Matthew 17
Expanded Bible
The Transfiguration on the Mountain(A)
17 Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, [L and led them] up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 ·While they watched [In their presence; In front of them], Jesus’ appearance was ·changed [transformed; T transfigured]; his face ·became bright [shined] like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 Then Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. [C God had given the Law through Moses, and Elijah was an important prophet (see Mark 6:15); together they signify that Jesus fulfills the OT.]
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you want, I will put up three ·tents [shelters; shrines; tabernacles; Lev. 23:42] here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” [C Perhaps Peter wanted to prolong their stay or to commemorate their visit.]
5 While Peter was talking, [L look; T behold] a bright cloud ·covered [overshadowed; Ex. 24:15] them. A voice came from the cloud and said, “This is my ·Son, whom I love [dearly beloved Son; Ps. 2:7; Gen. 22:2], ·and I am very pleased with him [in whom I take great delight; Is. 42:1; Matt. 3:17]. Listen to him [Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22]!”
6 When his ·followers [disciples] heard the voice, they were so frightened they fell ·to the ground [L on their faces]. 7 But Jesus went to them and touched them and said, “Stand up. Don’t be afraid.” 8 ·When they looked up [Lifting up their eyes], they saw ·Jesus was now alone [L no one except Jesus alone].
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ·commanded [instructed] them not to tell anyone about ·what they had seen [the vision] until the Son of Man had ·risen [been raised] from the dead.
10 Then his ·followers [disciples] asked him, “Why do the ·teachers of the law [scribes] say that Elijah must come first [C that is, before the Messiah comes; Mal. 3:1; 4:5]?”
11 Jesus answered, “·They are right to say that Elijah is coming and that [L Elijah is indeed coming, and] he will ·make everything the way it should be [restore/prepare everything]. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him. They did to him whatever they wanted to do. It will be the same with the Son of Man; those same people will make the Son of Man suffer.” 13 Then the ·followers [disciples] understood that Jesus was talking about John the Baptist.
Jesus Heals a Sick Boy(B)
14 When Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] came back to the crowd, a man came to Jesus and ·bowed [knelt] before him. 15 The man said, “Lord, have mercy on my son. He ·has epilepsy [has seizures; or is demented/a lunatic; C the word for epilepsy could also mean “moonstruck” or demented; Mark 9:17 says the boy was demon possessed] and is suffering ·very much [terribly], because he often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your ·followers [disciples], but they could not ·cure [heal] him.”
17 Jesus answered, “·You people have no faith, and your lives are all wrong [L O faithless/unbelieving and perverse/corrupt generation]. How long must I ·put up [stay; L be] with you? How long must I ·continue to be patient [put up] with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus ·commanded [reprimanded; rebuked] the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that ·time on [moment; L hour].
19 The ·followers [disciples] came to Jesus when he was alone and asked, “Why couldn’t we ·force [drive; cast] the demon out?”
20 Jesus answered, “Because ·your faith is too small [you have so little faith]. I tell you the truth, if your faith is ·as big as [as small as; the size of; L as; like] a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. ·All things will be possible [L Nothing would be impossible] for you. |21 That kind of spirit comes out only if you use prayer and fasting.|”[a]
Jesus Talks About His Death(C)
22 While Jesus’ ·followers [disciples] were gathering in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man will be ·handed over [betrayed/delivered over] to ·people [L human hands], 23 and they will kill him [C the “handing over” may be Judas’ betrayal or God’s actions in “giving up” his Son to accomplish salvation; Rom. 4:25]. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the ·followers [disciples] were ·filled with sadness [greatly distressed].
Jesus Talks About Paying Taxes
24 When ·Jesus and his followers [L they] came to Capernaum, the men who collected the ·Temple tax [L two-drachma; C the annual tax paid to support the Temple (Ex. 30:13–16)] came to Peter. They asked, “Does your teacher pay the ·Temple tax [L two-drachma]?”
25 Peter answered, “Yes.”
Peter went into the house, but before he could speak, Jesus said to him, “What do you think? From whom do the kings of the earth collect ·different kinds of taxes [tribute/tolls or taxes]—the king’s ·children [or own people/citizens] or ·others [or foreigners; C perhaps tribute paid by defeated nations]?”
26 Peter answered, “·Other people pay the taxes [L From others].”
Jesus said to Peter, “Then the ·children [or people; citizens] of the king ·don’t have to pay taxes [are exempt/free]. 27 But we don’t want to ·upset [offend] these tax collectors. So go to the lake and ·fish [throw out your hook]. After you catch the first fish, open its mouth and you will find a ·coin [shekel; C Greek: stater, worth four drachma, or two payments of the Temple tax]. Take that coin and give it to the tax collectors for you and me.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 17:21 That … fasting. Some Greek copies do not contain the bracketed text.
Matthew 17
Lexham English Bible
The Transfiguration
17 And after six days Jesus took along Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothing became bright as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. 4 So Peter answered and[a] said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here! If you want, I will make here three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While[b] he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 And when[c] the disciples heard this,[d] they fell down on their faces and were extremely frightened. 7 And Jesus came and touched them and[e] said, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they[f] lifted up their eyes they saw no one except him—Jesus alone.
9 And as[g] they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them saying, “Tell no one the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 And he answered and[h] said, “Elijah indeed is coming, and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did with him whatever they wanted. In the same way also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.
A Demon-possessed Boy Healed
14 And when they[i] came to the crowd, a man approached him, kneeling down before him 15 and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely, for often he falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they were not able to heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered and[j] said, “O unbelieving and perverse generation! How long[k] will I be with you? How long[l] must 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 from that hour.
19 Then the disciples approached Jesus privately and[m] said, Why[n] were we not able to expel it?” 20 And he said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly I say to you, if you have faith like 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.”[o]
Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection a Second Time
22 Now as[p] they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men,[q] 23 and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And they were extremely distressed.
Paying the Double Drachma Temple Tax
24 Now when[r] they arrived in Capernaum, the ones who collected the double drachma tax[s] came up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the double drachma tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he[t] came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect tolls or taxes—from their own sons, or from foreigners?” 26 And when he[u] said, “From foreigners,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 But so that we do not give offense to them, go out to the sea, cast a line with[v] a hook, and take the first fish that comes up. And when you[w] open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take that and[x] give it[y] to them for me and you.”
Footnotes
- Matthew 17:4 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 17:5 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“speaking”)
- Matthew 17:6 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 17:6 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
- Matthew 17:7 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“touched”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 17:8 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“lifted up”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 17:9 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were coming down”)
- Matthew 17:11 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 17:14 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“came”)
- Matthew 17:17 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 17:17 Literally “until when”
- Matthew 17:17 Literally “until when”
- Matthew 17:19 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“approached”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 17:19 Literally “for what”
- Matthew 17:20 Most later Greek manuscripts add v. 21, “But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
- Matthew 17:22 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“were gathering”)
- Matthew 17:22 Or possibly “of people,” in a generic sense, although the reference here may be to the specific group responsible for Jesus’ arrest, where it is unlikely women were present
- Matthew 17:24 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“arrived”)
- Matthew 17:24 This refers to the half-shekel annual tax paid by Jewish males to support the temple; over time the name of the coin commonly used to pay the tax came to be used for the tax itself
- Matthew 17:25 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 17:26 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“said”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 17:27 The words “a line with” are not in the Greek text but are implied
- Matthew 17:27 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“open”) which is understood as temporal
- Matthew 17:27 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“take”) has been translated as a finite verb
- Matthew 17:27 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
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