith
  6. Matthew 17:21 NU omits v. 21.
  7. Matthew 17:22 NU gathering together
  8. Matthew 17:24 NU Capharnaum, here and elsewhere
  9. Matthew 17:24 Lit. double drachma
  10. Matthew 17:27 Gr. stater, the exact temple tax for two
  11. Matthew 18:7 enticements to sin
  12. Matthew 18:9 Gr. Gehenna
  13. Matthew 18:11 NU omits v. 11.
  14. Matthew 18:19 NU, M Again, assuredly, I say
  15. Matthew 18:29 NU omits at his feet
  16. Matthew 18:29 NU, M omit all
  17. Matthew 18:35 NU omits his trespasses